STUDY ON THE CHURCH
ekklesia = Greek meaning called out ek = out; kaleo =
called
Different uses of the word church:
Eternal & Universal –
1.
Matthew 16:18 “Upon this rock I will build my church;”
2.
Acts 7:38 “In the church in the wilderness…”
3.
Ephesians 1:22 “Gave Christ to be the head over all things to the
church.”
4.
Ephesians 3:10 “Might be known by the church the manifold wisdom
of God.”
5.
Ephesians 3:21 “Unto him be glory in the church.”
6.
Ephesians 5:23 “Christ is the head of the church:”
7.
Ephesians 5:25 “Even as Christ also loved the church.”
8.
Ephesians 5:27 “A glorious church, not have spot or wrinkle, or
any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
9.
Ephesians 5:29 “But nourisheth even as the Lord the church.”
10.
Ephesians 5:32 “I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
11.
Colossians 1:18 “He is the head of the body, the church.”
12.
Colossians 1:24 “For his body’s sake, which is the church.”
13.
Hebrews 2:12 “In the midst of the church will I sing praise
unto thee.”
14.
Hebrews 12:23 “To the general assembly and church of the
firstborn, which are written in heaven.
Local –
l. Matthew 18:17 “If he
neglect…tell it unto the church.”
2. Matthew 18:17 “But if he neglect to hear
the church.”
3. Acts 2:47 “The Lord added to the
church daily.”(Jerusalem)
4. Acts 5:11 “Great fear came upon all the
church.”(Jerusalem)
5. Acts 8:1 “Great persecution against the
church.”(Judea and Samaria)
6. Acts 8:3 “Saul made havoc of the
church.”(Jerusalem)
8. Acts 11:22 “Things came unto the ears of
the church.”(Jerusalem)
9. Acts 11:26 “They assembled themselves
with the church.”(Antioch)
10. Acts 12:1 “Herod to vex certain of the
church.”(Jerusalem)
11. Acts 12:5 “Prayer was made of the
church.”(Jerusalem)
12. Acts 13:1 “In the church that was
at Antioch.”
13. Acts 14:23 “Had ordained them elders in
every church.”
14. Acts 14:27 “Gathered the church
together.”
15. Acts 15:3 “Being brought on their way by
the church.”(Antioch)
16. Acts 15:4 “They were received of the
church.”(Jerusalem)
17.
Acts 15:22 “Apostles and elders, with the whole church.”(Jerusalem)
18.
Acts 18:22 “When he had saluted the church.”(Caesarea)
19.
Acts 20:17 “Called for the elders of the church.”(Ephesus)
20.
Acts 20:28 “Feed the church of God.”(Ephesus)
21.
Romans 16:1 “Church which is at Cenchrea.”
22.
Romans 16:5 “Greet the church that is in their house.”(Rome-Priscilla
& Aquilla)
23.
Romans 16:23 “Gaius mine host, and of the whole church.”
24.
I Corinthians 1:2 “Church of God which is at Corinth.”
25.
I Corinthians 4:17 “As I teach everywhere in every church.”
26.
I Corinthians 6:4 “Who are least esteemed in the church.”
27.
I Corinthians 10:32 “Give none offence nor to the church of
God.”
28.
I Corinthians 11:18 “When you come together in the church.”
29.
I Corinthians 11:22 “Despise ye the church of God?”
30.
I Corinthians 12:28 “God hath set some in the church.”
31.
I Corinthians 14:4 “He that prophesieth edifieth the church.”
32.
I Corinthians 14:5 “That the church may receive edifying.”
33.
I Corinthians 14:12 “To the edifying of the church.”
34.
I Corinthians 14:19 “In the church.”
35.
I Corinthians 14:23 “The whole church come together.”
36.
I Corinthians 14:28 “Keep silence in the church.”
37.
I Corinthians 14:35 “Speak in the church.”
38.
I Corinthians 15:9 “I persecuted the church of God.”
39.
I Corinthians 16:19 “Church that is in their house.”
40.
II Corinthians 1:1 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth.”
41.
Galatians 1:13 “I persecuted the church of God.”
42.
Philippines 3:6 “Persecuting the church.”
43.
Philippines 4:15 “No church communicated with me.”
44.
Colossians 4:15 “Salute the church which is in his(Nymphas)house.”
45.
Colossians 4:16 “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it
be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.”
46.
I Thessalonians 1:1 “Unto the church of the Thesalonians.”
47.
II Thessalonians 1:1 “The church of the Thessalonians.”
48.
I Timothy 3:5 “How shall he take care of the church of God?”
49.
I Timothy 3:15 “The church of the living God.”
50.
I Timothy 5:16 “Let not the church be charged; that it may
relieve them that are widows indeed.”
51.
James 5:14 “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the
church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord:”
52.
III John 6 “Which have borne witness of thy love before the church:”
53.
III John 9 “I wrote unto the church:”
54.
III John 10 “He(Diotrephes) casteth them out of the church.”
55.
Revelation 2:1 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus.”
56.
Revelation 2:8 “Unto the angel of the church in Smyrna.”
57.
Revelation 2:8 “Unto the angel of the church in Smyrna.”
58.
Revelation 2:12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamos.”
59.
Revelation 2:18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira.”
60.
Revelation 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis.”
61.
Revelation 3:7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia.”
62.
Revelation 3:14 “To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans.”
Church singular is
used when referring to the local church of a city/town/community. (See listing
above)
Church plural is used when referring to the churches of
an area or territory.
1.
Acts 9:31 “Then had all the churches rest.”(Judea, Galilee &
Samaria)
2.
Acts 15:41 “Went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the
churches.”
3.
Acts 16:5 “So were the churches established.”
4.
Romans 16:4 “All the churches of the Gentiles.”
5.
Romans 16:16 “The churches of Christ salute you.”
6.
I Corinthians 7:17 “So ordain I in all the churches.”
7.
I Corinthians 11:16 “The churches of God.”
8.
I Corinthians 14:33 “In all the churches of the saints.”
9.
I Corinthians 14:34 “Keep silence in the churches.”
10.
I Corinthians 16:1 “I have given order to the churches of
Galatia.”
11.
I Corinthians 16:19 “The churches of Asia salute you.”
12.
II Corinthians 8:1 “The grace of God bestowed on the churches of
Macedonia.”
13.
II Corinthians 8:18 “Praise is in the gospel throughout all the
churches.”
14.
II Corinthians 8:19 “Silas was also chosen of the churches to
travel with us.”
15.
II Corinthians 8:23 “The brethren are messengers of the churches.”
16.
II Corinthians 8:24 “Shew ye to them, and before the churches,
the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.”
17.
II Corinthians 11:8 “I robbed other churches, taking wages of
them, to do you service.”
18.
II Corinthians 11:28 “Daily the care of all the churches.”
19.
II Corinthian 12:13 “Ye were inferior to other churches.”
20.
Galatians 1:2 “Unto the churches of Galatia.”
21.
Galatians 1:22 “Unto the churches of Judea which were in
Christ.”
22.
I Thessalonians 2:14 “Became followers of the churches of God in
Judea.”
23.
II Thessalonians 1:4 “So we glory in you in the churches of
God.”
24.
Revelation 1:4 “John to the seven churches which are in Asia.”
25.
Revelation 1:11 “I send it unto the seven churches which are in
Asia.”
26.
Revelation 1:20 “Angels of the churches.”
27.
Revelation 2:7 “Let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
28.
Revelation 2:11 “Let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.”
29.
Revelation 2:17 “Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;”
30.
Revelations 2:23 “All the churches shall know that I am he
which searcheth the reins and hearts:”
31.
Revelations 2:29 “Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
32.
Revelation 3:6 “Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
33.
Revelation 3:13 “Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
34.
Revelation 3:22 “Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
35.
Revelation 22: 16 “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you
these things in the churches.”
Church of the city/town/community is the primary
reference to the local church(See lists above).
“Elders(pastors/bishops of the city/town/community” is the primary reference
to the local leaders of the church of the city/town/community.
- Acts 11:30 “They sent it to the
elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
- Acts 14:23 “Ordained elders in
every church.”
- Acts 15:2 “They determined that Paul
and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem
unto the apostles and elders about this question.”
- Acts 15:4 “They were received of the
church, and of the apostles and elders.”
- Acts 15:6 “The apostles and elders
came together for to consider of this matter.”
- Acts 15:22 “Then pleased it the
apostles and elders, with the whole church.”
- Acts 15:22 “Apostles and elders,
with the whole church.”
- Acts 15:23 “The apostles, elders
and brethren send greetings.”
- Acts 16:4 “The decrees that were
ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.”
- Acts 20:17 “Elders of the
church of Ephesus.”
- Acts 20:28 “Holy Spirit made you
overseers(oversight, bishop).”(Ephesus)
- Acts 20:28 “Feed(tend,
pastor)the church of God.”(Ephesus)
- Acts 21:18 “Paul went in with us unto
James; and all the elders were present.”
- Ephesians 4:11 “And He(Christ)gave
some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge o the Son of God, unto a perfect
man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…”
- I Timothy 5:1 “Rebuke not an elder
but treat him intreat him as a father;”
- I Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders
that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor
in the word and doctrine.”
- I Timothy 5:19 “Against an elder
receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”
- Titus 1:5 “I(Paul)left thee(Titus)in
Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and
ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.”
- James 5:14 “Is any sick among you? Let
him call for the elders of the church;”
- I Peter 5:1 “The elders which
are among you I exhort, who am also an elder.”
- II John 1 “The elder(John)unto
the elect lady and her children, who I love in the truth.”
- III John 1 “The elder(John)unto
the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.”
- Note: The word shepherd in the New
Testament is only used in reference to JESUS as in John 10:11, 12, 14, 16;
Hebrews 13:20; I Peter 2:25, 5:4.
Trans-local leaders are the apostles, prophets and
evangelists as in Ephesians 4:11f.
Church house, house
of God:
1.
The only use of this term in the New Testament is found in I Timothy
3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave
thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of the truth.”
House, house to
house, every house, upper room:
1.
Acts 1:13 “They went up into an upper room.”
2.
Acts 2:46 “Breaking bread from house to house.”
3.
Acts 5:42 “Daily in the temple, and in every house.”
4.
Romans 16:5 “Greet the church that is in their(Priscilla &
Aquila)house.”
5.
Romans 16:23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church.”
6.
I Corinthians 16:19 “The church that is in their house.”(Aquila
&
Priscilla)
7.
Colossians 4:15 “Salute the church which is in his(Nymphas)house.”
8.
Philemon 2 “Unto the church in thy(Philemon’s)house.”
Household:
1.
Acts 16:15 “She(Lydia)was baptized and her household.”
2.
I Corinthians 1:16 “Paul: I baptized also the household of Stephanas.”
3.
Galatians 6:10 “Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who
are of the household of faith.”
4.
Ephesians 2:19 “Now therefore ye are no more stranger and foreigners,
but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”
5.
Philippians 4:22 “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of
Caesar’s household.”
6.
II Timothy 4:19 “Salute the household of Onesiphorus.”
Jerusalem Temple:
1.
Matthew 21:12-13 “Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast
out all them that sold and bought in the temple and overthrew the
tables of the money changers and the seats of them that sold doves. It is
written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made
it a den of thieves.”
2.
Matthew 24:1-2 “(Jesus concerning the temple)There shall not be
left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
3.
Matthew 27:51 “The veil of the temple was rent in twain from top
to the bottom;”
4.
Acts 2:46 “Daily with one accord in the temple.”
5.
Acts 3:1 “Peter and John went up together into the temple
at the hour of prayer.”
6.
Acts 3:11 “People ran unto them(Peter/John)in the porch that is
called Solomon’s.”
7.
Acts 5:12 “And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.”
8.
Acts 5:20 “(All the apostles)Speak in the temple to the people
all the words of this life.”
9.
Acts 5:21 “They(all the apostles)entered into the temple early
in the morning and taught.”
10.
Acts 5:42 “Daily in the temple, and in every house they ceased
not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
11.
Acts 7:48 “The most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands
as saith the prophet.”
12.
Acts 17:24 “The Lord of heaven dwelleth not in temples made with
hands.”
Body temple:
1.
I Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God.”
2.
I Corinthians 3:17 “The temple of God is holy, which temple
ye are.”
3.
I Corinthians 6:19 “Your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost which is in you.”
4.
II Corinthians 6:16 “Ye are the temple of the living God.”
5.
Ephesians 2:19-22 “Ye are of the household of God; and are built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief corner stone: In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto
an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Gather & Gathering: Greek sunago meaning to lead
together
1.
Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in
my
name, there am I in the
midst of them.”
2.
Acts 12:12 “Peter came to the house of Mary the mother of John who
surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.”
3.
Acts 14:27 “And when they(Paul & Barnabas)were come and had gathered
the church(Antioch) together, they rehearsed all that god had done
with them.”
4.
Acts 20:8 “In the upper chamber where they were gathered together.”
5.
I Corinthians 5:4 “When ye are gathered together, with the power
of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Meeting: Greek
apantesin meaning for a meeting; sunantao meaning to meet
Together; amphoden meaning double way, crossway, where two ways
meet.
1.
Acts 10:25 “And as Peter was coming in, Cornelious met(sunantao)
him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.”
2.
Acts 28:15 “The brethren came to meet(apantesin)us as far
as Appiiforum, and TheThree Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and
took courage.”
3.
Note: The only time the word meeting(amphoden)occurs in the New
Testament is Mark 11:4 where a donkey was tied by the door where two ways
met.”
Assemble & Assembly: Greek sunago to go, bring or
lead together; ginomai to become or to be; sunalizomai to throng
together; episunagoge gathering together; paneguris a whole
assembly
1.
Acts 1:4 “And Jesus being assembled together(sunalizomai)
with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait
for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.”
2.
Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they
were assembled together(sunago); and they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
3.
Acts 11:26 “When Barnabas had found Saul, he brought him unto
Antioch, and it came to
pass, that a whole year they assembled
themselves(sunago)with
the church and taught much people and the
disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch.”
4.
Acts 15:25 “It seemed good unto us, being assembled(ginomai)with
one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.”
5.
Hebrews 10:24-25 “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and
to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (episunagoge),
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as
ye see the day approaching.”
6.
Hebrews 12:23 “To the general assembly(paneguris) and
church of the first born, which are written in heaven.
Congregation: Greek sunagoge an assembly led
together
1.
Note: The only time this word is used in the New Testament is in Acts
13:43 where it refers to a Jewish Synagogue, “Now when the congregation
was broken up, many Jews and proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who,
speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.”
Worship Service: Greek proskun to kiss toward;
latreia public or reverential
service; diakonia ministration,
service
1.
Note: The words “worship” and “service” are not used in the New
Testament in reference to a gathering, assembly, congregation or meeting.
2.
John 4:20-24 “Where men are to worship? The hour cometh when ye
shall neither in this
mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father.
God is a Spirit: and they
that worship(proskun)him must worship
(proskun)him in
spirit and in truth.”
3.
Acts 24:11 “Paul: I went up to Jerusalem for to worship(proskun
in the temple).”
4.
I Corinthians 14:25 “And thus are the secrets of his heart made
manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship(proskun)
God, and report that God is in you of a truth.”
5.
Philippines 3:3 “For we are the circumcision, which worship(latreuo)
God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have not confidence in the
flesh.”
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