CHURCH WORD STUDY

ekklesia = Greek meaning called out ek = out; kaleo = called

Different uses of the word church:

Eternal or 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.(Antioch)”

             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/teachers, bishops) of the city/town/community” is the primary reference to the local leaders of the church of the city/town/community.  Deacons

(diakonos)were servants of the church as in Acts 6:1-7; Philippians 1:1;

I Timothy 3:8, 10, 12, 13.  Note: the word “office” in verses 10 and 13 are not in the Greek text.

pastor: Greek poimen meaning one who tends sheep.

elder: Greek presbuteros meaning aged person, mature

bishop: Greek episkopos meaning overseer, superintendent

deacon: Greek diakonos meaning servant, one who serves

Note in Acts 20:17, 28 that these word descriptions(not titles/positions)are interchangeably used.

1. Acts 11:30 “They sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
2. Acts 14:23 “Ordained elders in every church.”
3. 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.”
4. Acts 15:4 “They were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders.”
5. Acts 15:6 “The apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.”
6. Acts 15:22 “Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church.”
7. Acts 15:22 “Apostles and elders, with the whole church.”
8. Acts 15:23 “The apostles, elders and brethren send greetings.”
9. Acts 16:4 “The decrees that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.”
10. Acts 20:17 “Elders of the church of Ephesus.”
11. Acts 20:28 “Holy Spirit made you overseers(oversight, bishop).”(Ephesus)
12. Acts 20:28 “Feed(tend, pastor)the church of God.”(Ephesus)
13. Acts 21:18 “Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.”
14. 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…”
15. Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”
16. I Timothy 3:1-2 “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.  A bishop must be…”(See also the word “office” in Romans 11:13 which is the Greek word diakonia.)
17. I Timothy 5:1 “Rebuke not an elder but treat him intreat him as a father;”
18. 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.”
19. I Timothy 5:19 “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”
20. 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.” (Note: Interchangeable use of the word “elders” in v5 and “bishop” in v7)
21. Titus 1:7 “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God…”
22. James 5:14 “Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church;”
23. I Peter 5:1 “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder.”
24. II John 1 “The elder(John)unto the elect lady and her children, who I love in the truth.”
25. III John 1 “The elder(John)unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.”
26. Note: The word shepherd(anthropos), 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.  Also in I Peter 2:25, Jesus is called the “Bishop” of your souls.

Trans-local leaders are the apostles, prophets and evangelists as in I Corinthians 12:28-31; Ephesians 2:20-22; Ephesians 4:11-16.

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.”