The Church

The Greek word for “church” is ekklēsia, which means “assembly.” The first two occurrences of this word in the New Testament are spoken by Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel. In the first instance (Matt 16:18), Jesus says “I will build my church.” This reference can be theologically connected to the Old Testament notion of the “assembly of Israel” used in reference to the Mount Sinai event where God visits His people (Exod 19–20). From that day on, God continued to meet with His people as they assembled around the tabernacle and later the temple—linking Israel’s experience of God’s presence with their being in assembly.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus proclaims that He will create a similar assembly—what we know of as the church. This is why Jesus’ next reference to the church (Matt 18:15–20) is followed by the promise “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt 18:20). The fundamental idea of church is that it is the assembly of people gathered in Jesus’ name—and Jesus is present among them. Similarly, Paul speaks of Jesus being present when the church assembles for church discipline (1 Cor 5:4), communion (1 Cor 11:27–32), and worship (1 Cor 14:23–25). God’s unique presence in and through the church, being the group of believers, makes the church a way that people can experience God’s power and glory (Eph 3:21; compare Heb 10:19–25; 12:22–24).

The church is also identified as the body of Christ (e.g., 1 Cor 12; Col 1:24; Eph 1:22–23), the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16–17; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:20–21), the bride of Christ (Eph 5:22–33), and the people of God (e.g., 1 Pet 2:9–10). Believers also experience fellowship with one another in the church (Acts 2:42–47; Eph 2:10–14; 1 John 1:7) and thus have the opportunity to grow and mature in the faith (Eph 4:7–16). This makes the church the means through which God accomplishes great things in this world (Eph 3:20–21)—how God makes visible the invisible presence of Christ (Eph 1:22–23).

There are two uses of the word “church”: the universal Church—comprising all believers everywhere—and specific local churches like the church in Corinth, which assembled regularly in a specific location. These two groups are connected to one another—so that Paul, in the same passage, can speak about both the local and universal church (e.g., 1 Cor 12:13, 27; Eph 2:20–21). The best way to understand the relationship between the universal Church and the local church is to think of each local church as a full manifestation of the universal Church. In this regard, the identities of the two mold into one.

In addition, because the Church is God’s work, it often comes under attack by the spiritual forces of darkness. Although Jesus proclaimed that the Church would ultimately be victorious (Matt 16:18), there are inevitable setbacks along the way. As a result, God’s presence in the Church is often veiled, and the Church’s true beauty is obscured by the sinfulness of people.

Yet despite its flaws, the Church was designed by God to allow us to continue to experience His presence in a very real and powerful way. Thus, as we are reminded in Heb 10:22–25, “let us approach with a true heart in the full assurance of faith … not abandoning our meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging each other, and by so much more as you see the day drawing near.”

Jim Samra

Further Reading

Metaphors for the Church

Church CLBD

Christianity CLBD