The Ekklēsia in Paul’s Letters In Paul’s mind local congregations of believers, often fellowships which met in homes of wealthy Christians (Rom. 16:5, 23; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Philem. 2), are “churches,” as may be seen by his willingness to use the noun in the plural (Rom. 16:4, 16; 1 Cor. 7:17; 14:33; 2 Cor. 8:18; 11:8, 28; 12:13). He can also speak of the “church” at a certain place, such as at Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1), at Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1), at Laodicea (Col. 4:16), and at Thessalonica