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How the Word Church is Used in Greek and English
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia gives this view of the usage of
church in Greek and English: "Theologically, there is only one Church, for Christians
are now fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of God, built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets."
The New Unger's Bible Dictionary explains the ways church is used in English: "The
word church is employed to express various ideas, some of which are scriptural, others
not. It may be used to signify: (1) The entire body of those who are saved by their
relation to Christ. (2) A particular Christian denomination. (3) The aggregate of
all the ecclesiastical communions, professing faith in Christ. (4) A single organized
Christian group. (5) A building designated for Christian worship."
In contrast, the Holman Bible Dictionary summarizes the biblical usage of the word:
"Church is the term used in the New Testament most frequently to describe a
group of persons professing trust in Jesus Christ, meeting together to worship Him,
and seeking to enlist others to become His followers." This resource correctly
defines church as a group of people.
The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible describes in some detail the usage of church
in the New Testament:
"For that reality which is designated in English most commonly by the word 'church,'
there are in the NT many diverse terms, each with its own etymological and theological
history. Each term conveys in varying contexts a large cluster of shifting connotations
and associations.
"In contemporary English usage, 'church' as a word dominates the ecclesiological
vocabulary. It comes through German and Latin from the Greek kyriakon, which means
'that which belongs to the Lord.' In NT Greek, ekklesia (almost always translated
in English by 'church)' is by no means so dominating or central a term.
"Of the 112 appearances of ecclesia (Latin spelling) in the NT, 90 per cent
are found in Paul's letters, the book of Acts, and Revelation. From ten books (Mark,
Luke, John, II Timothy, Titus, I-II Peter, I-II John, and Jude) this word is absent.
"Ecclesia was used primarily to designate a particular communal reality, not
to describe its qualitative aspects. Where the distinctive qualities and dimensions
of community life were intended, other terms proved more flexible and evocative.
"In comparison with these other terms, ecclesia was relatively neutral and colorless,
conveying by itself little theological meaning. It was open to use, without basic
shift in meaning, by unbelievers as well as by believers. Even among those writers
who made wide use of ecclesia, other terms were more expressive of the reality at
hand."
©1999 United Church of God, an International Associtaion
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