Information Related to "How the Word Church is Used in Greek and English"
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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.
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