What does “church” mean? (continued)
The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: universal spiritual group (continued)
- Matthew 16:13-20 (Acts 2:36-41)
- The term “universal church”
- The word “catholic” means “universal.”
- One single Savior ➡️ one, single group of saved people (church)
The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: local spiritual group
- I Corinthians 1:2
- I Thessalonians 1:1
The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: local church assembly
- I Corinthians 14:4, 5, 12, 19, 23, 28, 33, 34, 35
- I Corinthians 11:18, 22
The Bible’s use of “ekklesia”: Christians in certain regions
- Acts 9:31
The difference between “church” and “churches”
Number
| “church” | “churches” |
|---|---|
| There is only one (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4). | There are many (Revelation 22:16; Romans 16:16). |
Salvation
| “church” | “churches” |
|---|---|
| Membership is equivalent to salvation (Ephesians 5:23-29; Hebrews 12:22-24; Matthew 16:13-20). | Members are not necessarily saved (I Corinthians 5), and the saved are not necessarily members (Acts 8:38-39; Revelation 1:9; III John 1:9-10). |
Scope
| “church” | “churches” |
|---|---|
| This refers to ALL the saved (Acts 2:47). | This refers to a limited group of (presumably) saved people functioning collectively in Divinely authorized work (Philippians 1:1). |
Entrance and removal
| “church” | “churches” |
|---|---|
| God decides (Acts 2:47; John 15:6). | People decide (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:2, 7, 13). |
Beginning and ending
| “church” | “churches” |
|---|---|
| The church began when people were first saved by Christ (~33 A.D., Acts 2:36-47) and will never come to an end (Matthew 16:18; I Thessalonians 4:17). | They begin and end any time since Acts 2 (Acts 11:21-26; 15:41; 16:5; Revelation 2:5). |
Oversight
| “church” | “churches” |
|---|---|
| Jesus is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). There are no earthly leaders. | Elders are to be appointed in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). |
Treasury
| “church” | “churches” |
|---|---|
| There is none. | Churches collect and use money on a congregational level (I Corinthians 16:1-4; Philippians 4:15-16). |
Work
| “church” | “churches” |
|---|---|
| The word “church” in this sense simply refers to all saved people (Ephesians 5:23-29; Hebrews 12:22-24), but they are not a universally functioning entity. | Churches engage in lots of different actions and work. |
- Examples of the work of local churches:
- Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
- Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
- Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
- Assembly to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
- Have overseers and deacons (Philippians 1:1)
- Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
- Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
- Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
- Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
- Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
- Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
- Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)
- Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
- Support preachers in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
- Romans 16:16 - This verse is sometimes cited as authority for collective action.
