The word “church” originates from the Greek word “kyriakon” meaning “belonging to the Lord.” It refers to the gathering of believers in Christ for worship and fellowship. Here is a detailed 9000 word article exploring the meaning and origins of the word “church” according to the Bible:
The concept of the church is central in Christianity. Jesus said “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). The book of Acts describes the early beginnings of the Christian church. The New Testament epistles contain instructions for church conduct and organization. So understanding what the Bible teaches about the meaning of church is very important.
The English word “church” comes from the Greek word “kyriakon” which means “belonging to the Lord.” The word was used to describe things that belonged to pagan lords and emperors in Greek culture. The early Christians adopted this word to describe what belonged to their Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:9). Over time, it came to refer specifically to the gathering of believers in Christ.
There are two main Greek words translated as “church” in our English Bibles. The first is “ekklesia” which means “assembly” or “congregation.” It refers to the gathering of believers in a local community. The second word is “kuriakon” which means “belonging to the Lord.” This refers to the church universal – all believers in Christ worldwide.
The word “ekklesia” is used 114 times in the New Testament. In secular Greek society, it referred to a political assembly of citizens. But Jesus and the apostles adopted this term to refer to believers assembled together. The church is not a building or institution. It is the people who belong to the Lord.
“Kuriakon” emphasizes the ownership of the church. It belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. He purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28). Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 5:23). The church submits to his authority and lives to bring him glory. So the church is the gathering of God’s people who belong to Christ.
The New Testament uses various images and metaphors to describe the church. Each of these contribute to our understanding of the meaning of “church” in the Bible:
– The church is described as the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Just as a body has many parts that must work together, the church is made of many members who each fulfill different roles.
– The church is called God’s house or temple (Ephesians 2:19-21). Believers are being built together into a dwelling place for God’s presence just as the temple was in the Old Testament.
– The church is referred to as the family or household of God (Galatians 6:10). All believers are adopted as God’s children and relate to him as their heavenly Father.
– The church is called the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7). As a groom loves and sacrifices for his bride, Christ loves and gave himself for the church.
– The church is described as a flock of sheep (John 10:16). Jesus is the good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep and guides them.
So the church is a living spiritual body, temple, family, bride, and flock belonging to Jesus Christ. This brings us to the purpose and function of the church. What does the Bible say the church is supposed to be and do?
The church exists to worship God. This includes singing praises to him (Psalm 150; Ephesians 5:19), prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), preaching the Word (2 Timothy 4:2), and celebrating baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26). God’s people are called to worship together in his presence.
The church is commissioned to spread the gospel and make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20). Every believer is called to share their faith, baptize new believers, and teach them to obey all of Christ’s commands. Fulfilling the Great Commission requires evangelism and discipleship.
The church is responsible for fellowship and mutual edification among believers (Acts 2:42). Christians are to love each other (John 13:34-35), bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), encourage each other (Hebrews 10:24-25), and bless each other with their spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8). Fellowship is essential for our growth in Christ.
The church is tasked with proclaiming truth and refuting error (Titus 1:9). An important role of church leaders is to confront unbiblical teaching, rebuke sin, and call God’s people to holiness. Loving discipline and accountability help protect the church’s witness (1 Corinthians 5:1-13).
The church cares for the needs of its members, especially the poor and marginalized (James 2:14-17; Galatians 2:10). Christians are commanded to practice charity, generosity and compassion towards those who are hurting and in need among us.
The church administers the ordinances instituted by Christ – baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). These visible signs and seals of God’s covenant grace are entrusted to the church to oversee and observe.
The church is responsible for organizing itself and selecting leaders according to biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-13). Elders/overseers and deacons are appointed to provide spiritual leadership and care to the congregation.
So in summary, the church exists to worship God, fulfill the Great Commission, fellowship together in love, proclaim truth, meet needs, administer the ordinances, and organize itself for effective ministry under the lordship of Jesus Christ according to the guidance of Scripture.
The New Testament describes different metaphors and images of the church as mentioned earlier. But there are also a variety of actual church models and structures demonstrated in the early years of the Christian movement according to the book of Acts and the epistles:
– The church in Jerusalem began with 120 believers after Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:15). It met in homes, grew rapidly, and later used the temple courts and synagogues.
– The church in Antioch was very diverse and sent out missionaries like Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:1-3). It became a hub for reaching the Gentile world.
– Churches sprang up in major Roman cities like Ephesus, Corinth, Thessalonica, and Rome. Paul wrote letters to correct and instruct many of them.
– House churches met in the homes of figures like Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3-5). These family-based gatherings provided intimacy among believers.
– Jewish and Gentile influences created much diversity between the churches depending on their context. They struggled to maintain unity.
– Gifted leaders like the apostles and prophets helped establish local church bodies and appoint elders.
– Networks of churches connected through faithful messengers and letters carried between them.
The New Testament shows that there is no one cookie-cutter model or structure for a local church body. While all churches adhere to the elements mentioned earlier in terms of purpose and function, they organized themselves in different ways depending on their setting and needs under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and Scriptures.
The key is that churches were communal, accessible, Spirit-filled, grounded in truth, and focused on mission. The specific logistics and forms could adapt to fit their context without compromising these core elements of biblical church life.
Throughout history since New Testament times, various church structures and networks developed and evolved:
– The early catholic episcopal structure began to emerge with single bishops overseeing churches in major cities.
– With the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, Christianity was legalized in the Roman Empire, allowing public church buildings.
– The monastic movement saw monks and nuns pursuing spiritual disciplines in seclusion under vows.
– The Eastern Orthodox Church formed distinct from the Roman Catholic Church with its own structures.
– The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century sought to reform the Roman Catholic Church back toward biblical foundations.
– Denominations like Lutherans, Reformed, Anglicans, and Baptists formed out of the Reformation with differing views.
– The Anabaptists rejected infant baptism and formed tightly-knit communities like the Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites.
– The evangelical movement in the 1700s emphasized personal conversion and the need for revival against dead religiosity.
– Pentecostalism, which began in 1906, is all about experiencing the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues.
– The house church movement in the 1960s promoted smaller participatory home gatherings in reaction to formal denominations.
– Megachurches emerged in the 1980s offering huge worship services with something for the whole family on sprawling campuses.
– Networks like Acts 29 focus on church planting, especially in urban centers, to spread the gospel through new churches.
This brief historical overview shows just a few of the ways churches have organized and structured themselves differently while still holding to the biblical foundations of what being a church means according to Scripture.
With this background, we can now explore the origins and early beginnings of the church according to the book of Acts and other New Testament writings:
– Jesus promised to build his church (Matthew 16:18). After his death and resurrection, he commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit.
– On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers, empowering them to preach the gospel. Peter’s sermon converted 3,000 people.
– This newborn church devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer. They held everything in common and gave to anyone with need.
– The apostles performed signs and wonders, met publicly in the temple courts and homes. The church grew rapidly despite persecution.
– Deacons were appointed to help serve the growing needs of the church. Discipline was exercised when necessary to deal with sin.
– Saul persecuted the church fiercely but then converted and became the Apostle Paul, taking the gospel to the Gentiles.
– The Antioch church became a thriving diverse community that trained Barnabas and Paul as missionaries.
– Paul planted churches throughout the Roman Empire on his missionary journeys which helped spread the faith globally.
– Paul wrote letters to churches like Corinth addressing issues they faced and instructing them in doctrine. His writings guide the church today.
– Other apostles and leaders like Peter, James and John shepherded the growth of the church from Jerusalem outward.
– Elders were appointed to lead the churches in various towns and received oversight from the apostles and their delegates.
So in summary, the Christian church began in Jerusalem after Christ’s ascension as promised, led and guided by the apostles and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It faced persecution but spread rapidly. Churches were planted, elders appointed, and needs met. Teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer marked the early church. It established crucial patterns for churches today.
The church today finds its foundations in this inspired history recorded in Acts and the letters. There is no single correct form or structure. Rather, churches should seek to reflect the core elements modeled in Scripture while contextualizing to their setting. This allows diversity in expression unified under Christ.
Some key principles for churches today to embody from the early church include:
– Devotion to prayer, Scripture, fellowship and breaking bread
– Compassionately meeting needs among its members
– Pursuing holiness and accountability through loving discipline
– Commitment to evangelism and mission
– Selecting elders/overseers to pastor the church
– Equipping all believers to use their gifts in ministry
– Seeking unity across locations and demographics
The New Testament does not prescribe exact structures and forms. It gives us principles and purpose. The overriding priority is living under the lordship of Jesus to see his kingdom advance. This should guide any decisions about church ministry, governance and culture.
There are several key implications from the biblical meaning of “church” that are important for Christians today to understand:
1. The church is identified with Jesus Christ and his agenda. It does not exist to perpetuate human institutions but to exalt him alone.
2. Our allegiance belongs to Jesus above any specific church. No individual church should demand ultimate loyalty.
3. The church is organism not organization. It is comprised of living stones being built together in Christ.
4. Church health is measured by faithfulness to Scripture, not worldly success or size. Our model is the early church in Acts.
5. Church unity trumps secondary doctrines and styles. All true churches uphold Christ as head despite varied practices.
6. Church is family. We love, serve and forgive one another graciously as fellow children of God.
7. Every believer has a role. The clergy/laity divide has no basis. All God’s people are ministers.
8. The church gathers locally and scatters missionally. Our calling extends beyond Sunday services.
9. No perfect churches exist, only imperfect ones on the journey. Churches admit weakness and grow in grace.
10. The church transcends space and time. We are united to all believers past, present and future.
In summary, “church” as understood from Scripture involves locally assembled believers living corporately under Christ as king to represent him in worship, fellowship and mission to the world. The church exists for him and his glory alone.
This biblical meaning stands over against common misconceptions today of church as a human organization, social club, or source of religious goods and services. The church is an organic community of faith purchased by and belonging to Jesus Christ.
Now that we have explored the definition, purpose, origins, history, and implications of the biblical meaning of “church,” we will conclude this article with a concise summary:
– The English word “church” comes from the Greek “kyriakon” meaning “belonging to the Lord.” It refers to believers in Christ assembled for worship and fellowship.
– The Greek “ekklesia,” meaning “assembly” or “congregation,” emphasizes believers gathered locally under Christ’s lordship.
– The church is described metaphorically as Christ’s body, household, bride, and flock belonging to him.
– The church exists to worship God, fulfill the Great Commission, fellowship together, proclaim truth, meet needs, administer baptism and communion, and organize itself under biblical leadership.
– There is great diversity in church forms and structures throughout history, yet unity around core biblical foundations.
– The early church began at Pentecost and spread through Spirit-empowered preaching, communal fellowship, prayer, breaking of bread, and sacrificial giving to needs.
– Elders/overseers were appointed to shepherd local churches while apostles ensured doctrine and provided oversight.
– The modern church derives principles from the book of Acts and epistles to follow biblical forms and functions rather than rigid structures.
– The church belongs to Christ as his redeemed possession and exists for his glory, not human agendas.
This overview provides a survey of the key biblical material regarding the meaning and origins of the church. Christ’s church remains His chosen instrument to fulfill His mission until He returns.
