050. Ekklesia, Use of, in the New Testament

050. Ekklesia, Use of, in the New Testament

50 USE OF "EKKLESIA" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

INTRODUCTION Profitable to study the New Testament use of "ecclesia."

I. DEFlNITlON OF THE WORD

1. "The Ekklesia" a compound Greek word, "eh," out and "kaleo," called means "called out."

2. The word does not mean "God’s called out of the world."

3. New Testament use of it does show it.

II. "EKKLESIA" lN THE EPISTLES 1. The singular use.

(a) Applied to church at Jerusalem. (l Cor. 15:9; Galatians 1:13; Php 3:6.) (b) The ekklesia of a city which is named. (Romans 16:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1.) (c) Referring to the individual ekklesia addressed. (Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 14:12; 1 Corinthians 14:2 l; 1 Timothy 5:16; James 5:14; 2 John 1:9-10.) (d) Referring to an individual ekklesia. (1 Corinthians 14:4; 1 Timothy 3:5; 1 Timothy 3:15.) (e) One universal ekklesia as represented in the local ekklesia. (1 Corinthians 10:32; 1 Corinthians 11:22.) (f) The one universal ekklesia absolutely . (Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 3:21; Ephesians 5:23-25; Ephesians 5:27; Ephesians 5:29; Ephesians 5:32; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24.) (g) What may be called a domestic ekklesia. (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2.) 2. The plural Use.

(a) The sum of individual ekklesiai in a named region: Judea. (Galatians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:14.) Galatia. (1 Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:2.) Macedonia. (2 Corinthians 8:1.) Asia. (1 Corinthians 16:19; Revelation 1:4.) (b) Not of a definite region, nor yet the sum of all individual ekklesia. (Romans 16:4; Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 8:23; 2 Corinthians 9:8.) (c) Some of all individual ekklesiai. (1 Corinthians 7:17; 1 Corinthians 9:16; 2 Corinthians 8:18; 2 Corinthians 8:24; 2 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:4.)