Meaning of “church”
Church — Derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e., "the Lord's house"), which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship. In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew _kahal_ of the Old Testament, both words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in post-apostolic times it early received this meaning. Nor is this word ever used to denote the inhabitants of a country united in the same profession, as when we say the "Church of England," the "Church of Scotland," etc. We find the word ecclesia used in the following senses in the New Testament: (1.) It is translated "assembly" in the ordinary classical sense (Acts 19:32, 39, 41). (2.) It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible catholic church (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27, 29; Heb. 12:23). (3.) A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances of the gospel are an ecclesia (Rom. 16:5; Col. 4:15). (4.) All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled together in one place or in several places for religious worship, were an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Antioch, forming several congregations, were one church (Acts 13:1); so also we read of the "church of God at Corinth" (1 Cor. 1:2), "the church at Jerusalem" (Acts 8:1), "the church of Ephesus" (Rev. 2:1), etc. (5.) The whole body of professing Christians throughout the world (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; Matt. 16:18) are the church of Christ. The church visible "consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children." It is called "visible" because its members are known and its assemblies are public. Here there is a mixture of "wheat and chaff," of saints and sinners. "God has commanded his people to organize themselves into distinct visible ecclesiastical communities, with constitutions, laws, and officers, badges, ordinances, and discipline, for the great purpose of giving visibility to his kingdom, of making known the gospel of that kingdom, and of gathering in all its elect subjects. Each one of these distinct organized communities which is faithful to the great King is an integral part of the visible church, and all together constitute the catholic or universal visible church." A credible profession of the true religion constitutes a person a member of this church. This is "the kingdom of heaven," whose character and progress are set forth in the parables recorded in Matt. 13. The children of all who thus profess the true religion are members of the visible church along with their parents. Children are included in every covenant God ever made with man. They go along with their parents (Gen. 9:9-17; 12:1-3; 17:7; Ex. 20:5; Deut. 29:10-13). Peter, on the day of Pentecost, at the beginning of the New Testament dispensation, announces the same great principle. "The promise [just as to Abraham and his seed the promises were made] is unto you, and to your children" (Acts 2:38, 39). The children of believing parents are "holy", i.e., are "saints", a title which designates the members of the Christian church (1 Cor. 7:14). (See BAPTISM »T0000435.) The church invisible "consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, the head thereof." This is a pure society, the church in which Christ dwells. It is the body of Christ. it is called "invisible" because the greater part of those who constitute it are already in heaven or are yet unborn, and also because its members still on earth cannot certainly be distinguished. The qualifications of membership in it are internal and are hidden. It is unseen except by Him who "searches the heart." "The Lord knoweth them that are his" (2 Tim. 2:19). The church to which the attributes, prerogatives, and promises appertaining to Christ's kingdom belong, is a spiritual body consisting of all true believers, i.e., the church invisible. (1.) Its unity. God has ever had only one church on earth. We sometimes speak of the Old Testament Church and of the New Testament church, but they are one and the same. The Old Testament church was not to be changed but enlarged (Isa. 49:13-23; 60:1-14). When the Jews are at length restored, they will not enter a new church, but will be grafted again into "their own olive tree" (Rom. 11:18-24; comp. Eph. 2:11-22). The apostles did not set up a new organization. Under their ministry disciples were "added" to the "church" already existing (Acts 2:47). (2.) Its universality. It is the "catholic" church; not confined to any particular country or outward organization, but comprehending all believers throughout the whole world. (3.) Its perpetuity. It will continue through all ages to the end of the world. It can never be destroyed. It is an "everlasting kindgdom."
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Bible Search for “church”
Matthew Chapter 16 Verse 18 — And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew Chapter 18 Verse 17 — And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Acts Chapter 2 Verse 47 — Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts Chapter 5 Verse 11 — And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Acts Chapter 7 Verse 38 — This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: Acts Chapter 8 Verse 1 — And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts Chapter 8 Verse 3 — As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Acts Chapter 9 Verse 31 — Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Acts Chapter 11 Verse 22 — Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Acts Chapter 11 Verse 26 — And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts Chapter 12 Verse 1 — Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. Acts Chapter 12 Verse 5 — Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. Acts Chapter 13 Verse 1 — Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Acts Chapter 14 Verse 23 — And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Acts Chapter 14 Verse 27 — And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Acts Chapter 15 Verse 3 — And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. Acts Chapter 15 Verse 4 — And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. Acts Chapter 15 Verse 22 — Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: Acts Chapter 15 Verse 41 — And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. Acts Chapter 16 Verse 5 — And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Acts Chapter 18 Verse 22 — And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. Acts Chapter 19 Verse 37 — For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Acts Chapter 20 Verse 17 — And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. Acts Chapter 20 Verse 28 — Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Romans Chapter 16 Verse 1 — I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: Romans Chapter 16 Verse 4 — Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Romans Chapter 16 Verse 5 — Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. Romans Chapter 16 Verse 16 — Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. Romans Chapter 16 Verse 23 — Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Verse 2 — Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's: 1 Corinthians Chapter 4 Verse 17 — For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 1 Corinthians Chapter 6 Verse 4 — If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 1 Corinthians Chapter 7 Verse 17 — But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 1 Corinthians Chapter 10 Verse 32 — Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 Verse 16 — But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 Verse 18 — For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 Verse 22 — What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 Verse 28 — And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Verse 4 — He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Verse 5 — I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Verse 12 — Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Verse 19 — Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Verse 23 — If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Verse 28 — But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Verse 33 — For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Verse 34 — Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 Verse 35 — And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 Verse 9 — For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians Chapter 16 Verse 1 — Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 1 Corinthians Chapter 16 Verse 19 — The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
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