by Nadine Drayton-Keen

Created on: June 16, 2008   Last Updated: June 18, 2008

Church Is the Globally Recognized Spiritual Body of Christ

There are many definitions for the English word "church." According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, "church" is defined as:

(1)a building for public and especially Christian
worship; (2) the clergy or officialdom of a
religious body; (3) often capitalized: a body
or organization of religious believers: as a: the

whole body of Christians, b: denomination , c:
congregation; (4) a public divine worship ; (5) the
clerical profession . (Merriam-Webster Online)

These different definitions of the word "church" are why this English term is a poor choice for the New Testament's original Greek term, which is the word "ekklesia," a transliteration of the Greek word "ejkklhsiva." "Church" is a poor translation of "ekklesia," because this original Greek term doesn't mean any of the aforementioned "church" definitions.

During the time of the Greek city-states, "ekklesia" was understood to mean a "called out assembly of citizens." These people were called out' of their homes (summoned) to meet in a designated public place where they would discuss what to do about their corrupt government. Even in the time of Christ, the Romans and the Hebrews understood that "ekklesia" was a political term.

Not once in the one hundred and fifteen times "ekklesia" is used in the original New Testament does "ekklesia" denote or connote any religious meaning. The New Testament's "ekklesia" always means a group of individuals assembled together for a particular purpose or cause. However, from the context in which "ekklesia" is used, the different kinds of assemblies can be determined. For example, in Acts 2:47, the English word "church" means an assembly ("ekklesia") of fellowshipping believers to which Christ daily adds new believers. Indeed, in most of the New Testament places that "ekklesia" is used, the reference is to an "assembly" of believers in Christ who meet in rented halls or in believers' homes. That's why the word "assembly" is the best word to use for "ekklesia" instead of "church."

Moreover, the word "church" (from the Old English "cirice" and the Middle English "churche") has its origin in the meaning of lordship, which is derived from the Greek term kuriakn (transliterated as kuriakos), of which the root is kurios. Since Christ is Lord and the foundation upon which His New Testament "church" is built, and since the British monarchs considered themselves to be Lords over their kingdoms, of which included the Anglican Church, perhaps

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