Greek
ἐκκλησία
ekklēsia
Church, assembly, called-out ones
The Greek word translated 'church' — literally 'called out ones.' Jesus first uses it in Matthew 16:18 — 'upon this rock I will build my church [ekklesia].' The ekklesia is Christ's people, called out of the world and gathered to him.
Ekklesia (ἐκκλησία) is the Greek word for an assembly or gathering of people, from ek- ('out of') and kaleō ('to call') — literally 'the called-out ones.' In Classical Greek, ekklesia was the citizen assembly of a Greek city-state (the Athenian ekklesia, for example, was the democratic governing assembly). In the Septuagint, ekklesia translates the Hebrew qahal — the congregation of Israel gathered before the LORD. In the New Testament, ekklesia is the standard word for the Christian church — both the universal body of Christ and the local congregation. The English word 'church' comes from a different root (Greek kuriakon, 'belonging to the Lord'), but 'ecclesiastical' preserves the ekklesia connection.
Ekklesia is used over 100 times in the NT. (1) The universal church. Matthew 16:18 — Jesus' famous declaration: 'upon this rock I will build my church [ekklesia]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' This is the first NT use of ekklesia for the Christian community. Ephesians 5:23, 25-27 — Christ is the head of the ekklesia; the ekklesia is his bride. (2) The local congregation. Acts 8:1 — 'the church [ekklesia] which was at Jerusalem.' 1 Corinthians 1:2 — 'the church [ekklesia] of God which is at Corinth.' Most NT uses of ekklesia refer to a specific local congregation. (3) The gathered assembly. 1 Corinthians 14:23 — 'If therefore the whole church [ekklesia] be come together into one place.' (4) Multiple churches in a region. Acts 9:31 — 'the churches [ekklesiai] throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria.' Plural form — many local ekklesiai. (5) Christ as builder of the ekklesia. 'I will build my church' (Matthew 16:18). The church is Christ's, built by him. (6) Christ's body. Ephesians 1:22-23 — 'the church, Which is his body.' (7) The bride. Ephesians 5:25-27 — Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. (8) The pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 — 'the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.' The ekklesia exists where God's people are gathered around the gospel. It is not a building, an institution, or a denomination — those serve the ekklesia. The ekklesia is the people themselves, called out by Christ and gathered to him.
“Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
“Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
“And gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body.”
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven.”
Identify with the ekklesia — Christ's body. Commit to a local congregation. Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves (Hebrews 10:25). Honor the church Christ died for (Ephesians 5:25). Use your gifts for the building up of the body (1 Corinthians 12). The ekklesia is not optional Christian accessory — it is the family Christ has gathered to himself.
Ekklesia (ἐκκλησία) literally means 'called-out ones' — from ek ('out of') and kaleō ('to call'). In Classical Greek it was the citizen assembly. In the NT it is the standard word for 'church' — both the universal body of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:25) and the local congregation (1 Corinthians 1:2). The ekklesia is the people, not the building.
Matthew 16:18 — after Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus said 'upon this rock I will build my church [ekklesia]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' This is the first NT use of ekklesia for the Christian community. Jesus is the builder; the ekklesia is built on the rock of Peter's confession of Christ as Son of God.
Ekklesia is people — specifically, the gathered people of God in Christ. The NT never uses ekklesia for a building. Christians met in homes, in outdoor settings, in synagogues, in the Temple courts. The ekklesia is what happens when Christ's people gather around the gospel. Buildings serve the ekklesia; they are not the ekklesia.
Essential. Jesus said he would build his ekklesia (Matthew 16:18). Christ died for the ekklesia (Ephesians 5:25). The Spirit indwells the ekklesia (1 Corinthians 3:16). Hebrews 10:25 commands not forsaking the assembling. The ekklesia is the body of Christ on earth, his bride. To be a Christian is to be part of the ekklesia — universal and local.