WHAT DOES "CHURCH" REFER TO IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?
The Word "Church"
"Church" comes from the Anglo Saxon "circe" (Kirk) which, in turn, comes from the Greek kyriakon which means "belonging to the Lord." So one could think of "church" as the people or the building "belonging to the Lord." But in the English New Testament, the word "church" translates the Greek ekklesiawhich means "assembly" or "congregation" and never refers to a building. Therefore, the "church" is the people who belong to the Lord Jesus.
The Universal Church of All Believers of All Time
And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church.
All the Believers in an Area
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
All the Believers in a City
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem.
The Believers Gathered in a House-Congregation
Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
THE IMPORTANCE AND PRECIOUSNESS AND PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE WORLD
The Bride of Christ
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church.
The Body of Christ (Universal)
He is also head of the body, the church. . . . Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
The Body of Christ (Local)
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable. . . . But God has so composed the body . . . that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
The Household and Dwelling of God
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
The Pillar and Support of the Truth
[I write] so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
To Display His Glory
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God'sown possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
To Display the Manifold Wisdom of God to the Spiritual Powers of Heaven
The Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. . . . To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
To Show the Authority and Power of Christ
I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
ALL NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES HAD ELDERS
Elders in All the Churches that Paul Founded
When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Elders in the Church at Jerusalem
And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.
Elders in Ephesus
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
Elders in All the Churches of Crete
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.
Elders in All the Churches of the Dispersion of the Roman Empire
James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. . . . Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
Elders in All the Churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen. . . . Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God.
