Word study · Greek
ἐκκλησία
ekklēsiaG1577assembly
Used 114 times in the tagged text.
What it means
- prop., an assembly of citizens regularly convened
- In LXX of the assembly, congregation, community of Israel
- NT, esp. of an assembly or company of Christians, a
Full dictionary entry (technical)
- ἐκκλησία, -ας, ἡ
- (ἐκ-καλέω), [in LXX chiefly for קָהָל, otherwise for one of its cogn. forms ;]
- 1. prop., an assembly of citizens regularly convened (in Thuc., ii, 22, opposite to σύλλογος, a concourse): Act.19:32, 39 41.
- 2. In LXX of the assembly, congregation, community of Israel (Deu.4:10 23:2, al.): Act.7:38, Heb.2:12" (LXX) .
- 3. NT, esp. of an assembly or company of Christians, a (the) church;
- (a) of gatherings for worship: 1Co.11:18 14:19, 34 35;
- (b) of local communities: Act.8:3, 1Co.4:17; with name added, Act.8:1, Rom.16:1, 1Th.1:1, al.; pl., Act.15:41, 1Co.7:17; τ. Χριστοῦ, Rom.16:16; τ. Ἀσίας, 1Co.16:19; τ. ἁγίων, 1Co.14:33; εἰπο]ν τ. ἐκκλησίᾳ, Mat.18:17 (but see Hort, Ecclesia, 10); of a house-congregation (DB, i, 431a), Rom.16:5, 1Co.16:19, Col.4:15, Phm 2;
- (with) of the whole body of Christians: Mat.16:18, 1Co.12:28, Eph.1:22, Php.3:6, al.; τ. θεοῦ, Act.20:28 (Κυρίου, T, R, mg.), 1Co.15:9, Gal.1:13, 1Ti.3:15; ἐ. προτοτόκων ἀπογεγραμμένων ἐν οὐρανοῖς, Heb.12:23.
- SYN.: συναγωγή, which see (see Tr., Syn., §i; DB, i, 426; Hort, Ecclesia, esp. 4ff., 107ff.; Hamilton, People of God, ii, 37ff.; reff. s.vv. "Church," "Congregation," in DB and DCG; Cremer, 332). (AS)
Same idea, other words · Assembly and church
Ekklesia, 'church', was already the Greek Old Testament's word for Israel's assembly, so the New Testament church is described in the language of God's called-together people.
Where it appears
- Matthew3
- Acts23
- Romans5
- 1 Corinthians22
- 2 Corinthians9
- Galatians3
- Ephesians9
- Philippians2
- Colossians4
- 1 Thessalonians2
- 2 Thessalonians2
- 1 Timothy3
- Philemon1
- Hebrews2
- James1
- 3 John3
- Revelation20
Every use · 1–50 of 114 · BSB
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.
He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.
And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church.
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.
Meanwhile the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing and some another, and most of them did not even know why they were there.
But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly.
After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.
who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send you greetings.
Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings, as does our brother Quartus.
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.
So if you need to settle everyday matters, do you appoint as judges those of no standing in the church?
Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.
First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not!
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.
For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Text, tags and lexicon: STEPBible.org (Tyndale House), CC BY 4.0.