Growing up me

1962

Several days ago I saw this photo on Facebook, it was one of my memories. This is The Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel on Kalakaua Ave in, you guessed it, Waikiki. The other side of the street is the ocean!

Circle Hotel today. Waikiki Beach

The Circle Hotel, which in my memory has always been “The Round Hotel”, was built in 1962. We moved to Hawai'i in 1964, two years after it was built, and stayed here. It was standing pretty much by itself then. I don’t know how long we stayed here, couldn’t have been too long.

A brief interruption. My early years must have been rather traumatic, as I can recall very little of my first 10 years of life. I guess my way of dealing with things was to not remember them! My memories begin at around 10 or 11, about the time we moved to Hawai’i. I remember driving all night from Tucson to Los Angeles, then sleeping all day in a motel while waiting for our red eye to Honolulu. In those days it was just Mother, Dad, my (then) little brother Mike, and my even littler sister Tracey. If I was 10 then Mike would’ve been 6 and Tracey 2. Anyway, we spent our first nights in The Circle Hotel.

We then moved into a little apartment in Waikiki. I briefly attended Queen Lili’uokalani Elementary School. I’m still a little fuzzy here. I have a photo of my 4th grade class in Tucson, so I must have been in the 4th grade.

I don’t remember the move (we moved a lot when I was a child!), but while still in 4th grade we moved to Kahalu'u on the Windward side of Oahu. We were in the country! Our house was on Kamehameha Hwy, known locally as Kam Hwy. There were two houses on our driveway, we were the second one back from the road. Literally across the street from the end of our driveway was the ocean. Kaneohe Bay. It was not a pretty beach - the water came all the way to the highway at high tide and at low tide it retreated a good ways out, exposing a muddy, mucky mess. The ocean in the front, a mountain behind. The other thing I remember is the frogs, or toads. I don’t know which, only that they were everywhere, big, and froze in the headlights of an oncoming car.

After a brief stay in Kahalu’u we moved to Kaneohe. Still on the Windward Side. In fact, down the road from Kahalu’u. Not surprisingly, also on Kaneohe Bay. I still remember our address: 45-513A Kapalai Rd. Yep, another two house address and driveway. This time we were the first house.

house on Kapalai Rd

This house I remember well and fondly. A three bedroom house. Before long we added Bobby (a brother born to Mother and Dad), and Dad’s children from his previous marriage: Maureen, Kathleen (who went by Kathy, then Katie), Sean (who goes by Shaun now, apparently the birth certificate spelling) and Bridget. Yeah, all ten of us in a little 3 bedroom house! It was Mike, Sean, and me in one bedroom; Maureen, Kathy, Bridget, Tracey, and the baby (Bobby) in another. Good thing that back in those days we mostly lived outside. Next door lived the Gumapacs, a Filipino family with 11 children! We played together a lot! And they had cousins in Honolulu with 19 children, who lived in two adjoining apartments!

I attended Kapunahala Elementary for 5th and 6th grades. Attended? I walked. Honestly it was less than a mile. I can still remember that walk, too. Then Samuel W. King Intermediate School for 7th and 8th grades. Walked there too. Almost 2 miles. On Kam Highway no less. Sadly, I had become a punk kid by then.

Beginning with 9th grade my Dad got me a "District Exception" so I could attend school in Kailua – so I could spend more time with ‘my kind’. Yeah, it is as embarrassing to write it as it is to read it. All my friends were going to go to James B. Castle High School in Kaneohe (which I would’ve walked to, no doubt). I remember complaining bitterly to my brother Sean, “Kailua High School is where all the haoles go.” (Haole is the word for white people. Seems I had gone ‘local.’). Sean replied, “Jeff, you are a haole.”

I learned just yesterday the name of the intermediate school I attended for 9th grade, Kalaheo Intermediate! It was fairly new - it opened in 1966, I attended 69-70. I also learned that in 1976 it became a High School. My brother Sean drove me to school. Don't remember how I got home. Then 10th and 11th grade I went to Kailua High School. I hitchhiked to and from school each day. Talk about an unfunded mandate - my Dad arranged for me to go to school in the next town, but getting there was my responsibility!

I became a rather wild teenager while at Kailua High School. My brother turned me on, I mean introduced me, to marijuana middle of my 9th grade year. I went to school stoned every day after that. It only got worse in High School. Kailua had what was called a “modular system”, with twenty 20 minute mods a day; classes were 2 or 3 mods long, with a lot of free time. I got to where I was going in the morning, then leaving school to go surfing. Sometimes I would come back for the forty five cent lunch. Sometimes I wouldn’t. I have no idea how I passed. In all honesty, we were high school hippies living in Hawai’i.

My Dad died when I was a Junior in High School. Long story. Tough times. I can still remember the landlord meeting with Mother after that, telling her he was going to do some work on the house and would be raising the rent. An increase we could not afford. We held a yard sale, sold everything we had, and moved to Nashville, TN, where my grandparents lived. Talk about culture shock!!

That summer we lived with them in a tiny two bedroom house. It couldn’t hold all of us so me and my brother slept in a camper parked in their driveway. Mom rented a house on Donna Hill Court, on a hill right across from Opryland. I attended McGavock Comprehensive High. I walked there too! And graduated.

The most significant event in my life happened while I was a Senior in High School – I became a follower of Jesus Christ. I got saved! I was born again! My life was changed forever and eternity! But that is another story.

After graduation my Mother bought a house on Hurt Street, a couple of blocks from my grandparents house. It was while living there that another significant event happened. Very shortly after I started night school at the University of Tennessee Nashville in the Fall, I was hit by a car while riding a bicycle. I was laid up for quite a while. Why would that be so significant? I had to drop out of UTN. As I was recovering I heard from my next door neighbor about the University of Tennessee at Martin. I wanted to be a forest ranger, they offered a pre-forestry degree, so come January, in a snow storm, my Mother drove me to Martin, TN. My life direction was changed at UTM – I met Mary, and felt called into the ministry! That’s a different chapter in my other story!!

It was good to think about and remember these things. Obviously, since Hawai’i is where my memory begins, there is a lot I’ve left out - both good and bad, happy and sad. Seeing that hotel sparked a lot of memories and it was fun to go through them, like looking at old photos. I will say that I have a super majority of positive memories of our time in Hawai’i, in spite of what were some really hard times. How positive are my memories? The first time I took Mary to Hawai'i, the morning of our first full day, as we were driving through Kaneohe I was overwhelmed with the feeling, "Home." And that is a whole other story!

The Church in 2 Peter to Revelation

This is Part Last One of my series, How do the apostles refer to the church? This has been great! And enlightening! Today I will look at 2 Peter to Revelation. I admit, Revelation lives up to its reputation even here!

2 Peter
In his second epistle Peter does not use the word church. refers to them once as brethren, and 5 times beloved.

1 John
John does not use church in his first epistle. He only and repeatedly uses terms of endearment: little children (7 times), children of God (3 times), beloved (5 times), brethren (4 times).

2 John 
This epistle is enigmatic because it is uncertain whether John is referring to individuals or the church when he speaks to and of the elect lady, lady, and thy elect sister. He refers to believers as children 3 times.

3 John
He uses church, brethren, beloved 3 times each, children 1 time. John is very tender in all his epistles.

Jude 
Jude is also brief and tender: beloved 3 times, saints once.

The Revelation
The Revelation of Jesus Christ has many references to the people of God, and some of them call for a tough decision. I will be honest, I don’t really know how to proceed, especially because the references are numerous, scattered throughout the book, and some are a tough call (who is he referring to?). Here goes:

Let’s begin with the most frequently occurring expressions.

Church 7 times. Churches 13 times. 20 times some form of ekklesia is used. Each and every time it is used to refer to the seven churches of Asia, each and every time it is a local church, the assembly of believers in a city. This is the fundamental meaning of ekklesia and what we should think of when we see the word church unless something in the context directs us otherwise. But local church was a little different in apostolic times. For example, the church in Smyrna. There was only one ekklesia in Smyrna. One bishop. They were all united under one banner, but I admit I have no idea how they met, whether there were any smaller groups etc. Something to ponder.

Saints is used 13 times. Brethren 4 times.

Now I think I’ll list the other expressions for the church by chapter as we encounter them in reading Revelation.

1:6 kings and priests (also 5:10; 20:6)

7:3 the servants of God (servants occurs 9 times)

7:4 one hundred forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel – There are those who are having a duck fit right now. I know there are many who see this group as referring to physical Israel; just as there are those who see this as symbolically referring to the church. The argument for Israel is he is so specific, listing twelve thousand from every tribe. It seems rather elaborate for a symbol. The argument for the church is these are the servants who are sealed (v 3) and this is immediately followed by the great multitude (v 9). The thought is v 4 is the church symbolically, v 9 is the church in reality. You decide.
The one hundred forty and four thousand also appear in 14:1 & 3 but without the appellation of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

7:9 a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues 

11:18 them that fear thy name

12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The woman is Israel, the man child is Christ, the remnant of her seed is the church. How do I know? They keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. As you read Revelation you can see these are marks of a Christian:

14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

15:2 …them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name…

17:14  …and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

18:4 my people

19:1-10 is an amazing passage which should once again put us on ‘shouting ground’! You should really read the entire passage, I will simply list the words for the church
1 much people
5 Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.  
6 a great multitude
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.  

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Have the testimony of Jesus. As I said in chapter 12, this is the mark of a Christian.

21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

21:24 the nations of them which are saved

21:27 they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life

22:14 Blessed are they which do his commandments

22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come 
The church is called the wife of the Lamb and the bride; the New Jerusalem, the city which comes down from God out of heaven is also called the bride, the Lamb’s wife. I will leave it to thee to sort this out!


The Book of Revelation is the last book of the Bible so this is the end. What have we seen?

The church is the assembly of the saints, the brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. They gather together regularly, are organized (elders, deacons), and have a plan (pray, preach, teach). The apostles employ a multitude of descriptors, metaphors, and images for the church, including: temple, body, flock, olive tree, family, people, nation. By far the most common descriptor for the church is brethren. I admit I was a little surprised to learn that brethren is the apostles favorite term for the church. As I've been saying throughout this series, we should probably adjust our speech to reflect this apostolic and biblical emphasis.

The Church in Hebrews to 1 Peter

This is Part Almost Finished of my series, How do the apostles refer to the church? There’s a lot here, and very rich, so let’s go!

The Epistle to the Hebrews

Church only occurs two times
Hebrews 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
When did Jesus ever sing in the midst of the church? At the last supper, and when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. The church was before the day of Pentecost.

Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
This should put us on what we used to call “shouting ground”! As I have been pointing out, even if we are members of a small, despised, persecuted church, we are part of something really big! Halleluah! The church of the firstborn is both on earth and in heaven, or as it has been called, the church militant and the church triumphant. This is also the communion of the saints because we are all in this together!

Brethren 8 times (7 times the church)
Hebrews 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
This is powerful! Through faith in Christ we are his brethren. This is truly amazing! Our primary relationship to him is we are his brethren, his family; that’s why our primary relationship with one another is brethren, family (see also 3:1,12; 10:19; 13:22).

The Epistle of James
James mentions church one time (it is organized and has elders), but 15 times he refers to them as brethren. In this respect he reads like the Book of Acts.

The Epistle of 1 Peter

Peter uses church 1 time the church at Babylon), brethren 3 times, and body 0 times. Yet he manages to have a very rich imagery of the church.

1 Peter 2:2-10  
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  
We are living stones and God is using us to build a spiritual house, that is, we are the new temple, where God’s presence is. At the same time we are a (spiritual and) holy priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  
Jesus is the chief corner stone (one of the most frequent OT quotations in the NT), we are either built on him or stumble over him.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Wow! These are all Old Testament descriptions of Israel, now applied to New Testament saints.
a chosen generation – generation or race; we are both chosen and new
a royal priesthood – we are all priests of God we are a kingdom of priests; we are not laity and clergy, lay people and priests, no we are all everyone priests
an holy nation – we are a holy nation, as Israel was then, we are now
a peculiar people – a purchased people; a people for his own possession

v 10 are now the people of God - we are a chosen race, a holy nation, the people of God
This is all so intimate – God has prepared us to be a place for His presence; we are His people, who show forth His praises; we are his priests, who offer spiritual sacrifices to Him! Peter does not use body of Christ, but what he says is rich!!

Peter, like Paul, freely applies Old Testament descriptions of and promises to Israel to the church.

1 Peter 4:16-17  16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Christian only occurs in Acts and here in 1 Peter. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, that was by unbelievers; here the Spirit of God accepts this title and applies it to us. Then Peter says that as Christians we are the house of God, the family of God, which makes us . . . brethren!

5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Peter calls the church the flock of God, harking back to Jesus in John 10 (sheep, fold, shepherd). We are sheep and the elders are our shepherds, Jesus being the chief shepherd.

He also calls us God’s heritage. This word heritage is kleros. It is translated ‘lot, part, inheritance.’ The reason I point this out is this is the word which through Latin we get our word clergy. Peter said earlier we are all a royal priesthood. Well, we have devised a scheme in which we have clergy and laity, some are clergy or priests and the rest (most) are just lay people (who can’t do the spiritual things). This is not biblical. It is in fact anti-Bible! According to 2:10, Peter says all of us are the laity of God (laos, Greek word for people, from which cometh laity), the people of God; and according to 5:3 all of us are the kleros of God, we are all his heritage, his portion. We are all his people, and as his people we are all a royal priesthood.


Next: 2 Peter - Revelation

The Church in 1 Timothy to Philemon

The is Part Pastoral in my series, How do the apostles refer to the church? Today I will look at 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, which are known as the Pastoral Epistles. Paul left Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete to organize the brethren; Philemon is a personal letter concerning Philemon’s reconciliation with Onesimus. Paul’s emphasis in these epistles is on what Timothy and Titus should teach and how they should conduct themselves, consequently he has very little to say about the church. I say that, yet obviously Paul tells them about elders, widows, and church life (prayer, preaching, reading the Scriptures etc.), but he doesn’t spend much time on what the church is, that would be what Timothy and Titus would be responsible for. However, he does have one very powerful word about the church.

Church occurs only 4 times in these four epistles.
1 Timothy 3:5 the church of God
1 Timothy 3:15 the church of the living God
1 Timothy 5:16 the church
Philemon 1:2 the church in thy house

Brethren also occurs 4 times
1 Timothy 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
(see also 1 Timothy 5:1; 6:2; 2 Timothy 4:21)

Now comes the really powerful word about the church:

1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

the house of God - This means family of God. This is why we are brethren. We are family first and foremost. I've been repeating this throughout this series, just like that broken record (see 1 Corinthians) - we ought to speak of ourselves as brethren, and call each other brother and sister.
There are those who say by house of God he means the temple of God, the place where God dwells. Where does God dwell on the earth? In the church of the living God! Doesn’t matter to me which view one takes: it is either we are family or we are where God is. Can't lose!

the church of the living God - Other than location, churches of Galatia, church of God is the most common name given to the brethren. The church did not belong to Paul or Titus or Peter. It does not belong to your pastor or denomination. And it is not your church, or my church. This is God's church, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Christ is the head of the church. Who gets to decide what happens in a church? what is allowable? what is taught etc? Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

the pillar and ground of the truth - What does he mean by this? "The idea is that the church is the pillar, and, as such, the prop or support of the truth. The church is the pillar of the truth, and the function of the pillar is to support." (Marvin Vincent, Vincent's Word Studies) So pillar and ground refer to things which support a building. God has deposited his full revelation in the Church. What a privilege! God’s revelation for the world is with the church. Whoever wants the truth can find it in the church, the people of God. Ah, but what a responsibility!! How will it go with those churches who have compromised the truth, hidden it, defaced it, denied it? Hear John Calvin:

“The pillar and foundation of truth - Could it have been described in loftier language? Is anything more venerable, or more holy, than that everlasting truth which embraces both the glory of God and the salvation of men? Now it is preserved on earth by the ministry of the Church alone. What a weight, therefore, rests on the pastors, who have been entrusted with the charge of so inestimable a treasure!

First, we ought to see why Paul adorns the Church with so magnificent a title. By holding out to pastors the greatness of the office, he undoubtedly intended to remind them with what fidelity, and industry, and reverence they ought to discharge it. How dreadful is the vengeance that awaits them, if, through their fault, that truth which is the image of the Divine glory, the light of the world, and the salvation of men, shall be allowed to fall! This consideration ought undoubtedly to lead pastors to tremble continually, not to deprive them of all energy, but to excite them to greater vigilance.

Hence we may easily conclude in what sense Paul uses these words. The reason why the Church is called the “pillar of truth” is, that she defends and spreads it by her agency. Consequently this commendation relates to the ministry of the word; for if that be removed, the truth of God will fall to the ground. Paul simply means what he states elsewhere in other words, that since our “faith is by hearing,” there will be no faith, unless there be preaching. (Romans 10:17.) Accordingly in reference to men, the Church maintains the truth, because by preaching the Church proclaims it, because she keeps it pure and entire, because she transmits it to posterity. And if the instruction of the gospel be not proclaimed, if there are no godly ministers who, by their preaching, rescue truth from darkness and forgetfulness, instantly falsehoods, errors, impostures, superstitions, and every kind of corruption, will reign.”

Yeah, what he said!


Next: Hebrews – 1 Peter

The Church in Philippians to 2 Thessalonians

This is Part Next in my series, How do the apostles refer to the church? Today I am looking at Philippians to 2 Thessalonians. Why so many? They are shorter epistles, and with the exception of Colossians, have fewer references to church. Here we go!

The Epistle to the Philippians

Paul doesn’t have a lot to say about the church in Philippians, perhaps because it is one of his most personal epistles.  Twice he refers to them as saints, once as the children of God, and once as we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit. This last is very provocative. There were people, known today as Judaizers, who were telling the Philippians that in order to be truly saved they had to become Jews. By saying, we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, he is applying Old Covenant speech, which described Israel, to the church. The Philippians didn’t need to become anything, they were that thing!

But the most common term is brethren. It occurs 8 times, and 6 times refers to the Philippians.

The Epistle to the Colossians

Colossians is similar to Ephesians in many ways, yet distinct. The epistle is addressed to:

1:2 the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse.

Saints is used 4 times, brethren only 2 times.

Church occurs 4 times. Twice as identified with the body, once as the church which is in his house and once as the church of the Laodiceans.

Body the word occurs 7 times, but not all of them refer to the church

1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
The emphasis in Ephesians is on the body of Christ, whereas in Colossians it is on Christ the head of the body. And it clearly shows here.

1:21-22  yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
This is not a reference to the church, but as in Ephesians there is a sort of blending of Christ’s body on the cross and Christ’s body the church. For example, in this verse, the body of his flesh, refers to his body on the cross. BUT in just two verses we read:

1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
In Ephesians and Colossians the line between the body of his flesh and his body the church is not very clear.

2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
This is not Christ or the church.

2: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
This is very interesting. The body is that which casts the shadow, which is Christ himself, but Christ came via the incarnation, taking a body, and his truth and fulness are now found in the church, which is his body.

2:19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
This is clearly the church. And as in Ephesians he has moved from mere metaphor. The increase or growth of the body is of God, but the means of growth is by each member contributing to the body. We are in this together.

 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
This is not Christ or the church.

3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Again, a simple and solid reference to the church. He doesn’t say body of Christ, it is just one body.

Colossians, like Ephesians, is very close to the way people refer to the church today as the body of Christ, yet Paul’s language is more robust than ours today.

The Epistles to the Thessalonians

1 & 2 Thessalonians are among the earliest of Paul’s epistles. Both are addressed to the church of the Thessalonians, in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; both mention the churches of God (church occurs 4 times, twice in each epistle). The most common designation is brethren, 16 times in 1 Thessalonians, 7 times in 2 Thessalonians. I repeat, we need to recapture this view of the church as well as the terminology.

Next: The Church in 1 Timothy to Philemon

The Church in Ephesus

There is a wealth of imagery or descriptions of the church in this epistle. Brethren is only used twice. Three words occur 9 times in this epistle: saints, church, body. Because there is so much in this epistle, I want to do this a little differently, instead of looking at the words, we will go through each chapter. My plan will become clear almost immediately.

Chapter 1
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
This is the climax of his prayer (15-19), that ye may know…what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ. He raised him from the dead, set him at his own right hand, made him Lord over everything.
It is interesting that Paul does not say Christ is the head of the body, but rather he is head over all things to the church, although he does add, which is his body. This is straightforward, not a comparison, the church is his body.
the fulness of him that filleth all in all – this is amazing! What a place the church has in the plan and purpose of God.

Chapter 2
In 2:11-22 Paul reminds them of their past: ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Then, But now in Christ Jesus… This little three letter word but is one of the biggest words in the Bible! You were far off, but now you have been nigh by the blood of Christ! Amen! Halleluah!

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
This is not talking about the church, and yet he says this as if there is a link; our union with Christ is so strong that Paul speaks of an almost physical bond between us. And then again, what He did on the cross through His body, he now carries out on earth through the church, His body.

19-22 This is a very rich passage!
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God

the Gentiles are fellowcitizens with the saints – We are citizens of the city of God. Fellow citizens means Gentiles have equal standing with all the saints of Israel. There’s only one city of God. The saints of old were citizens, and Gentiles are too!

and of the household of God – even better, we are part of the family of God! We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but citizens and family. This could go in the dictionary as an illustration of ‘awesome’! And he’s not through!!

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone – the church is a building; what kind of building?

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord – a temple in the Lord. Notice he says, all the building. He is referring to all Christians everywhere and at all times, this is sometimes called the church universal. The whole building, the whole church in heaven and on earth, is His temple. (In 3:15 it is the whole family in heaven and earth.) We are part of something really big! We really are ‘in this together’. Oh and this is “the communion of the saints.”

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit – in whom ye also, he means the Ephesians, the local church; each local church is an habitation of God through the Spirit. This is powerful stuff!

Chapter 3
In 3:1-12 Paul speaks of the mystery of the church. First, mystery in the Bible is not a ‘who done it?’ It is something that was not known or not fully revealed in the Old Testament that is now fully revealed. What is the mystery that was revealed to his holy apostles and prophets?

6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
There is one church, one body, one gospel. Jews and Gentiles have equal standing. Truth is, every one who believes in Christ has equal standing, equal participation, equal access to the promises and blessings in Christ.

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
This is the eternal purpose of God concerning the church. What does this mean? The fellowship of the mystery is the fellowship that exists in the church, which is made up of people from every nation and tribe and tongue. We are the new creation and we all are one. The divisions that exist around us based on money, education, nation, tribe, tongue, social status, neighborhood you live in, male or female, are all gone in Christ. This is big. Sadly, I admit that churches have often failed at this. Shame on us for falling so far short of His glory. Also, this is not a mandate, something a church puts in its vision statement, no, this is the result of revelation knowledge (3:1-8) and the work of the Holy Spirit, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (3:17-19). The church is despised and ridiculed by the world, yet we are an important part of the eternal purpose of God. And on our part, we often lose sight of this calling - the manifold wisdom of God is to be known through us.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Here is another purpose of the church – bring glory to God. It is truly amazing that we can bring glory to God!

Chapter 4
3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all

7-16
This is a long passage in which Paul speaks of gifts to the church, the work of the ministry, and the fulness of Christ in the church.

7-11 When Christ ascended – this is the second time this has occurred in Ephesians, must be pretty significant – he gave gifts to the church

12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ – this is why he gave these gifts; this is the work of the ministry

13-16 This is the growth and goal of the church. Christ is the head and we are the body. How do we grow? Truth and love and what every joint supplies (15,16). What is the goal? Unity of the faith, full knowledge of Christ, unto a perfect man. (13). Wow!

Chapter 5
Six of the nine times church occurs in Ephesians is in 5:22-32. Paul starts off by speaking of the relationship between husbands and wives, saying the model is Christ and his church, and while all that applies, at the end he admits he is saying more about Christ and his church than about husbands and wives.

Christ is the head of the church and the saviour of the body (23). Therefore the church is subject to Christ. (24)
Christ loved the church and gave himself for it (25-26), and fully intends to present the church to himself as a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that is should be holy and without blemish. (27)

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Paul’s body of Christ imagery seems no longer merely metaphor.

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Wow! This is very powerful! I think if we are going to speak of the church as the body of Christ, we should speak like this as well. I repeat, this is powerful!

In Ephesians Paul comes closest to the way many speak of the church today – he refers to “the body” 9 times. Actually 8 times to the church and once to Christ’s body on the cross, but the two thoughts are almost merged. In Romans and 1 Corinthians it was a comparison, “as a body has many members” etc, he has dropped that here, it is straightforward: he is the head and the church is his body.

We must be careful how we view and treat the church – it is precious and glorious in the eyes of Christ!


Next: Philippians - 2 Thessalonians

The Church in Galatians

Not so fast! First, we must consider 2 Corinthians

In this epistle he mentions church 9x (8x churches; 1x church of God which is in Corinth); saints 5x; brethren 8x. He also refers to them as the temple of God and a chaste virgin.

Okay, now on to Galatians

The epistle to the Galatians is interesting because Galatia was an area, not a city. 1 & 2 Corinthians were addressed to the church of God in Corinth, this epistle is addressed to the churches of Galatia. The cities of Galatia mentioned in the Book of Acts are: Antioch Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe; there was a church in each city. Apparently this was a circular epistle written to all of them.

Paul uses church three times, all in chapter one: 1.2 churches of Galatia; 1:13 church of God; 1.22 churches of Judea. All of these refer to what we call “the local church”

While Paul may not use the word church often in this epistle, he does have other descriptions of the church.

sons of God – for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (3:26; also 4:6-7)

And now I get a little controversial. Paul had visited these cities, preached the gospel to them, and established churches among these Galatians. Some time later these churches were visited by people we call ‘Judaizers’, people who taught a different gospel, saying that in order to be saved the Galatians would have to adopt the law (be circumcised, and observe the feasts and holy days etc.); in other words, become Jews if they wanted to be Christians. Paul, in fighting this heretical teaching in this epistle, gives these Gentile churches some amazing titles.

3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the sons of Abraham.

3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise

4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
(see 4:22-31)

6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

the Israel of God – I am fully aware that there might be some who will have a stroke at this identification, but it just seems consistent to me. In chapters 3 & 4 he forthrightly declared that believers in Christ are the sons of Abraham, Abraham’s seed, and children of promise; he has already all but said the church was the Israel of God, here he plainly declares it. The entire argument of the epistle is pretty much summed up in v 15, the benediction is then given to the individuals (as many as) who walk according to this rule, and to the Israel of God, “the same Christians regarded collectively, and forming the true messianic community” (Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament).

And finally...Nine times Paul calls them brethren. That’s as many as all the other references combined! It seems the favorite word or expression for the church in apostolic times was brethren.

Monday: The Church in Ephesians

The Church in 1 Corinthians

This is the fourth installment in my series, How do the apostles refer to the church? Paul uses a variety of words and many different images for the church in this epistle. The two most frequent are church (22x) and brethren (23x). I will start with church, end with brethren, and look at all the rest in between.

Church
The epistle begins, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth. Throughout the epistle he speaks of the church of God, the churches of God, the churches of the saints, the churches of Galatia, the churches of Asia, the church that is in their house, as well as just church and churches. It seems obvious to me that Paul’s idea of church is always local. However, the local church was a little different in Paul’s day and thinking. I mean, there was just one church in Corinth. It is not “the churches in Corinth”, but “the church of God in Corinth.” I have no idea how many people were in the church in Corinth, nor if they met at times in smaller groups, but I do know they all came together at least some of the time: If therefore the whole church be come together in one place (14:23). It is also quite interesting that church occurs 9x in chapter 14.

Other images or metaphors for the church

3:4-15 The Corinthians were being divided by their attitudes toward different teachers of the Word and in addressing this Paul combines two metaphors:
9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

4-8 ye are God’s husbandry – that is, you are God’s cultivated field
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

10-15 ye are God’s building
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

In the context he is addressing the role of those who labor with God in the gospel and the Corinthian's carnal attitudes toward these laborers, but in so doing he gives two beautiful pictures of the church.

He doesn’t waste any time, he immediately gives a third and more powerful image of the church:

3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

know ye not that ye are the temple of God? That is, the holy place, the holy of holies where God dwelt. The tabernacle/temple in Old Testament days was where God dwelt on earth, where he could be found; now the church is his temple, where he dwells on earth.

5:7 that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened – Christ is the Passover lamb, we are the unleavened bread. This might be considered an indistinct metaphor, but then chapter 10…

10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. The context is the Lord’s Supper: 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Oh the power of this Supper! By the cup and the bread we partake of the blood and body of Christ, and by our all partaking of the body of Christ we become one, for we are all partaking of one Christ. Therefore, as Christ is one, we are one. The bread we receive is his body, thus in Him we are one bread and one body. This leads to…

12:12-27 the body of Christ
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. The body is a metaphor for the church. The context is spiritual gifts and the point is: one body, many members; many gifts, one body. Diversity in unity; unity in diversity. This is the second time in our Bibles that Paul speaks of the body of Christ, but since he wrote this epistle one year before Romans, it is actually the first time.

14 For the body is not one member, but many
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body
Paul spends a lot of time on this - one of the themes in this epistle is unity and the evil of division. Their reaction to the gifts of the Spirit led to division, so he tells them there is an underlying unity in the variety of their experience: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. This is the lead in to for as the body is one...

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. Now he applies his metaphor to them. Nearly every translation says, “You are the body of Christ”, but there is no article (the) before body in the Greek, so it literally reads: Now you are body of Christ. But that’s not good English. Now you are a body of Christ is better. The New American Standard Version comes closest, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” He is saying, "Church of God in Corinth, you are a body of Christ. He is the Head and you are each members of it. Each one is important, for the body is not one member, but many; and there are many members, but only one body."

So, Paul uses this metaphor to illustrate our essential unity in the midst of our spiritual diversity. And what is interesting and different from the way we use body of Christ is he is using it to describe the local church in Corinth. As they each one believed in Christ and were baptized in the name of the Lord, they were thereby baptized into the body of Christ. And it is the Holy Spirit who made their baptism effective.

Finally, brethren. As I mentioned at the beginning, this is the most frequent expression for the church in this epistle (and in all the New Testament). It actually occurs 28 times, but only 23 of them refer to the Corinthians. As in Acts and Romans, the emphasis is on our relationship to one another: we are brethren, we are family. I’m going to sound like a stuck record* as I cover the rest of the New Testament but… It is interesting that we don’t emphasize this as much as the early church. This is obviously God’s emphasis, and probably should be ours as well.


*stuck record – (For anyone who is only familiar with CDs or mp3s) In the good old days recorded music was available on vinyl discs called records. Between 1898 and the late 1950s records were 78 rpm. In 1948 the LP (Long Play) was introduced, 33 1/3 rpm. This quickly became the standard. There was also 45 rpm for singles (actually a song on each side, but the A side was the hoped for hit). I’ve seen 78s, but my experience was with the 33 1/3 and 45s. A ‘stuck record’ was when the needle would get stuck on the record and repeat a certain phrase over and over, like I’m going to do with brethren. And in passing let me say, there’s just something about the sound of music being played on a vinyl disc!


Next: 2 Corinthians and Galatians

The Church in Romans

The Church in Romans or How the Apostle Paul Refers to the Church in the Epistle to the Romans. Always wanted to do that! This is the third in my series, How do the apostles refer to the church?

The quick answer to the question is: brethren, saints, my people, beloved, children of the living God, branches, one body in Christ, and church. That’s simple but rather boring. Let me expand.

The two most frequent expressions in Romans are brethren (11x) and church (6x), although he does not use the word church until chapter 16.

Brethren - This is similar to the Book of Acts. Brethren emphasizes our relationship to one another. Through my faith in and devotion to Christ I am part of his family. Since you also have faith in and devotion to Christ, and are part of his family, we are family. This is actually the most frequently occurring word or description for the church in the New Testament. We need to emphasize this again.

9:25 25 As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
This is particularly tender, my people, beloved, children of the living God.

11:16-27 Olive Tree
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.  
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;  
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.  
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.  
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:  
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.  
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.  
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?  
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.  
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:  
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Paul spends the most time on this. The picture is an olive tree. The root is the fathers (Abraham), Israel is the branches, Gentiles are a wild olive tree. Because of unbelief, the natural branches (Israel) have been cut off; through faith Gentiles have been grafted in, 17 and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree. This is not popular in some circles, yet it seems clear that Paul is saying we are part of Israel.

We should not boast against them, the natural branches, Israel. They were broken off because of unbelief, we were grafted in through faith; they can be grafted back in and we can be broken off. Thou standest by faith, be not highminded, but fear, and continue in his goodness. In fact he will yet save them, blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved.

All this to say, the people of God are portrayed as a cultivated olive tree. What does this mean? It means we belong to God, we are cared for by God, we are to bring forth fruit for God.

12:3-8 one body in Christ
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;  
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

This is the first reference to the church as the body of Christ in our New Testament. our New Testament”?  Paul’s epistles are not presented chronologically in our Bibles. If they were 1 Corinthians would come before Romans, and this would be the second occurrence. Details.

I think we often forget that the controlling thought in 3-8 is v 3, For I say to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. In other words, “You each have your place in the fellowship. Let me explain…”

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

This is a metaphor to explain v 3, for as we have many members in one body.
There is variety, all members have not the same office
There is unity, many members in one body

So we, being many, are one body in Christ. Actually, 4-5 forms one sentence: diversity in unity; unity in diversity. And in all this, relationship: every one members one of another. We just can’t get very far without coming back to relationship with one another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us – See? This section on the body of Christ is an explanation of v 3, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Am I trying to downplay the idea of the body of Christ? No. I’m simply pointing out that here in Romans it is simply a metaphor introduced to explain why each member of the assembly has a different gift, ministry, and function in the church. As I pointed out, the controlling thought is v 3: humility (not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think) mixed with a proper assessment (as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith). Body of Christ is a subordinate thought here, but becomes much stronger in Ephesians and Colossians.

And finally, we find the word church used 6 times in chapter 16: church at Cenchrea (2), churches of the Gentiles, church that is in their house, churches of Christ, host of the whole church. The church is an assembly, a local assembly. Even body of Christ refers to the local church. The idea of the universal church is there (olive tree, people, children of God), but the accent is on the local assembly.


Next: The Church in 1 Corinthians

The Church in the Book of Acts

What a title! There are so many directions one could go under such a banner! In this case it is simply the second in my series, How do the Apostles refer to the church? So, The Church in the Book of Acts is only concerned with How is the church described in the book of Acts. I say only, yet I found the book of Acts to be very enlightening in this matter.

Let me begin with the miscellaneous descriptions and then get to the meat of the matter.

The Book of Acts is about the gospel going out into all the world and people coming to Christ. And they were believing in Christ in great numbers! So we find the church described as: “all that believed” (1x); “multitude” (7x; the multitude, the multitude of them that believed, the multitude of the disciples, the whole multitude, great multitude, all the multitude); “much people” (3x); “their own company” (2x); “Christians” (2x); “flock” (2x)

Three observations:

1) multitude - the church was obviously growing by leaps and bounds!

2) flock – hearkening back to what Jesus said about sheep and fold and shepherd

3) Christian – and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. This name was first applied to believers by unbelievers. I don’t think it was meant as a compliment, much like “Jesus freaks” from the 60s and 70s. But it was quickly accepted and adopted by believers, becoming the name they were known by. So Herod commented after Paul’s defense, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. I am persuaded this is the fulfillment of Isaiah 62.2, And thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

Now the meat. This was the most interesting thing I learned.

Church – 21 times
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Disciples – 26 times
And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch

Brethren – 30 times
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea

Not only is the church growing by leaps and bounds, but the emphasis in Acts seems to be on relationship: to Christ (disciples), to one another (brethren), and together (church).

We don’t talk like this today. I wonder who should change?


Next: The Church in Romans

How do the Apostles refer to the church?

A few weeks ago I decided I wanted to do a series on the church. I thought that I ought to go through the New Testament first and see how the apostles referred to the church. This was such a large undertaking and so exciting that I forgot my original idea! What I learned was eye-opening, primarily because today our description or metaphor for the church is (almost exclusively) “the body of Christ”. I noticed right off that this monotone metaphor is not only not apostolic, it is also not universal among the apostles. Truth is, Paul is the only apostle who uses “body” for the church. And he only uses it in four of his thirteen epistles (fourteen if you include Hebrews). To top it all off, we don’t use it quite the same way he does. Well, well.

Here was my plan: Go through the New Testament looking for references to the church. After going through my print Bible, I used the Bible program on my laptop (BibleWorks) to see if my count was accurate. It almost never was. Oops!! (I routinely under counted.) Then I went back over my results to evaluate and explain what I found. This is one of my favorite types of Bible study and the one I have used the longest.

I was so excited by this that I wanted to share it. Ah, but how do I share it without writing a book? I mean, I have enough for a bonafide pamphlet! I will try to condense and compress what I found, and concentrate on the highlights.

Let me begin with the Gospels and what Jesus said. 

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it 

This followed Christ’s question to his disciples, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 18:15-17  
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.  
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.

These are the only three times the word church occurs in the gospels. The Greek word for church is ἐκκλησία or, as we would write it in English, ekklēsia. What does this Greek word ἐκκλησία mean? I offer two reliable sources:

The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible or Strong’s Concordance
“1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly 1a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating 1b) the assembly of the Israelites 1c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously 1d) in a Christian sense 1d1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting…”

Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
“properly, a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly; so used  1. among the Greeks, an assembly of the people convened at the public place of council for the purpose of deliberating.  2. in the Septuagint, the assembly of the Israelites, especially when gathered for sacred purposes.  3. any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance or tumultuously.  4. in the Christian sense, an assembly of Christians gathered for worship.”

Ekklēsia, translated church, is an assembly; Christians meeting together, gathered together, assembled. The word ekklēsia is composed of two words: ἐκ (out of) + καλέω (call), or called out. However, as you can see from both Strong and Thayer, the proper meaning and usage of ekklēsia is a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly. A crier would go through the town announcing a meeting at a set time, and calling out the names of the citizens who were invited to come and participate; but the word meant they were called or invited to this assembly. This is how it is used in the New Testament: the ekklēsia is the gathering of those who were called by the gospel; the assembly of believers.

On the other hand, the dictionary says it is ‘a building used for public Christian worship.’ How is this even possible? Our word ‘church’ comes from Old English: circe (Old Saxon: kirka). This refers to the place of worship. The places of worship among the German and Celtic nations were always circular (compare Anglo-Saxon 'circe', a small church, with 'circol', a circle). In Scotland it is called "Kirk" and in Germany it is "Kirche."

So, the English word “church” really does refer to the building! But ekklēsia refers to the assembled people. The ekklēsia is not the building; you can have an ekklēsia without a building. A church building is not even mentioned in the New Testament. The ekklēsia gathered on a porch in the temple, in people’s houses, or in a hall. It wasn’t until the last half of the 200s that the first building was built. So we have to steadfastly resist the temptation to equate the building with the church – the church is the people who are assembled together in the name of Christ.

Now back to Jesus and the church. He said in And I say also unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Why does he say, I will build my church? Because ekklēsia occurs many times in the Greek Old Testament. There it is the “assembly of Israel”, “the assembly of the Lord”, “assembly of the people of God” etc. This is what Stephen called “the church in the wilderness.” Jesus is building a new thing, his church; I will build my Church, my assembly, or congregation, made up of people who have the same faith Peter confessed. As can be expected, this is taken up and used often by the apostles.

John 10:14-16
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Through the first 15 verses of John 10, sheep refers to Jewish disciples. Gentiles are the other sheep of v 16. One fold refers to the church, which is made up of Jewish and Gentile disciples. One shepherd refers to Christ. This is rarely used by the apostles (Peter uses the sheep and shepherd imagery in 1 Peter 5).

This next one however is used a lot!
Matthew 12:50 for whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother

Matthew 25.40 inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me

“Jesus calls everyone who is devoted to him ‘brother’. Hence used by Christians in their relations with each other” (Arndt & Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament). We are going to see that “brethren” is the most frequently used description for believers!


Next: The Church in the Book of Acts