a -sem´blı̄ ( קהל , ḳāhāl ; ἐκκλησία , ekklēsı́a ): The common term for a meeting of the people called together by a crier. It has reference therefore to any gathering of the people called for any purpose whatsoever (Exodus 12:6; Psalm 22:16 the King James Version; Psalm 89:7 the King James Version; Acts 19:32 , Acts 19:41 ). The solemn assemblies of the Jews were their feasts or religious gatherings of any kind (Isaiah 1:13 ). The word panḗguris , "a general festal assembly" (Hebrews 12:23 ), is transferred from the congregation of the people of Israel to the Christian church of which the congregation of Israel was a figure. In the same passage, ekklēsı́a has the sense of calling, summoning. In classical Greek ekklēsı́a was the name for the body of free citizens summoned by a herald. In this sense the church calls all the world to become identified with it. It denotes the whole body of believers, all who are called. Or it may refer to a particular congregation or local church (sunagṓgē , "synagogue" James 2:2 the Revised Version, margin). See CALLED; CHURCH; CONGREGATION .
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
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