Church (1577)(ekklesia from ek = out + klesis = a calling, verb = kaleo = to call) literally means called out (but see note by Louw-Nida below) and as commonly used in the Greco-Roman vernacular referred to citizens who were called out from their homes to be publicly assembled or gathered to discuss or carry out affairs of state. Wuest writes that "The word assembly is a good one-word translation of ekklesia."
Church - English word - derived from Middle English chirche, from Old English cirice, ultimately from Late Greek kyriakon (doma - house) = a temple of God, from Greek neuter of kyriakos = of the Lord or pertaining to the Lord from kyrios lord, master.
Related Resources on "Church"
Multiple Bible Dictionary Discussions
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
Ecclesiology: The Church - Greg Herrick
Smith's Bible Dictionary notes that...
The day of Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian church. Before they had been individual followers Jesus; now they became his mystical body, animated by his spirit.
As with all Greek word studies, the meaning of the word in a specific passage is critically dependent upon examination of the context. This basic principle is applied in this discussion and accounts for several different nuances of ekklesia in the summary below (note). As Easton's Bible Dictionary says...
In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew qahal of the Old Testament, both words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found (Ed: In other words, context is critical in order to understand the meaning/nuance of each specific use of ekklesia).
Louw and Nida adds that...
Though some persons have tried to see in the term ekklesia a more or less literal meaning of ‘called-out ones,’ this type of etymologizing is not warranted either by the meaning of ekklesia in NT times or even by its earlier usage. The term ekklesia was in common usage for several hundred years before the Christian era and was used to refer to an assembly of persons constituted by well-defined membership. In general Greek usage it was normally a socio-political entity based upon citizenship in a city-state and in this sense is parallel to demos (a group of citizens assembled for socio-political activities). For the NT, however, it is important to understand the meaning of ekklesia as ‘an assembly of God’s people.’ (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. United Bible societies or Wordsearch)
In summary, Louw and Nida says that strictly speaking the etymology of "ekklesia" is not "called out ones" but was used of an assembly (composed not necessarily of "called out ones"). That said, when we come to the usual NT meaning of ekklesia, the church, it cannot be a "coincidence" that the body of Christ, the church, is composed solely of men and women "called out" by God. To be sure local assemblies of believers ("local churches") seldom if ever are 100% believers and thus "called out ones" is strictly speaking not be an accurate designation. So while etymologically inaccurate, "called out ones" is theologically accurate for the true church which is the body of Christ.
A BETTER TERM:
BODY OF CHRIST
A key identifying characteristic of the Church is Holy Spirit baptism (1 Cor. 12:13) which is the event that forms the Body of Christ which is actually a better designation for the world-wide body of believers than the term 'church.' To reiterate, the Greek ekklesia (most often translated 'church') merely means a gathering or group of people. Ekklesia can even describe nonbelievers and thus is not a precise technical term. In short, ekklesia can appear in contexts which have nothing to do with the baptizing work of the Spirit which defines the Body of Christ, an entity which did not exist prior to Pentecost.
Here are some other indicators that the Body of Christ, the Church did not exist in the Old Testament: (1) Jesus Himself indicated that 'on this rock I will build my Church' (future tense, Mt. 16:18). (2.) Peter referred to the arrival of the Holy Spirit as the 'the beginning' (Acts 11:15). (3) James referred to the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles (Acts 10:45) as 'at the first' (Acts 15:14). (4) The joining of Gentiles and Jews into the same body is described as a 'mystery' which was not made know previously to the sons of men (Eph. 3:4-7; Col. 1:26-27). (5) In the OT when Gentiles joined Israel they became Jewish proselytes, whereas in the NT, the barrier between Jews and Gentiles (the Law of Moses) was removed 'in Christ' and God created a new spiritual organism, the 'one new man' (Eph. 2:15), which has no counterpart in the the Old Testament.
The New Unger Bible Dictionary lists seven metaphors that set forth the relationship between Christ and His Church...
Relation Between Christ and the Church. Seven NT figures set forth this relation: (1) the Shepherd and the Sheep (John 10); (2) the Vine and the Branches (John 15); (3) the Cornerstone and the Stones of the Building (1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:19–22; 1 Pet. 2:5); (4) High Priest and the Kingdom of Priests (Heb. 5:1–10; 6:13–8:6; 1 Pet. 2:5–9; Rev. 1:6); (5) the Head and the Many-Membered Body (1 Cor. 12:12–13, 27; Eph. 4:4); (6) the Last Adam and the New Creation (1 Cor. 15:22, 45; 2 Cor. 5:17); (7) the Bridegroom and the Bride (John 3:29; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25–33; Rev. 19:7–8).
Here are the definitions of ekklesia...
(1) In Secular Greek usage ekklesia = a body of citizens “gathered” to discuss the affairs of state
Zodhiates: (Ekklesia) was a common (secular) term for a congregation of the ekklētoí (n.f.), the called people, or those called out or assembled in the public affairs of a free state, the body of free citizens called together by a herald (kerux]) which constituted the ekklēsia.
NIDNTT = Ekklesia, centuries before the translation of the OT and the time of the NT, was clearly characterized as a political phenomenon, repeated according to certain rules and within a certain framework. It was the assembly of full citizens, functionally rooted in the constitution of the democracy, an assembly in which fundamental political and judicial decisions were taken. The scope of its competence varied in the different states....
What is noteworthy, however, is that the word ekklēsia, throughout the Greek and Hellenistic areas, always retained its reference to the assembly of the polis (city). In only three exceptional cases was it used for the business meeting of a cultic guild....Otherwise it was never used for guilds or religious fellowships. These were referred to by such expressions as thiasos, cultic assembly to worship a god; eranos, literally a contract of partnership....however, none of these words found its way into the NT. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan or Computer version)
(2) In the Septuagint (LXX) - Ekklesia occurs in the Septuagint (Lxx) (Greek translation of the OT) about 77 times and is used most often to translate the Hebrew noun qāhāl (06951) (from qāhal = to gather or assemble) which conveys the idea of assembling without regard to purpose and depending on the context can refer to an assembly, company, congregation, multitude. Qāhāl describes various gatherings and assemblies called together - for evil purposes (Ps 26:5,- Lxx = ekklesia), for worship (Ps 22:22 - Lxx = ekklesia), for war (Jdg 20:2 - Lxx = ekklesia; David before Israel's army before he slew Goliath - 1Sa 17:46 - Lxx = ekklesia), description of an assembly of exiles (Ezra 2:64, Neh 7:66 - Lxx = ekklesia), assembly of Israel gathered at Mt Sinai to hear the LORD's commandments (Dt 9:10 - Lxx = ekklesia), assembly called for worship (2Chr 30:25 - Lxx = ekklesia used twice), description of Israel gathered at Solomon's dedication of God's Temple (1Ki 8:14 - Lxx = ekklesia)
The other Hebrew word for assembly or congregation is 'edah (05712) which Septuagint never translates with ekklesia. Instead 'edah is is translated with the Greek noun synagoge 127/145 occurrences. Note that some of the the Scriptural uses of qāhāl are also translated with synagoge (E.g., Ge 35:11, 28:3, Nu 20:4, assembly on the Day of Atonement in Lev 16:17)
Ekklesia - 77 uses in the non-apocryphal LXX - 13" class="scriptRef">13.4" class="scriptRef">4.10" class="scriptRef">Dt 4:10; 9.10" class="scriptRef">9:10; 8" class="scriptRef">28.8" class="scriptRef">8" class="scriptRef">8.16" class="scriptRef">18:16; 23:2, 3, 4, 9; 31:30; Josh 9:2; 20.2" class="scriptRef">Jdg 20:2; 5" class="scriptRef">21:5, 8; 17" class="scriptRef">17.47" class="scriptRef">1Sa 17:47; 19:20; 14" class="scriptRef">14" class="scriptRef">1Kgs 8:14, 22, 55, 65; 1Chr 13:2, 4; 28:2, 8; 29:1, 10, 20; 2Chr 1:3, 5; 6:3, 12" class="scriptRef">12-2Chr.6.42" class="scriptRef">12f; 7:8; 10:3; 20:5, 14; 23:3; 28:14; 29:23, 28, 31f; 30:2, 4, 13, 17, 23, 24, 25; Ezra 2:64; 10:1, 8, 12, 14; Neh 5:7, 13; 7:66; 8:2, 17; 13:1; Ps 21:23, 26; 25:5, 12; 34:18; 39:10; 67:27; 88:6; 106:32; 149:1; Pr 5:14; Job 30:28; Mic 2:5; Joel 2:16; Lam 1:10
(3) In the NT ekklesia has at least 4 nuances of meaning depending on the context...
(a) A body of citizens “gathered” to discuss the affairs of state - Acts 19:39
(b) A tumultuous gathering, i.e., a riotous mob - Acts 19:32, 41
(c) Used by Luke in Acts 7:38 where the intended meaning is not "church" but an assembly of Israel. It is therefore not surprising, that most Bible translations (other than the Acts 7:38KJV) avoid translating ekklesia here as "church".
Comment: Note that the gathering of the Jews in the NT is most often termed "Sunagoge/synagoge" (G4864) from sun = together or with + ago = to bring - literally "a bringing together". Luke's use of ekklesia to describe the OT assembly of Israel does not support the teaching by some that the "church" was mentioned in the OT. It was not! In fact it was a mystery only revealed in the NT. One should be wary of commentaries and systematic theology books that take the liberty of seeing the "church" in OT passages that specifically (clearly from the context) refer to the nation or people of Israel. This is not saying that ekklesia was not used in the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for "assembly," because it was used many times (See Definition #2 Above). However, the uses of ekklesia in the Lxx are not evidence that the "church" as it is defined by the NT writings of Luke and Paul was present in the OT.
Mounce comments that: "the prototype of the NT ekklēsia lies not in Greco-Roman history but in the assembly of God’s people in the OT (cf. Acts 7:38), which developed into the Jewish synagogue as the gathering of the community of God. In these gatherings the great stories of salvation history were regularly rehearsed and the wonderful promises of God to Israel recounted (cf. Nu 14:7, 8, 9). But while the ekklēsia may find its roots in the synagogue, it is not a subset of it but becomes the new term used for the gathering of various groups of Christian believers...The apostle sees the church as a new race, which he lists it alongside Jews and Greeks in 1Co 10:32; it is sufficiently equipped with leadership and gifts to fulfill God’s purposes on earth (1Co 12:28); and it is the avenue through which the wisdom of God is made known (Ep 1:22). (Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan or Computer version)
(d) A specific congregation of believers in Christ (1Co 1:2, Ro 16:16, Acts 20:28; 1Co 1:2; Gal. 1:13; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; 1Ti 3:5) Note that at least 92 uses of ekklesia refer to a local congregation.
Specific phrase "church of God" - 8x - Acts 20:28; 1Cor 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; 2Cor 1:1; Gal 1:13; 1Ti 3:5. This phrase signifies that the church belongs to God and comes from God. "Church of the living God" - 1Ti 3:15
Specific locations - "Church of the Laodiceans" - Col 4:16, "Church of the Thessalonians" - 1Th 1:1, 2Th 1:1; In Jerusalem
Hebrews 12:23 "church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" -
Christ is Head of church = Eph 1:22,23-note Eph 4:14-note Eph 5:23-note Col 1:18-note
Church = Christ's body - Col 1:24-note
(e) All congregations of believers, the whole Body of Christ, "the whole company of the redeemed throughout the present era" (Vine) (Mt 16:18, Christ's "body" = Ep 1:22; Ep 5:23)
Norman Geisler: In the New Testament, ekklesia came to refer to an assembly of believers, namely, followers of Jesus. The term church as used in this volume refers to the New Testament church founded by Jesus Christ; that is, an assembly of believers joined to Christ’s spiritual body by the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 12:13) at the moment of regeneration (Titus 3:3–6), when they individually place their faith in the Lord Jesus as their Savior (Acts 16:31). If still on earth, they should be part of a local body of believers meeting regularly (Heb. 10:25) for edification (Eph. 4:12), worship (John 4:24), and participation in the ordinances. To this group Paul addressed most of his epistles, such as, for example, “the church of God which is at Corinth” (1Cor 1:2NKJV) (Systematic Theology, Volume four: Church, Last Things)
Barclay: In essence...the Church, the ekklesia, is a body of people, not so much assembling because they have chosen to come together but assembling because God has called them to Himself; not so much assembling to share their own thoughts and opinions, but assembling to listen to the voice of God. (Ibid)
Wayne Grudem's definition of the church: "The church is the community of all true believers for all time. This definition understands the church to be made of all those who are truly saved." (Grudem, W: Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. IVP; Zondervan, 1994 or Logos or Wordsearch)
Ed comment: I personally strongly disagree with this "definition" which ignores the fact that the "church" came into being at Pentecost when the Jewish believers were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit's permanent presence. The Spirit did not indwell OT believers permanently. Grudem's definition does not take this significant difference into account but rather seems to minimize the importance of the vital need of the Holy Spirit in the supernatural work of the New Testament Church. However if Grudem intends the meaning of ekklesia to indicate an "assembly," I would agree with him, for indeed all believers will one day be present together in a glorious assembly around the Throne of God! For example, John describes an assembly of believers singing Hallelujah choruses...
After these things I heard, as it were, a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God...And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude and as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns." (Revelation 19:1, 19:6-note)
Grudem says "there are several indications in the Old Testament (Italics his for emphasis) that God thought of His people as a 'church." (Page 853) Grudem then goes on to defend this clearly suppositional statement with the fact that the Lxx uses "ekklesiazo" in Dt 4:10 (Ekklesiazo is the verb form of ekklesia and is a verb not even found in the NT! Furthermore, ekklesiazo is used in Dt 31:28 in a different context, meaning "to assemble" all the elders, not all of Israel!) to translate the Hebrew verb (qahal) meaning to gather. To say that by using ekklesiazo God was implying that Israel was (or is) the church is taking the Hebrew and Greek words both out of context, because clearly even in the NT ekklesia is not always used in a context which would allow it to be translated "church." This is highly questionable hermeneutics in my opinion and blurs the distinctions between an Old Testament assembly of Israel composed solely of Jews (many of whom were unregenerate!) and the New Testament assembly composed of regenerate Jews (and later regenerate Gentiles).
As an aside, I think Dr Grudem's Systematic Theology is one of the better works of its genre available, but as with all "resources" [including the one you are reading] the wise reader is encouraged to read with a Berean-like mindset (Acts 17:11-note)
It is worth noting that the New Testament never uses ekklesia to describe a building but describes a Body of men and women who have given their hearts to Jesus the Head of the Body. We often hear it said that the church is not an organization but an organism.
Morton H Smith has an interesting note on the etymology of the English word "church"...
The English word “church”, the Saxon word “circe”, the Scottish “kirk”, and the German “kirche” are all probably derived from the Greek kuriakos as used in some such phrase as kuriake oikia or kuriakon doma , meaning “the Lord’s house”. This derivation is believed to have come through the Goths, who used Greek names for Christian terms. This English word “church” is used to translate the Greek ekklesia in the New Testament. Thus we have the interesting phenomenon of an English word that has been derived from one Greek word to translate an entirely different Greek term. (Systematic Theology, Volume One : Prolegomena, Theology, Anthropology, Christology)
MacArthur...
The church is the bride of Christ; the branches of the Vine; the flock of the Good Shepherd; the kingdom of God’s dear Son; God’s household, consisting of His adopted children; a spiritual temple, of which Jesus Christ is the cornerstone; but, uniquely, the body of Christ.
William Barclay emphasizes that ekklesia (as used by Jesus in Mt 16:18)
It was not a Church in the human sense, still less a Church in a denominational sense, that began with Peter. What began with Peter was the fellowship of all believers in Jesus Christ, not identified with any Church and not limited to any Church, but embracing all who love the Lord....
In Athens the ekklesia was the governing body of the city; and its membership consisted of all the citizens met in assembly. But, very naturally, at no time did all attend. The summons went out to come to the Assembly (ekklesia) of the City, but only some citizens answered it and came. God’s call has gone out to every man; but only some have accepted it; and they are the ekklesia, the Church. It is not that God has been selective. The invitation comes to all; but to an invitation there must be a response (Ed Comment: See related studies on Calling = klesis and Called = kletos). (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos)
William Barclay has an interesting note that...
In NT times the Church had no buildings. Christians met in any house which had a room large enough to accommodate them. These gatherings were called `house-churches' (Ro 16.5; 1Co 16.19; Col 4.15; Philemon 1:2). Every home ought to be in a real sense a Church. Jesus is Lord of the dinner table as he is Lord of the Communion table. And it will always be true that they pray best together who first pray alone. (Barclay, William: New Testament Words:. Westminster John Know Press, 1964)
Ekklesia - 114x in 111v in NAS -
Matthew 16:18; 18:17 (The only 2 uses in the Gospels);
5.11" class="scriptRef">Acts 5:11; 38" class="scriptRef">Acts 7:38; 8:1, 3; 9:31; 22" class="scriptRef">11:22, 26; 12:1, 5; 13:1; 14:23, 27; 15:3, 4, 22, 41; 16:5; 18:22; 19:32, 39, 40; 20:17, 28;
Romans 16:1, 4-note, Ro 16:5-note, Ro 16:16-note, Ro 16:23-note;
1Corinthians 1:2; 1Cor 4:17; 6:4; 7:17; 10:32; 11:16, 18, 22; 12.28" class="scriptRef">28" class="scriptRef">12:28; 14:4, 5, 12, 19" class="scriptRef">19, 23, 28, 33, 34, 35; 15:9; 16:1, 19; 2Co 1:1; 8:1, 18, 19, 23, 24; 11:8, 28; 12:13;
Galatians 1:2, 13, 22; Ep 1:22-note; Ep 3:10-note, Ep 3:21-note; 4" class="scriptRef">Ep 5:23, 24-note, Ep 5:25, 27-note, Ep 5:29-note, Ep 5:32-note; Php 3:6-note; 15" class="scriptRef">Php 4:15-note; Col 1:18-note, Col 1:24-note; Col 4:15, 16-note; 1Th 1:1-note; 1Th 2:14-note; 2Th 1:1, 4; 1Ti 3:5, 15; 5:16; Philemon 1:2;
Hebrews 2:12-note; He 12:23-note;
James 5:14;
3Jn 1:6, 9, 10;
Revelation 1:4-note, Re 1:11-note, Re 1:20-note; Re 2:1-note, Re 2:7-note, Re 2:8-note, Re 2:11-note, Re 2:12-note, Re 2:17-note, Re 2:18-note, Re 2:23-note, Re 2:29-note; Re 3:1-note, Re 3:6-note, Re 3:7-note, Re 3:13-note, Re 3:14-note, Re 3:22-note; Re 22:16-note
Below are the 114 uses of ekklesia in the NT. NAS translates ekklesia = assembly(3), church(74), churches(35), congregation(2).
Matthew 16:18 "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.
Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary: In the four gospels of the New Testament, the term “church” is found only in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17. This scarcity of usage in those books that report on the life and ministry of Jesus is perhaps best explained by the fact that the church as the body of Christ did not begin until the day of Pentecost after the Ascension of Jesus (Acts 2:1–4). That the church began on the day of Pentecost may be demonstrated in various ways: (1) Christ Himself declared the church to be yet future (Matt. 16:18) (Ed: Co Jesus prophetic promise to the Apostles in Acts 1:5); (2) it was founded upon the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and such an accomplished fact was not possible until Pentecost (Eph. 1:15–23); (3) there could be no church until it was fully purchased with Christ’s blood (Eph. 2:13).
Matthew 18:17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Acts 5:11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.
Acts 7:38 "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.
Acts 8:1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles...3 But Saul began ravaging the church (not a specific house church but the "church" of Jesus Christ in general), entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Acts 9:31 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.
Acts 11:22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.
Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them.
Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
Acts 13:1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Acts 14:23 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.
Acts 14:27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
Acts 15:3 Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.
Acts 15:4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
Acts 15:22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas-- Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,
Acts 15:41 And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Acts 16:5 So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.
Acts 18:22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and went down to Antioch.
Acts 19:32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
Acts 19:39 "But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.
Acts 19:40 "For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering."
Acts 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
Acts 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Romans 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.
Romans 16:4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.
Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Romans 16:23 Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.
1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
1 Corinthians 4:17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
1 Corinthians 6:4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?
1 Corinthians 7:17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches.
1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
1 Corinthians 11:16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God....18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it....22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
1 Corinthians 14:12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
1 Corinthians 14:19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
1 Corinthians 14:23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
1 Corinthians 14:28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
1 Corinthians 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.
1 Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia:
2 Corinthians 8:1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
2 Corinthians 8:18 We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches; 19 and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness,
2 Corinthians 8:23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. 24 Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
2 Corinthians 11:8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;
2 Corinthians 8:28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 12:13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
Galatians 1:2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
2 Corinthians 12:13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;
2 Corinthians 12:22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ;
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