Defining the Ekklesia by Thomas E. Kresal

Defining the Ekklesia by Thomas E. Kresal – Facebook – Pastor at Beef River Baptist Church

Ekklesia: The secular usage, “The ekklesia was the lawful assembly in a free Greek city of all those who possessed the rights of citizenship for the transaction of public affairs. That they were summoned is expressed in the latter part of the word (klesis –> kaleo: call); that they were summoned out (ek: out) of the whole population, a select portion of it, including neither the populace, nor strangers, nor yet those who had forfeited their civic rights, is expressed in the first.” Richard C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament pages 1, 2.

The literal meaning of ekklesia can be found in every Greek lexicon/dictionary. Some provide more details than others. This term is of the Greek secular usage for a group of qualified citizens of a municipality, called to assemble for the purpose of transacting some civic duty, business, or task.

When the business was concluded the assembly or body, ekklesia, disbanded and no longer continued. No individual member of the ekklesia was legally authorized to conduct any business or affairs apart from the whole. Naturally, this secular meaning cannot be anything but a local/visible assembly.

When the members of the ekklesia were dismissed they dispersed into the general population of the country.

The ekklesia was not the kingdom, nor the government, but was a portion of the kingdom with the authority to carry out the affairs of the nation, keeping within the limitations of the laws of that nation. This body did not have the right to enact, legislate new laws. The entire citizenry did not legally have this right to the ekklesia. The civic ekklesia was dismissed upon the completion of its business, or task.

The literal, primary and leading signification of the word church is a congregation or assembly. When applied to the institution of Christ in the New Testament it means Christ’s assembly. The only literal meaning of a scriptural New Testament church is an assembly of baptized believers associated together in the doctrine and fellowship of the Gospel.

“Every such local organization is a church of God and authorized to obey and administer his laws and ordinances. Every such local church is fully authorized to administer the laws of the kingdom of Christ in its community, including the discipline of its membership. In the transaction of church business, such a local church is as completely independent of other churches, as though it were the only church of Christ on earth. From its New Testament decision there is no appeal. The final and last appeal of the one who had been trespassed against was to “tell it unto the church.” (Matthew 18:17) pg. 16  “Papal Controversy” (1891) by D.B. Ray

When Jesus inspirationally employed the Greek word ekklesia for His church He used it with the meaning and usage of the word as it was commonly known and understood in the common secular language: “Called Out Assembly.” This is how all people of the first centuries would have understood the meaning of this word, Church.

If for some reason Jesus was giving it a new meaning, and not only just a new meaning but a meaning contrary to its established usage, the people would not have understood it unless it was explained to them. There is no place found in the New Testament where ekklesia has taken on a new meaning.

The inspired word use of Ekklesia is not just an assembly but a called out assembly of Christians. Called out by God and covenanted together by the authority of Christ for the work assigned to it. If anyone objects to the “called out” portion I suggest they do a search on the subject within the New Testament and see how the calling of God is repeatedly referred to in many circumstances. I have a list of 24 verses which contain the words “call” and “calling.” Each of these verses deal with a specific calling to a service or to church fellowship. Calling, calling out, is very much at the heart of the ekklesia. Matthew 4:18-22, 20:16, 22:14, Acts 13:2, 16:10, Romans 1:6-7, 8:28-30, 9:24, I Corinthians 1:2, 26, 7:17, Galatians 1:6, 15-16, 5:13

But if there are scoffers of the calling out portion of the ekklesia, these verses are offer for collaboration:
• 1 Corinthians 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
• Ephesians 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
• Colossians 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.

These repeated scriptures are offered in defense of the nature and meaning of the called out Scriptural Church: This doctrine of the church as local, visible is the only one, which precisely answers to all instances of the church in the New Testament. It requires nothing to be added to it or adjusted to accommodate what the Holy Spirit has said about it or its functional operations. This was the view of the church from Christ, the apostles, and those who were a part of it. The context, syntax (study of the rules of grammar in sentence and word structure), vocabulary, and metaphors used all speak of the church as a local, visible assembly, a congregation of disciples.

Any body, which assembles, is visible! The “catholic,” universal invisible body never assembles. The protestant universal church says it is called out by the function of salvation but goes no further in its constitution. The Roman Catholic Church claims that it assembles, but in no way can it justify that it is called out since it embraces all it can amass.

Only the local visible church doctrine is consistent with the inspired language of the Holy Spirit. This is the position of historical Baptists. God could have chosen any other word than ekklesia if He did not intend this definition of the church. By observation we come to understand Christ built something new and very different, which was based upon highly qualified requirements to be a part of it, He wanted only disciples (Mt.28:18-20).

 Nowhere in the New Testament is the word ekklesia used to represent an invisible organization. If for no other reason, this is true because it would be contrary and stand in direct opposition of  the very meaning of the word.