The EKKLESIA

 ἐκκλησία : ekklesia

While we’re in Matthew’s gospel we find the word ‘church’ appears twice - before the Holy Spirit had formed the Church in Acts 2.

Why should we look at this on an End Times site?                       

There is much confusion over the profound difference between the Church and the nation of Israel, especially over End Times.                                                           

The translation of the King James Version was appointed by ‘His Majesty’s special command’ in 1610 as ‘the principal mover and author of the work’, with his ‘approbation and patronage’.                  

It is understood that King James I insisted over the advice of the translators that the Greek word ekklesia be rendered as ‘church’.

ekklesia means: ‘a meeting of those called out’  (citizens in particular)                                                             

‘church’ comes from Greek: Kirche, meaning ‘belonging to the Lord’

Let’s look at 4 instances...

·       Matthew 16:18  “Upon this rock I will build my CHURCH”   Nobody seems to have a problem with this referring to the Church founded at Pentecost, and not to Israel.  

·       Matthew 18:17  “...tell it unto the CHURCH”

This is a Jewish rabbi speaking to His disciples who would immediately recognise the ekklesia as the synagogue where Jews meet.

·       Acts 7:38  “the CHURCH in the wilderness”                                 From the context, Stephen is obviously speaking about the assembly of Hebrews with Moses at Mount Sinai.

·       Acts 19:32  “the assembly was confused”                                         This trade union meeting of silversmiths is also an ekklesia but obviously cannot refer to the Church as we know it.

Yes, we are indebted to His Majesty but it sure seems like he overstepped the mark on this one. It’s no wonder the translation my wife and I grew up with never uses the word ‘church’ once, it being so confusing as we have just seen. Consequently many use Stephen’s address to support the claim that the Church is now ‘Spiritual Israel’ – a term never found in Scripture.

(In fact there is more confusion... Matthew 18 is used by churches today to summarily ex-communicate members, just as we experienced 30 years ago for questioning injustice – a chapter that is all about forgiveness!)