What is the Church?

The church is not primarily a building, but rather it is created by people. The Church is described in the New Testament with three words:

1. In the Bible, the Church is described primarily by the word Koinonia (this is a Greek term; the New Testament was written in Greek).

The word Koinonia can be found, for example, here:

Acts 2:42: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Thus, they continued to listen to the apostles' teaching, remained in fellowship, in close relationships, and in prayer.

Romans 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord's people in Jerusalem.

1 Corint. 1:9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are called to have an intimate relationship, communion with Christ. Communion with people is thus placed on the same level as communion with God.

So what is the Church? It is a community, a deep relationship, sharing with others (your life, your finances, etc.), giving yourself to one another, participating in something (being a part of it), serving others. This is something that primarily distinguishes the New Testament church from Judaism – this word was not revealed in the Old Covenant, it was only after the outpouring of the Spirit. So is such a community possible today? Yes, but it requires full participation, that we be fully part of it, that we be committed to one another.

2. Another word that expresses the Church in the New Testament is Episunagógé:

It occurs in only two places:

2 Tesalonickým 2:1-2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.

Hebrew 10:25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Literally, the Greek word means to call out, that is, to be called to be with others, to gather with them. We are therefore called (called out) to gather, and we must not neglect or abandon these gatherings. The gathering is definitely broader—Scripture expects us to have our gatherings, but that the community will be shared; it is not a matter for individuals, but for groups.

3. And the last word that expresses the church is the word Ekklésia in the New Testament; this word is also found in the Old Testament (meaning the Greek translation of the Old Testament – septuaginta).

In the Old Testament, for example:

Leviticus 8.3: assembly, gathering, convocation (εκκλησιασον) all gathered together (συναγωγην)

It appears 114 times in the New Testament, meaning church, assembly, group of people gathered together, congregation.

The church always refers to a local gathering of Christians – never a building. Literally, it meant a public gathering of duly convened citizens.

First occurrence in NT is in:

Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

In NZ, reference is often made to the church in heaven—the heavenly assembly.