Ecclesiology: The Doctrine of the Church

Overview

• Topic: Exploring the nature of the church.
• Key Questions: What is a church? What is the church supposed to be?

Contemporary Usages of the Term 'Church'

1. As a Building

   • Common usage: for funerals, weddings, meetings.
   • NT churches met in houses; first buildings appeared in the 4th century.

2. As a Denomination

   • Examples: Roman Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church USA, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
   • Southern Baptist Church: Correct term is a convention of churches.

3. As a Local Congregation

   • Closest to the New Testament usage.

Theological Development

• Ecclesiology is an unfinished theological development.
• Early creeds and confessions detailed doctrines of Trinity, Christ, soteriology, but not the nature of the church.
• Contemporary discussions often focus on the mission of the church rather than its nature.

Approaches to Studying the Church's Nature

1. Etymologically: Study of the word 'church'.
2. Historically: How the church has functioned in history.
3. Scripturally: What the Bible says about the church's nature.

Etymology of 'Church'

• Greek Word: ἐκκλησία (ekklesia)
  • Appears in the Septuagint (LXX).
  • Used to describe the Hebrew word 'cahal' (assembly of Israel).

Secular Usage of 'Ekklesia'

• Denotes assembly of citizens in Greek city-states (town council meeting).
• Used 140 times in NT, mostly referring to early Christian assemblies.

New Testament Usage of 'Ekklesia'

1. Groups of Believers in Specific Cities: Church at Galatia, Corinth.
2. Groups Meeting in Homes: Example, home of Priscilla and Aquila.
3. Collective Groups in Larger Areas: Whole church meeting regardless of representation.

Historical Perspectives

• Some scholars claim Jesus did not intend to found the church (Jesus Seminar).
• Contrary evidence from NT: Jesus had the church implicitly in his teachings.
  • Examples from Matthew 16:18 (Peter’s confession) & Matthew 18:17 (church discipline).
  • Church discipline aligns with Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians 5.

Biblical Descriptions of the Church

1. Body of Christ (Soma Christo)

   • Organic relationship, not merely formal.
   • Christ as the head, church as the body.

2. People of God

3. Temple of God/Holy Spirit

   • 1 Corinthians 3:16-17: Believers as God’s temple.
   • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Bodies as temple of the Holy Spirit.

4. God’s Field

   • Co-laborers in God’s work.

5. God’s Building

6. Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

7. Light of the World/Sons of Light

8. Bride of Christ

   • Jesus loves and died for the church.

9. Strangers, Exiles, and Foreigners

   • World is not our home.

10. Little Flock/One Flock

11. Descendants of Abraham

• Israel as the people of God representing His mission on earth.