Theology -- Christian Doctrine
Christian Doctrine of the Church from the perspective of a believer hinges on several basic concepts. The concept of Church, the nature of the Church revealed through metaphors, the Church's beginning, government, functions and ordinances are all basic elements of Church Doctrine. Researching these concepts, one can see some commonalities and some widely differing beliefs among Christian sects.
Summary of Christian Doctrine of the Church from the Perspective of a Believer
The Meaning of the Greek Word "Ekklesia"
The term "ekklesia" is Greek for "to call out," historically referring to "the assembly of citizens in a self-governed state" who were summoned from other places such as their homes to convene (Broadus 2012, 358). In the secular historical context, this term means only the assembly itself and not the people who take part in it (Saucy 1972, 12). Therefore, this secular historical interpretation does not rise to the level of ekklesia as understood by the early Christian Church. Nevertheless, the Septuagint contains several references to the Hebrew translation of ekklesia - qahal -- meaning "assembly, congregation, or convocation" (Baker 1995, 67) and the New Testament refers to this same secular type of ekklesia in Acts19:32, 39 and 41 (Nelson 1999).
A. The Local Church
Though there is reference to the secular historical meaning of ekklesia in the New Testament, the overwhelming New Testament Christian meaning of ekklesia refers to the local gathering of people who believe in Christ themselves rather than to a mere assembly. Here, ekklesia means "church," as in the churches of: Jerusalem, referred to in Acts 8:1 and 11:22 (Nelson 1999); Corinth, referred to in 1 Cor. 1:2 (Nelson 1999); Galatia, referred to in Gal. 1:2 (Nelson 1999); and Thessalonica, referred to in 1 Thess. 1:1 (Nelson 1999). Having little or nothing to do with a physical building, these churches frequently assembled in people's homes, for example in Rom. 16:5 and Philem. 2 (Nelson 1999).
B. The Universal Church
Yet another meaning for ekklesia within the Christian context is "universal church": "all those who, in this age, have been born of the Spirit of God and have by the same Spirit been baptized into the body of Christ" (Theissen 1979, 307). Here, for example in Acts 8:1:1-3 -- 9:31, the church refers to the community of believers, whether or not they are assembled in a specific place (Saucy 1972, 17). In this context, the universal church is the church that Christ: promised to build, referred to in Matt. 16:18 (Nelson 1999); died for, referred to in Eph. 5:25 (Nelson 1999); stands over as the head, referred to in Eph. 1:22-23 and Col. 1:18 (Nelson 1999); will be glorified by to all generations, referred to in Eph. 3:10 (Nelson 1999); has as his body, referred to in 1 Cor. 12:13 (Nelson 1999); embraces believers who have died and are now in heaven, referred to in Heb. 12:23 (Nelson 1999). This community of people, including all who have been reconciled to God and received new life through Christ's death, is expressed through local gatherings of these believers (Erickson 1998, 1034). This universal church is manifested in a local gathering and that local gathering is the universal church in that specific place (Saucy 1972, 18).
II. The Nature of the Church in Light of Its Different Metaphors
The Bible uses a variety of metaphors to symbolize and illustrate the church.
A. The Body of Christ
The "Body of Christ" is a metaphor of the church as the body and Christ as its head, focusing on the church's: unity, as in 1 Cor. 12:12-13 (Nelson 1999); diversity, as in 1 Cor. 12:14-31 (Nelson 1999); and interdependence, as in 1 Cor. 12:21-26 (Nelson 1999). Specific New Testament references to Christ as the head of the church, which is his body, are found in Col. 1:18 and 2:19; Eph. 1:22-23 and 4:4, 12, 16 and 5:30; 1 Cor. 12:12-31; Ro. 12:5 (Nelson 1999). Furthermore, the metaphor is used in the New Testament to indicate: the head's (Christ's) preeminence over his body (the church), as in Col. 1:15-19 and Eph. 5:24 (Nelson 1999); the head's (Christ's) unity with his body (the church), as in Col. 2:19 (Nelson 1999); and the sustenance that the body (the church) receives from the head (Christ), as in Col. 2:19 and Eph. 4:15-16 (Nelson 1999).
B. The Temple of God
Another metaphor widely used in the New Testament to represent...
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