CHURCH (ch6rch), (Gr. 'EKanata, ek-klay-see'a, assembly).
The original Greek word, in its larger significa tion, denotes a number of persons called together for any purpose, an assembly of any kind, civil or religious. As. however, it is usually applied in the New Testament to religious assemblages, it is very properly translated by 'assembly,' in the few instances in which it occurs in the civil sense (Acts xix :32, 39, 41). It is, however, well to note that the word rendered 'assembly' in these verses is the same which is elsewhere rendered 'church.' In a few places the word occurs in the Jewish sense, of a congregation, an assembly of the peo ple for worship, either in a synagogue (Matt. xviii :17) or generally of the Jews regarded as a religious body (Acts vii :38: Heb. :12). The text last cited is quoted from Ps. xxii :22. where the Septuagint uses lKAnerla for the Hebrew e',1.0 qahal, which has the same meaning, namely, assembly, congregation, or a called or invited gathering. Elsewhere also this word which we
render 'church' in the New Testament is used by the Septuagint for the Hebrew word which we render 'congregation' in the Old Testament.
But the word most frequently occurs in the Christian sense of an assemblage (of Christians) generally (I Cor. xi:78). Hence it denotes a church, the Christian church; in which, however, we distinguish certain shades of meaning, viz.— I. A particular church, a church in a certain place, as in Jerusalem (Acts viii:i ; xi:22, etc.). in Antioch (Acts xi :26; xiii :1, etc.), in Corinth (r Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. i:r), etc. 2. Churches of (Gentile) Christians, without distinguishing place (Rom. xvi :4). 3. An assembly of Christians which meets anywhere, as in the house of any one (Rom. xvi :5; I Cor. xvi:19; Philem. 2). The Church universal—the whole body of Christian believers (Matt. xvi: 18; I Cor. xii :28; Gal. 1:13 ; Eph. i iii:IO; Heb. xii :23, etc.).