Ecclesiology:Ecclesiology: The Meaning of “Church”The Meaning of “Church”

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The Meaning of “Church”The Meaning of “Church”

• (Anglo-Saxon, cirice, circe;

• Modern German, Kirche; Sw., Kyrka)

• Greek ekklesia (ecclesia),• New Testament writers:

“society founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ.”

• Greek kyriakon (cyriacon), i.e. the Lord's house,

The Meaning of “Church”The Meaning of “Church”

• A church: an association of people who share a particular belief system.

• originated from:pre-Christian Germanic kirika.

• Replaced the Greek ekklesia and Basilicae within Christendom, c300 AD.

The Meaning of “Church”

• Greek term εκκλησία — ekklesia, literally means a "convocation",

• A governmental and political term: a national assembly,

• congregation or council of common objective together to resolve a problem faced by the wider community or society,

• did not signify a "building".