What is the biblical definition of Church?

It's quite unfortunate that many people have a wrong perspective of the biblical definition of Church. Some people are of the view that the Church refers to the physical building. But is this definition in unison with what the bible really teaches? Others also are of the opinion that the Church refers to the body of believers, who are in a personal relationship with the Man Jesus Christ. They hold a contrary view that the Church refers to the physical structure, considering it as unbiblical, to them the Church refers primarily to Christians. Is this teaching in contradiction to the bible's definition of Church? 

Which of the two opposing views is much more consistent with what the bible teaches? Is the Church the physical building or the church primarily refers to all those who have exercised saving faith in Jesus Christ for salvation? The answer to this important question is clearly without any iota of ambiguity taught in the bible. I exhort thee by the mercies of God to carefully read through my exposition on this topic for your spiritual edification. By the end of this article, you will know what the true Church is, whether it refers to the physical building or the body of believers

What is the biblical definition of Church?

The etymology of Church is not a physical building, rather, it refers to the body of believers. The Greek word for "Church" is "Ekklesia" and it literally means, "called out ones". The Church is not the physical building, instead the physical structure is simply the place where the Church gathers together for fellowship. The Church is described as the body of Christ and with Jesus Christ as the head (Ephesians 1; 22-23). The Church refers chiefly to born again Christian's, it refers to those who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ out from a pure heart. Apostle Paul wrote: also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia (Romans 16; 5). Paul in his epistle to the Romans, referred to the Christians as ''the church that is in their house'', and he extended his greetings to them.

In the verse 16, he wrote: Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. Paul says "all the churches of Christ greet you", it is utterly impossible for a physical building to greet anyone, rather, he is saying that the body of believers greet you. It is also written: So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God (Acts 12: 5). Fervent intercessory prayers were made by the Church for apostle Peter and God intervened. 

The prayers were not offered by the physical building, rather, by the Christian's referred to as the Church. In another place, it is written: So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church (1 Corinthians 14:12). Physical building does not need edification, it is the body of Christ which needs edification. The apostle is saying to the Corinthians, that they should seek to abound for the edification of the Church. Paul's usage of the church signifies Christians.

In Ephesians, it is written: But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything (Ephesians 5; 24). The Church as the author uses it, signifies believers, because physical building cannot be subject to Christ, it is the Church which is subject to Christ. In the book of Galatians, it is written: For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it  (Galatians 1:13).

Paul in his unregenerate state, he persecuted the Christians beyond measure and tried to destroy them, but was to no avail. Paul's usage of Church is in reference to Christians, because in the context of Acts chapter eight, he went about arresting and persecuting the Christians with all his power. In the book of 1 Timothy, Paul gave us the criteria for appointing a Pastor and one of them is this: And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil (1 Timothy 3; 7). He must have a good name with those outside the church. Church here refers to believers, and not to physical building. A Pastor must have a good reputation with those who are not Christians.

What is the local and the universal church?

Sound theologians have grouped the Church into two types. They are namely, the local church and the universal church. 

What is the local church? 

The local church refers to the local assembly of believers. Paul in his epistle to the Galatians, he wrote: And all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia (Galatians 1; 2). Paul wrote his epistle to the churches of Galatia, meaning to the local assembly of believers scattered in the province of Galatia. He also wrote his epistle to the Corinthians: To the Church of God which is at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1; 1).

His epistle was directed specifically to the Christians in Corinth. He also wrote: Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace (1 Thessalonians 1:1). His epistle was written to the believers which dwelt in Thessalonica. The assembly or the coming together of believers to fellowship with one another and to worship God is what constitute the local church. Let me explain it this way for you to understand it better. The physical structure is the place where the local Church meets together every sunday morning for fellowship. It is in the local assembly of believers were God's word is taught for the spiritual edification of the saints. Therefore, it behooves us not to neglect the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10; 25). The apostolic church, Methodist Church, Assemblies of God, the Lutheran Church, the Baptist Church are all local churches, they are local assembly of believers. 

What is the universal church?

 The universal church on the other hand, refers primarily to Christians scattered all over around the world. It refers to all those who are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. The universal church consist of believers who have gone ahead of us into heaven and we the ones here on earth, whether Jews or Gentiles, we are all one in Christ Jesus. If your faith is in Christ alone for salvation, then you are part of the universal church. Paul wrote: For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12; 13). Every member of the universal church must in accordance with God's word be rooted and established in a local church. Every member of the universal church must of necessity seek fellowship with other believers for their own spiritual growth (Hebrews 10; 25). God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

The etymology of Church is not a physical building, rather, it refers to the body of believers

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