Lexical Definition
ἐκκλησία ekklēsía (ek-klay-see'-ah) assembly G:N-F
from a compound of ἐκ and a derivative of καλέω
assembly, church.
- a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both)
Abbott-Smith
ἐκκλησία, -ας, ἡ (< ἐκ-καλέω), [in LXX chiefly for קָהָל, otherwise for one of its cogn. forms ;]
1. prop., an assembly of citizens regularly convened (in Thuc., ii, 22, opp. to σύλλογος, a concourse): Ac 19:32, 39, 41.
2. In LXX of the assembly, congregation, community of Israel (De 4:10 23:2, al.): Ac 7:38, He 2:12 (LXX).
3. NT, esp. of an assembly or company of Christians, a (the) church;
(a) of gatherings for worship: I Co 11:18 14:19, 34, 35;
(b) of local communities: Ac 8:3, I Co 4:17; with name added, Ac 8:1, Ro 16:1, I Th 1:1, al.; pl., Ac 15:41, I Co 7:17; τ. Χριστοῦ, Ro 16:16; τ. Ἀσίας, I Co 16:19; τ. ἁγίων, I Co 14:33; εἰπὸν τ. ἐκκλησίᾳ, Mt 18:17 (but v. Hort, Ecclesia, 10); of a house-congregation (DB, i, 431a), Ro 16:5, I Co 16:19, Col 4:15, Phm 2;
(c) of the whole body of Christians: Mt 16:18, I Co 12:28, Eph 1:22, Phl 3:6, al.; τ. θεοῦ, Ac 20:28 (Κυρίου, T, R, mg.), I Co 15:9, Ga 1:13, I Ti 3:15; ἐ. προτοτόκων ἀπογεγραμμένων ἐν οὐρανοῖς, He 12:23.
SYN.: συναγωγή, q.v. (v. Tr., Syn., §i; DB, i, 426; Hort, Ecclesia, esp. 4ff., 107ff.; Hamilton, People of God, ii, 37ff.; reff. s.vv. "Church," "Congregation," in DB and DCG; Cremer, 332).
Abbott-Smith References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Matthew | 16:18 · 18:17 |
| Acts | 7:38 · 8:1 · 8:3 · 15:41 · 19:32 · 19:39 · 19:41 · 20:28 |
| Romans | 16:1 · 16:5 · 16:16 |
| 1 Corinthians | 4:17 · 7:17 · 11:18 · 12:28 · 14:19 · 14:33 · 14:34 · 14:35 · 15:9 · 16:19 |
| Galatians | 1:13 |
| Ephesians | 1:22 |
| Philippians | 3:6 |
| Colossians | 4:15 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 1:1 |
| 1 Timothy | 3:15 |
| Philemon | 1:2 |
| Hebrews | 2:12 · 12:23 |
Liddell-Scott-Jones
ἐκκλησία-α, ἡ,
(ἔκκλητος) assembly duly summoned, less general than σύλλογος, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; applied to the Homeric Assemblies, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to the Samian Assembly, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to the Spartan, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to the meeting of the Amphictyons at Delphi, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; at Athens, ἐ. κύριαι, opposed to σύγκλητοι, Arist.[Refs 2nd c.AD+]; κυρία ἐ., at Amorgos, [Refs]; ἐ. συναγείρειν, συνάγειν, συλλέγειν, ἀθροίζειν, call an assembly, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. γίγνεται an assembly is held, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. διαλύειν, ἀναστῆσαι, dissolve it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐ. ἀνεβλήθη was adjourned, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2=Latin Comitia, ἐ. λοχῖτις, φρατρική, = Comitia Centuriata, Curiata, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
__3 ={ψήφισμα}, ἀναγιγνωσκομένης ἐ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II in LXX, the Jewish congregation,.[LXX]
__II.2 in NT, the Church, as a body of Christians, [NT]; as a building, [Refs]
LSJ Scripture Refs: Matt.16.18 ☩ 1Cor.11.22 ☩ Rom.16.5