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The Ekklesia - Church - As A Local Assembly of Those Claiming to Be Christians
In Colossians 1: 18 Paul uses ekklesia in a way that is different from the usual use of it in the New Testament, which is to refer to a local congregation. Colossians 1: 18 says "And he is the head of the body, the church..." Body is from soma, the same word used for the human flesh.
Then in Colossian 1: 24 Paul writes "Who now rejoice in in my suffering for you,and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake,which is the church."
Then in Philemon 1: 2, which is a short letter considered to be written at the time of Paul's imprisonment in Rome in about 58 to 62 A.D., Paul used ekklesia to refer to a local church. Philemon 1: 2 says "And to our belived Apphia and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house."
Paul uses ekklesia in Colossians 4:15-16 twice to refer to a local assembly. He does use ekklesia in much the same way as he uses it in Colossians 1: 18 and 1: 24 in Ephesians 5: 23, "Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
Ekklesia, translated a church was used a number of times in the Book of Revelation by John, mostly in Revelation chapters one, two and three, but once in Chapter twenty-two. In Chapters one, two and three ekklesia (church) is always used to refer to a local assembly or congregation.
My George Ricker Berry Interlinear Greek-English New Testament has, for example, for Revelation 2: 1, "To the angel of the Ephesian assembly write, ..." He uses assembly for ekklesia consistently in Chapters Two and Three.
Tyndale in his 1526 English New Testament consistently translated ekklesia as congregation, except for Acts 14: 13 and Acts 19: 37 where he used churche, meaning a pagan place of worship. Tyndale broke with Catholic tradition and used congregation for ekklesia something which might have contributed to his being strangled at the stake by the Catholics.
When were Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon written?
Letters to the Church: Colossians | Bible Gateway Blog
"It’s widely believed that Paul’s letter to the Colossians was written in 62 A.D., during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome (around the same time he wrote his epistles to the Ephesians and Philippians)."
Colossians: Bible Books - Bible History Links (Ancient Biblical Studies)
"Epistle to the Colossians in Easton's Bible Dictionary was written by Paul at Rome during his first imprisonment there (Acts 28:16, 30), probably in the spring of A.D. 57, or, as some think, 62, and soon after he had written his Epistle to the Ephesians. Like some of his other epistles (e.g., those to Corinth), this seems to have been written in consequence of information which had somehow been conveyed to him of the internal state of the church there (Col. 1:4-8). Its object was to counteract false teaching."
"Epistle to the Colossians in Fausset's Bible Dictionary EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS: written by Paul during his first captivity at Rome (Acts 28:16), in that part of it when as yet it had not become so severe as it did when the epistle to the Philippians (Philemon 1:20-21; Philemon 1:30) was written (probably after the death of Burrhus, A.D. 62, to whom Tigellinus succeeded as praetorian prefect). "
"The Epistle to the Colossians in Smiths Bible Dictionary was written by the apostle St. Paul during his first captivity at Rome. Ac 28:16 (A.D. 62.) The epistle was addressed to Christians of the city of Colosse, and was delivered to them by Tychicus, whom the apostle had sent both to them, Col 4:7,8 and to the church of Ephesus..."
Philemon 1: 2 The church in thy house. This is an example of Paul's use of ekklesia o refer to a local congregation in one of his letters from prison in about A.D. 58 to 63.
18. Philemon: Introduction, Argument, and Outline | Bible.org
"Once the occasion for the writing of Colossians/ Philemon is established, it can be reasonably supposed that all three letters were written sometime during the middle of Paul’s imprisonment—hence, c. 60 CE. "
The Book of Revelation: Church used in 1: 4, 1; 11, 1: 20, 2: 1, 2: 8, 2: 12, 2: 18, 3: 1, 3: 6, 3: 7, 3: 13, 3: 14, 3: 17, 3: 22, 3: 23. 3: 29, 22: 16
In the Book of Revelation, ekklesia, translated as church is used to refer to local congregations. In Revelation 22: 16, "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
When was the Book of Revelation written?
When Was the Book of Revelation Written? : Christian Courier
"Irenaeus (A.D. 180), a student of Polycarp (who was a disciple of the apostle John), wrote that the apocalyptic vision “was seen not very long ago, almost in our own generation, at the close of the reign of Domitian” (Against Heresies 30). The testimony of Irenaeus, not far removed from the apostolic age, is first rate. He places the book near the end of Domitian’s reign, and that ruler died in A.D. 96. Irenaeus seems to be unaware of any other view for the date of the book of Revelation."
"Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 155-215) says that John returned from the isle of Patmos “after the tyrant was dead” (Who Is the Rich Man? 42), and Eusebius, known as the “Father of Church History,” identifies the “tyrant” as Domitian (Ecclesiastical History III.23)." "Domitian Caesar Domitianus Augustus was Roman emperor from 81 to 96."
"Victorinus (late third century), author of the earliest commentary on the book of Revelation, wrote: When John said these things, he was in the island of Patmos, condemned to the mines by Caesar Domitian. There he saw the Apocalypse; and when at length grown old, he thought that he should receive his release by suffering; but Domitian being killed, he was liberated (Commentary on Revelation 10:11)."
John must have been born at a time not far from the time Christ was born, since John was a grown man during the ministry of Christ.
How did the apostle John DIE?
"The well-known reference book Foxe's Book of Martyrs says that the apostle John, as punishment for being a believer in Christ, was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. The Emperor Domitian then (as if that were not enough) sent John to the island of Patmos (which is near the coast of Asia Minor and the city of Ephesus). It was during his time on the island that John, likely around 95 A.D., wrote the book of Revelation. When Emperor Nerva came to power he released John from his island imprisonment. John seems to have been the only one of Jesus' original twelve apostles who escape a violent death. Lastly, Easton's Bible Dictionary writes that John 'retired' to Ephesus after writing Revelation. The aged apostle likely, according to Easton's, outlived just about all his friends and his many acquaintances made over the years."
"BibleStudy.org's research has lead to the conclusion that John was exiled to Patmos in 95 A.D. It was during his stay on the island that he not only wrote the Book of Revelation but also finished writing his gospel account. After his release, he finalized the arrangement of books and the canonization of the New Testament around 96 - 99 A.D. John, the last living apostle, lived a long life and likely died close to 100 A.D."
Since John was a grown man when he was with Christ and the other disciples, he must have been born at about the time of the birth of Jesus, maybe a few years before Christ. See: What year was Jesus Christ born? When was Jesus born?
"The biblical details of Jesus’ birth are found in the Gospels. Matthew 2:1 states that Jesus was born during the days of Herod the king. Since Herod died in 4 B.C., we have a parameter to work with. Further, after Joseph and Mary fled Bethlehem with Jesus, Herod ordered all the boys 2 years old and younger in that vicinity killed. This indicates that Jesus could have been as old as 2 before Herod’s death. This places the date of His birth between 6 and 4 B.C."
If John the Apostle lived until the year 100 in the First Century, and since he was likely born a few years before the beginning of the first century, John could have lived to be over a hundred.
Again, in understanding what ekklesia, translated as church means, scripture should be interpreted by scripture rather than by the traditions of men.
The parable of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 13: 24-43 is about the kingdom of heaven - which can be the church - which contains both wheat and tares. The Lord said not to pull up the tares before the harvest, because man may not discern the difference.
Then there is the parable of the leaven of the kingdom of God in Luke 13: 18-21, which is about the kingdom of God - which can be seen as the church -leavened over time until it is totally leavened. II Thessalonians 2: 3-7 says there will come a falling away. I Timothy 4: 1, II Timothy 3: 5, 7-8, II Timothy 3: 13, and II Timothy 4: 3 are all by Paul and are all about a departure from sound doctrine in the churches.
The ekklesia, the church, is predicted to become apostate, that is, to teach false doctrines. God even calls his people out of the ekklesia which has become Babylon in Revelation 18: 4, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
When the ekklesia or church becomes leavened, God begins over again with a remnant. If the church is leavened over time, then there is a time in which the elect members of the church become fewer and fewer. When the leavening reaches a high point, with the church teaching false doctrines, then few in the church are wheat and most are tares.
However, Daniel 11: 33 says "And they that understand among the people shall instruct many..." And Daniel 12: 3 says "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Then, Revelation 12: 15-17 reveals that while the Dragon is casting a flood (of lies) out of his mouth, a remnant exists who have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The implication is that the remnant who have the testimony of Christ instruct many and some who would be the tares become wheat. Revelation 11: 7-11, in heavily metaphoric language, says the two witnesses are overcome and killed by the beast out of the bottomless pit, and their dead bodies lie in a metaphoric city "...which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified." But in Revelation 11: 11 the Two Witnesses who were dead (spiritually) are given the Spirit of life from God. Those called the Two Witnesses were spiritually dead, but were given spiritual life by the Spirit of God.
In Colossians 1: 18 Paul uses ekklesia in a way that is different from the usual use of it in the New Testament, which is to refer to a local congregation. Colossians 1: 18 says "And he is the head of the body, the church..." Body is from soma, the same word used for the human flesh.
Then in Colossian 1: 24 Paul writes "Who now rejoice in in my suffering for you,and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake,which is the church."
Then in Philemon 1: 2, which is a short letter considered to be written at the time of Paul's imprisonment in Rome in about 58 to 62 A.D., Paul used ekklesia to refer to a local church. Philemon 1: 2 says "And to our belived Apphia and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house."
Paul uses ekklesia in Colossians 4:15-16 twice to refer to a local assembly. He does use ekklesia in much the same way as he uses it in Colossians 1: 18 and 1: 24 in Ephesians 5: 23, "Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
Ekklesia, translated a church was used a number of times in the Book of Revelation by John, mostly in Revelation chapters one, two and three, but once in Chapter twenty-two. In Chapters one, two and three ekklesia (church) is always used to refer to a local assembly or congregation.
My George Ricker Berry Interlinear Greek-English New Testament has, for example, for Revelation 2: 1, "To the angel of the Ephesian assembly write, ..." He uses assembly for ekklesia consistently in Chapters Two and Three.
Tyndale in his 1526 English New Testament consistently translated ekklesia as congregation, except for Acts 14: 13 and Acts 19: 37 where he used churche, meaning a pagan place of worship. Tyndale broke with Catholic tradition and used congregation for ekklesia something which might have contributed to his being strangled at the stake by the Catholics.
When were Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon written?
Letters to the Church: Colossians | Bible Gateway Blog
"It’s widely believed that Paul’s letter to the Colossians was written in 62 A.D., during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome (around the same time he wrote his epistles to the Ephesians and Philippians)."
Colossians: Bible Books - Bible History Links (Ancient Biblical Studies)
"Epistle to the Colossians in Easton's Bible Dictionary was written by Paul at Rome during his first imprisonment there (Acts 28:16, 30), probably in the spring of A.D. 57, or, as some think, 62, and soon after he had written his Epistle to the Ephesians. Like some of his other epistles (e.g., those to Corinth), this seems to have been written in consequence of information which had somehow been conveyed to him of the internal state of the church there (Col. 1:4-8). Its object was to counteract false teaching."
"Epistle to the Colossians in Fausset's Bible Dictionary EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS: written by Paul during his first captivity at Rome (Acts 28:16), in that part of it when as yet it had not become so severe as it did when the epistle to the Philippians (Philemon 1:20-21; Philemon 1:30) was written (probably after the death of Burrhus, A.D. 62, to whom Tigellinus succeeded as praetorian prefect). "
"The Epistle to the Colossians in Smiths Bible Dictionary was written by the apostle St. Paul during his first captivity at Rome. Ac 28:16 (A.D. 62.) The epistle was addressed to Christians of the city of Colosse, and was delivered to them by Tychicus, whom the apostle had sent both to them, Col 4:7,8 and to the church of Ephesus..."
Philemon 1: 2 The church in thy house. This is an example of Paul's use of ekklesia o refer to a local congregation in one of his letters from prison in about A.D. 58 to 63.
18. Philemon: Introduction, Argument, and Outline | Bible.org
"Once the occasion for the writing of Colossians/ Philemon is established, it can be reasonably supposed that all three letters were written sometime during the middle of Paul’s imprisonment—hence, c. 60 CE. "
The Book of Revelation: Church used in 1: 4, 1; 11, 1: 20, 2: 1, 2: 8, 2: 12, 2: 18, 3: 1, 3: 6, 3: 7, 3: 13, 3: 14, 3: 17, 3: 22, 3: 23. 3: 29, 22: 16
In the Book of Revelation, ekklesia, translated as church is used to refer to local congregations. In Revelation 22: 16, "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."
When was the Book of Revelation written?
When Was the Book of Revelation Written? : Christian Courier
"Irenaeus (A.D. 180), a student of Polycarp (who was a disciple of the apostle John), wrote that the apocalyptic vision “was seen not very long ago, almost in our own generation, at the close of the reign of Domitian” (Against Heresies 30). The testimony of Irenaeus, not far removed from the apostolic age, is first rate. He places the book near the end of Domitian’s reign, and that ruler died in A.D. 96. Irenaeus seems to be unaware of any other view for the date of the book of Revelation."
"Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 155-215) says that John returned from the isle of Patmos “after the tyrant was dead” (Who Is the Rich Man? 42), and Eusebius, known as the “Father of Church History,” identifies the “tyrant” as Domitian (Ecclesiastical History III.23)." "Domitian Caesar Domitianus Augustus was Roman emperor from 81 to 96."
"Victorinus (late third century), author of the earliest commentary on the book of Revelation, wrote: When John said these things, he was in the island of Patmos, condemned to the mines by Caesar Domitian. There he saw the Apocalypse; and when at length grown old, he thought that he should receive his release by suffering; but Domitian being killed, he was liberated (Commentary on Revelation 10:11)."
John must have been born at a time not far from the time Christ was born, since John was a grown man during the ministry of Christ.
How did the apostle John DIE?
"The well-known reference book Foxe's Book of Martyrs says that the apostle John, as punishment for being a believer in Christ, was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. The Emperor Domitian then (as if that were not enough) sent John to the island of Patmos (which is near the coast of Asia Minor and the city of Ephesus). It was during his time on the island that John, likely around 95 A.D., wrote the book of Revelation. When Emperor Nerva came to power he released John from his island imprisonment. John seems to have been the only one of Jesus' original twelve apostles who escape a violent death. Lastly, Easton's Bible Dictionary writes that John 'retired' to Ephesus after writing Revelation. The aged apostle likely, according to Easton's, outlived just about all his friends and his many acquaintances made over the years."
"BibleStudy.org's research has lead to the conclusion that John was exiled to Patmos in 95 A.D. It was during his stay on the island that he not only wrote the Book of Revelation but also finished writing his gospel account. After his release, he finalized the arrangement of books and the canonization of the New Testament around 96 - 99 A.D. John, the last living apostle, lived a long life and likely died close to 100 A.D."
Since John was a grown man when he was with Christ and the other disciples, he must have been born at about the time of the birth of Jesus, maybe a few years before Christ. See: What year was Jesus Christ born? When was Jesus born?
"The biblical details of Jesus’ birth are found in the Gospels. Matthew 2:1 states that Jesus was born during the days of Herod the king. Since Herod died in 4 B.C., we have a parameter to work with. Further, after Joseph and Mary fled Bethlehem with Jesus, Herod ordered all the boys 2 years old and younger in that vicinity killed. This indicates that Jesus could have been as old as 2 before Herod’s death. This places the date of His birth between 6 and 4 B.C."
If John the Apostle lived until the year 100 in the First Century, and since he was likely born a few years before the beginning of the first century, John could have lived to be over a hundred.
Again, in understanding what ekklesia, translated as church means, scripture should be interpreted by scripture rather than by the traditions of men.
The parable of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 13: 24-43 is about the kingdom of heaven - which can be the church - which contains both wheat and tares. The Lord said not to pull up the tares before the harvest, because man may not discern the difference.
Then there is the parable of the leaven of the kingdom of God in Luke 13: 18-21, which is about the kingdom of God - which can be seen as the church -leavened over time until it is totally leavened. II Thessalonians 2: 3-7 says there will come a falling away. I Timothy 4: 1, II Timothy 3: 5, 7-8, II Timothy 3: 13, and II Timothy 4: 3 are all by Paul and are all about a departure from sound doctrine in the churches.
The ekklesia, the church, is predicted to become apostate, that is, to teach false doctrines. God even calls his people out of the ekklesia which has become Babylon in Revelation 18: 4, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
When the ekklesia or church becomes leavened, God begins over again with a remnant. If the church is leavened over time, then there is a time in which the elect members of the church become fewer and fewer. When the leavening reaches a high point, with the church teaching false doctrines, then few in the church are wheat and most are tares.
However, Daniel 11: 33 says "And they that understand among the people shall instruct many..." And Daniel 12: 3 says "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Then, Revelation 12: 15-17 reveals that while the Dragon is casting a flood (of lies) out of his mouth, a remnant exists who have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The implication is that the remnant who have the testimony of Christ instruct many and some who would be the tares become wheat. Revelation 11: 7-11, in heavily metaphoric language, says the two witnesses are overcome and killed by the beast out of the bottomless pit, and their dead bodies lie in a metaphoric city "...which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified." But in Revelation 11: 11 the Two Witnesses who were dead (spiritually) are given the Spirit of life from God. Those called the Two Witnesses were spiritually dead, but were given spiritual life by the Spirit of God.
