[Easton]
Derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e., “the Lord’s house”), which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship.
In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew kahal of the Old Testament, both words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in post-apostolic times it early received this meaning. Nor is this word ever used to denote the inhabitants of a country united in the same profession, as when we say the “Church of England,” the “Church of Scotland,” etc.
We find the word ecclesia used in the following senses in the New Testament: (1.) It is translated “assembly” in the ordinary classical sense (
Acts 19:32,
39,
41).
(2.) It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible catholic church (
Eph. 5:23,
25,
27,
29;
Heb. 12:23).
(3.) A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances of the gospel are an ecclesia (
Rom. 16:5;
Col. 4:15).
(4.) All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled together in one place or in several places for religious worship, were an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Antioch, forming several congregations, were one church (
Acts 13:1); so also we read of the “church of God at Corinth” (
1 Cor. 1:2), “the church at Jerusalem” (
Acts 8:1), “the church of Ephesus” (
Rev. 2:1), etc.
(5.) The whole body of professing Christians throughout the world (
1 Cor. 15:9;
Gal. 1:13;
Matt. 16:18) are the church of Christ.
The church visible “consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children.” It is called “visible” because its members are known and its assemblies are public. Here there is a mixture of “wheat and chaff,” of saints and sinners. “God has commanded his people to organize themselves into distinct visible ecclesiastical communities, with constitutions, laws, and officers, badges, ordinances, and discipline, for the great purpose of giving visibility to his kingdom, of making known the gospel of that kingdom, and of gathering in all its elect subjects. Each one of these distinct organized communities which is faithful to the great King is an integral part of the visible church, and all together constitute the catholic or universal visible church.” A credible profession of the true religion constitutes a person a member of this church. This is “the kingdom of heaven,” whose character and progress are set forth in the parables recorded in
Matt. 13.
The children of all who thus profess the true religion are members of the visible church along with their parents. Children are included in every covenant God ever made with man. They go along with their parents (
Gen. 9:9-17;
12:1-3;
17:7;
Ex. 20:5;
Deut. 29:10-13). Peter, on the day of Pentecost, at the beginning of the New Testament dispensation, announces the same great principle. “The promise [just as to Abraham and his seed the promises were made] is unto you, and to your children” (
Acts 2:38,
39). The children of believing parents are “holy”, i.e., are “saints”, a title which designates the members of the Christian church (
1 Cor. 7:14). (See BAPTISM.)
The church invisible “consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, the head thereof.” This is a pure society, the church in which Christ dwells. It is the body of Christ. it is called “invisible” because the greater part of those who constitute it are already in heaven or are yet unborn, and also because its members still on earth cannot certainly be distinguished. The qualifications of membership in it are internal and are hidden. It is unseen except by Him who “searches the heart.” “The Lord knoweth them that are his” (
2 Tim. 2:19).
The church to which the attributes, prerogatives, and promises appertaining to Christ’s kingdom belong, is a spiritual body consisting of all true believers, i.e., the church invisible.
(1.) Its unity. God has ever had only one church on earth. We sometimes speak of the Old Testament Church and of the New Testament church, but they are one and the same. The Old Testament church was not to be changed but enlarged (
Isa. 49:13-23;
60:1-14). When the Jews are at length restored, they will not enter a new church, but will be grafted again into “their own olive tree” (
Rom. 11:18-24; comp.
Eph. 2:11-22). The apostles did not set up a new organization. Under their ministry disciples were “added” to the “church” already existing (
Acts 2:47).
(2.) Its universality. It is the “catholic” church; not confined to any particular country or outward organization, but comprehending all believers throughout the whole world.
(3.) Its perpetuity. It will continue through all ages to the end of the world. It can never be destroyed. It is an “everlasting kindgdom.”
[Smith]
The derivation of the word is generally said to be from the Greek kuriakon (kuriakon) “belonging to the Lord.” But the derivation has been too hastily assumed. It is probably connected with kirk, the Latin circus, circulus, the Greek kuklos (kuklos) because the congregations were gathered in circles.
Ecclesia (ekklesia) the Greek word for church, originally meant an assembly called out by the magistrate, or by legitimate authority. It was in this last sense that the word was adapted and applied by the writers of the New Testament to the Christian congregation. In the one Gospel of St. Matthew the church is spoken of no less than thirty-six times as “the kingdom.” Other descriptions or titles are hardly found in the evangelists. It is Christ’s household, (
Matthew 10:25) the salt and light of the world, (
Matthew 5:13,
15) Christ’s flock, (
Matthew 26:31;
John 10:15) its members are the branches growing on Christ the Vine,
John 15; but the general description of it, not metaphorical but direct, is that it is a kingdom, (
Matthew 16:19) From the Gospel then we learn that Christ was about to establish his heavenly kingdom on earth, which was to be the substitute for the Jewish Church and kingdom, now doomed to destruction (
Matthew 21:43) The day of Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian church. Before they had been individual followers Jesus; now they became his mystical body, animated by his spirit. On the evening of the day of Pentecost, the 3140 members of which the Church consisted were— (1) Apostles; (2) previous Disciples; (3) Converts. In (
Acts 2:41) we have indirectly exhibited the essential conditions of church communion. They are (1) Baptism, baptism implying on the part of the recipient repentance and faith; (2) Apostolic Doctrine; (3) Fellowship with the Apostles; (4) The Lord’s Supper; (5) Public Worship. The real Church consists of all who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ as his disciples, and are one in love, in character, in hope, in Christ as the head of all, though as the body of Christ it consists of many parts.
[Nave]
–(Hebrew: qahal, ’edah; Greek: ekklesia)
–(The people of God; the collective body of believers. (Also,
CONGREGATION, ASSEMBLY, THE BODY OF CHRIST.))
–Called COURTS
Ps 65:4 ;
84:2 ,
10 ;
92:13 ;
96:8 ;
100:4 ;
116:19 ;
Isa 1:12 ;
62:9 ;
Zec 3:7
–HOUSE OF GOD
Ge 28:17 ,
22 ;
Jos 9:23 ;
Jud 18:31 ;
20:18 ,
26 ;
21:2 ;
1Ch 9:11 ;
24:5 ;
2Ch 5:14 ;
22:12 ;
24:13 ;
33:7 ;
36:19 ;
Ezr 5:8 ,
15 ;
7:20 ,
23 ;
Ne 6:10 ;
11:11 ;
13:11 ;
Ps 42:4 ;
52:8 ;
55:14 ;
84:10 ;
Ec 5:1 ;
Isa 2:3 ;
Ho 9:8 ; Joe
1:16 ;
Mic 4:2 ;
Zec 7:2 ;
Mt 12:4 ;
1Ti 3:15 ;
Heb 10:21 ;
1Pe 4:17
–HOUSE OF THE LORD
Ex 23:19 ;
34:26 ;
De 23:18 ;
Jos 6:24 ;
Jud 19:18 ;
1Sa 1:7 ,
24 ;
2Sa 12:20 ;
1Ki 3:1 ;
6:37 ;
7:40 ;
8:10 ,
63 ;
10:5 ;
2Ki 11:3 ,
4 ,
15 ,
18 ,
19 ;
12:4 , 9 , 10 , 13 , 16 ; 16:18 ; 20:8 ; 23:2 , 7 , 11 ; 25:9 ;
1Ch 6:31 ;
22:1 ,
11 ,
14 ;
23:4 ;
26:12 ;
2Ch 8:16 ;
26:21 ;
29:5 ,
15 ;
33:15 ;
34:15 ;
36:14 ;
Ezr 7:27 ;
Ps 23:6 ;
27:4 ;
92:13 ;
116:19 ;
118:26 ; 122:1 , 9 ; 134:1 ;
Isa 2:2 ;
37:14 ;
Jer 17:26 ;
20:1 ,
2 ;
26:2 ,
7 ;
28:1 ,
5 ;
29:26 ;
35:2 ; 36:5 , 6 ; 38:14 ; 41:5 ; 51:51 ;
La 2:7 ;
Eze 44:4 ;
Hag 1:2 ;
Zec 8:9
–SANCTUARY
Ex 25:8 ;
Le 19:30 ;
21:12 ;
Nu 3:28 ;
4:12 ;
7:9 ; 8:19 ; 10:21 ; 18:1 , 5 ; 19:20 ;
1Ch 9:29 ;
22:19 ;
24:5 ;
28:10 ;
2Ch 20:8 ;
26:18 ;
29:21 ; 30:8 , 19 ;
Ne 10:39 ;
Ps 20:2 ;
28:2 ;
63:2 ;
68:24 ;
73:17 ;
74:3 ,
7 ;
77:13 ;
78:69 ;
150:1 ;
Isa 16:12 ;
63:18 ;
La 2:7 ,
20 ;
4:1 ;
Eze 5:11 ;
42:20 ;
44:5 ,
27 ;
45:3 ;
48:8 ,
21 ;
Da 8:11 ,
13 ,
14 ;
9:17 ,
26 ;
11:31 ;
Heb 8:2 ;
9:1 ,
2
–HOUSE OF PRAYER
Isa 56:7 ;
Mt 21:13
–TABERNACLE
Ex 26:1 ;
Le 26:11 ;
Jos 22:19 ;
Ps 15:1 ;
61:4 ;
76:2 ;
Heb 8:2 ,
5 ;
9:2 ,
11 ;
Re 13:6 ;
21:3
–TEMPLE
1Sa 1:9 ;
3:3 ;
2Ki 11:10 ,
13 ;
Ezr 4:1 ;
Ps 5:7 ;
11:4 ; 27:4 ; 29:9 ; 48:9 ; 68:29 ;
Isa 6:1 ;
Mal 3:1 ;
Mt 4:5 ;
23:16 ;
Lu 18:10 ;
24:53
–ZION
Ps 9:11 ;
48:11 ;
74:2 ;
132:13 ;
137:1 ;
Isa 35:10 ;
Jer 31:6 ;
50:5 ;
Joe 2:1 ,
15
–HOLY PLACE
Ex 28:29 ;
38:24 ;
Le 6:16 ;
10:17 ;
14:13 ;
16:2-24 ;
Jos 5:15 ;
1Ki 8:8 ;
1Ch 23:32 ;
2Ch 29:5 ;
30:27 ;
35:5 ;
Ezr 9:8 ;
Ps 24:3 ;
46:4 ; 68:17 ;
Ec 8:10 ;
Isa 57:15 ;
Eze 41:4 ;
42:13 ;
45:4 ;
Mt 24:15 ;
Ac 6:13 ;
21:28 ;
Heb 9:12 ,
25
–HOLY TEMPLE
Ps 5:7 ;
11:4 ;
65:4 ;
79:1 ;
138:2 ;
Jon 2:4 ,
7 ;
Mic 1:2 ;
Hab 2:20 ;
Eph 2:21 ;
3:17
–MY FATHER’S HOUSE
Joh 2:16 ;
14:2
–HOLY
Ex 30:26-29 ;
40:9 ;
Le 8:10 ,
11 ;
16:13 ;
19:30 ;
21:12 ;
Nu 7:1 ;
1Ki 9:3 ;
1Ch 29:3 ;
2Ch 3:8 ;
Isa 64:11 ;
Eze 23:39 ;
1Co 3:17
–EDIFICES
.See SYNAGOGUE
.See TABERNACLE
.See TEMPLE
–MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS
.Called THE CONGREGATION in the O. T. (K. J. V. and others)
Ex 12:3 ,
6 ,
19 ,
47 ;
16:1 ,
2 ,
9 ,
10 ,
22 ;
Le 4:13 ,
15 ;
10:17 ;
24:14
.Called CHURCH in the N. T. (K. J. V.), but CONGREGATION earlier
in Tyndale’s translation
Mt 16:18 ;
18:17 ;
Ac 2:47 ;
1Co 11:18 ;
14:19 ,
23 ,
28 ,
33 ,
34 ;
15:9 ;
Ga 1:13
.Also called
ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS
Ps 89:7
ASSEMBLY OF THE UPRIGHT
Ps 111:1
.BODY OF CHRIST
Eph 1:22 ,
23 ;
Col 1:24
.BRANCH OF GOD’S PLANTING
Isa 60:21
.BRIDE OF CHRIST
Re 21:9
.CHURCH OF GOD
Ac 20:28
.CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD
1Ti 3:15
.CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN
Heb 12:23
.CITY OF THE LIVING GOD
Heb 12:22
.CONGREGATION OF SAINTS
Ps 149:1
.CONGREGATION OF THE LORD’S POOR
Ps 74:19
.DOVE
So 2:14 ;
5:2
.FAMILY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH
Eph 3:15
.FLOCK OF GOD
Eze 34:15 ;
1Pe 5:2
.FOLD OF CHRIST
Joh 10:16
.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRSTBORN (people)
Heb 12:23
.GOLDEN CANDLESTICK (lampstand)
Re 1:20
.GOD’S BUILDING
1Co 3:9
.GOD’S HUSBANDRY (farm)
1Co 3:9
.GOD’S HERITAGE
Joe 3:2 ;
1Pe 5:3
.HABITATION OF GOD
Eph 2:22
.HEAVENLY JERUSALEM
Ga 4:26 ;
Heb 12:22
.HOLY CITY
Re 21:2
.HOLY MOUNTAIN
Zec 8:3
.HOLY HILL
Ps 2:6 ;
15:1
.HOUSE OF GOD
1Ti 3:15 ;
Heb 10:21
.THE GOD OF JACOB
Isa 2:3
.HOUSE OF CHRIST
Heb 3:6
.HOUSEHOLD OF GOD
Eph 2:19
.INHERITANCE
Ps 28:9 ;
Isa 19:25
.ISRAEL OF GOD
Ga 6:16
.KING’S DAUGHTER
Ps 45:13
.KINGDOM OF GOD
Mt 6:33 ;
12:28 ;
19:24 ;
21:31
.KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Mt 3:2 ;
4:17 ;
10:7 ;
5:3 ,
10 ,
19 ,
20
.HIS KINGDOM
Ps 103:19 ;
145:12 ;
Mt 16:28 ;
Lu 1:33
.MY KINGDOM
Joh 18:36
.THY KINGDOM
Ps 45:6 ;
145:11 ,
13 ;
Mt 6:10 ;
Lu 23:42
.LAMB’S BRIDE
Eph 5:22-32 ;
Re 22:17
.LAMB’S WIFE
Re 19:7-9 ;
21:9
.LOT OF GOD’S INHERITANCE
De 32:9
.MOUNT ZION
Heb 12:22
.MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOUSE
Isa 2:2
.NEW JERUSALEM
Re 21:2
.PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH
1Ti 3:15
.PLACE OF GOD’S THRONE
Eze 43:7
.PLEASANT PORTION
Jer 12:10
.SANCTUARY OF GOD
Ps 114:2
.SISTER OF CHRIST
So 4:12 ;
5:2
.SPIRITUAL HOUSE
1Pe 2:5
.SPOUSE OF CHRIST
So 4:12 ;
5:1
.STRENGTH AND GLORY OF GOD
Ps 78:61
.SOUGHT OUT, A CITY NOT FORSAKEN
Isa 62:12
.THE LORD’S PORTION
De 32:9
.TEMPLE OF GOD
1Co 3:16 ,
17
.TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD
2Co 6:16
.VINEYARD
Jer 12:10 ;
Mt 21:41
.Christ’s love for
Joh 10:8 ,
11 ,
12 ;
Eph 5:25-32 ;
Re 3:9
.Loved by believers
Ps 87:7 ;
137:5 ;
1Co 12:25 ;
1Th 4:9
.Is prayed for
Ps 122:6 ;
Isa 62:6
.Dear to God
Isa 43:4
.Safe under his care
Ps 46:1 ,
2 ,
5
.Salt and light of the world
Mt 5:13
.Militant
So 6:10 ;
Php 2:25 ;
2Ti 2:3 ;
4:7 ;
Phm 1 :2
.God defends
Ps 89:18 ;
Isa 4:5 ;
49:25 ;
Mt 16:18
.God provides ministers for
Jer 3:15 ;
Eph 4:11 ,
12
.Is glorious
Ps 45:13 ;
Eph 5:27
.Is clothed in righteousness
Re 10:8
.Believers continually added to, by the Lord
Ac 2:47 ;
5:14 ; 11:24
.Unity of
Ro 12:5 ;
1Co 10:17 ;
12:12 ;
Ga 3:28 ;
Eph 4:4
.Privileges of
Ps 36:8 ;
87:5
.Worship of, to be attended
Heb 10:25
.Harmonious fellowship of
Ps 133 ;
Joh 13:34 ;
Ac 4:32 ;
Php 1:4 ;
2:1 ;
1Jo 3 ;
4
.Divisions in, to be shunned
Ro 16:17 ;
1Co 1:10 ;
3:3
.Baptized (immersed) into by one Spirit
1Co 12:13
.Ministers commanded to feed
Ac 20:28
.Is edified by the word
Ro 12:6 ;
1Co 14:4 ,
13 ;
Eph 4:15 ,
16 ;
Col 3:16
.The wicked persecute
Ac 8:1-3 ;
1Th 2:14 ,
15
.Not to be despised
1Co 11:22
.Defiling of, will be punished
1Co 3:17
.Extent of, predicted
Isa 2:2 ;
Eze 17:2 ;
Da 2:34 ,
35
.See ECCLESIASTICISM
.See JESUS, KINGDOM OF
.See MINISTERS
.See USURPATION, IN ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS
–UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO
De 32:9 ;
Ps 2:6 ;
9:11 , 14 ; 14:7 ; 20:2 ; 46:4 , 5 ; 48:1 , 2 , 11-13 ; 50:2 ; 51:18 ; 53:6 ; 65:1 ; 69:35 , 36 ; 74:2 ;
84:1-10 ; 87:1-6 ; 99:2 ; 102:13 , 14 , 16 , 19-21 ; 110:2 ; 111:1 ; 114:2 ; 125:1 ; 126:1 , 2 ;
129:5 ; 132:13-16 ; 133:1-3 ; 134:1-3 ; 137:1-6 ; 149:2 ;
Isa 1:8 ,
27 ;
2:3 ;
4:2-6 ;
12:6 ;
14:32 ; 24:23 ; 27:2 , 3 ; 28:5 , 16 ; 31:4 , 5 ; 33:5 , 14 , 20-24 ; 35:1-10 ; 40:9-11 ; 43:1-7 , 21 , 25 ;
44:23 ; 49:14-17 ; 52:1 , 2 , 7-12 ; 59:20 ; 60:1-6 , 19-21 ; 61:1-3 ; 62:1 , 3 , 11 , 12 ; 66:8 , 18 ;
Jer 3:14 ,
15 ;
12:10 ;
13:11 ;
31:6 ,
7 ,
12 ,
23 ;
33:9 ;
43:7 ;
Joe 2:1 ,
15-17 ;
Zec 8:3 ; Mt
13:24 ; 16:18 ;
Ac 7:38 ;
20:28 ;
1Co 3:9 ;
12:28 ;
15:9 ;
2Co 8:1 ;
Eph 1:22 ,
23 ;
2:21 ,
22 ;
3:15 , 21 ; 5:23-27 , 29 ;
Col 1:24 ;
1Ti 3:14 ,
15 ;
Heb 3:6 ;
12:22 ,
23 ;
1Pe 2:5 ;
Re 1:20 ;
21:2 , 11 , 23
–BACKSLIDDEN
Ps 12:1 ;
80:1-19 ;
Isa 1:2-27 ;
17:9-11 ;
43:22-28 ;
Jer 2:5-34 ;
3:1-25 ;
8:5-22 ;
9:1-3 ;
10:19-22 ;
18:11-17 ;
50:4-7 ;
Eze 2:3-5 ;
5:5-17 ; 16:23 ;
Ho 2 ;
4 ;
6 ;
Joe 2 ;
Am 6 ;
Mt 21:33-46 ;
Mr 12:1-12 ;
Lu 13:6-9 ;
Re 2:1-6 ,
12-25 ;
3:1-4 , 14-20
.Backslidings of Israel
.See sub-topic BACKSLIDING OF ISRAEL, under BACKSLIDERS
.See CORRUPTION IN, below
.See BACKSLIDERS
–BENEFICENCE OF
.See BENEFICENCE
.See GIVING
.See LIBERALITY
–CHRIST, HEAD OF
Ps 118:22 ,
23 ;
Isa 33:22 ;
55:4 ;
Mt 12:6 ,
8 ;
21:42 , 43 ; 23:8 , 10 ;
Mr 2:28 ;
12:10 ;
Lu 6:5 ;
20:17 ,
18 ;
Joh 13:13 ;
15:1-8 ;
Ac 2:36 ;
Ro 8:29 ;
9:5 ;
1Co 3:11 ;
11:3 ;
12:5 ;
Eph 1:10 ,
22 ,
23 ;
2:20-22 ;
4:15 ;
5:23-32 ; Col
1:13 , 18 ; 2:10 , 19 ; 3:11 ;
Heb 3:3 ,
6 ;
1Pe 2:7 ;
Re 1:13 ;
2:1 ,
9 ,
12 ,
13 ,
18 ,
19 ;
3:1 ,
7 ;
5:6 ;
21:22 , 23 ; 22:16
.See JESUS, KINGDOM OF
–CHRISTIAN, DIVINELY ESTABLISHED
Mt 16:15-18 ;
Eph 2:20-22 ;
1Th 1:1 ;
2Th 1:1 ;
1Ti 3:15
–CORRUPTION IN
Ho 4:9 ;
Mic 3:1-4 ,
9 ,
11 ;
Mt 21:33-41 ,
45 ;
23:2-7 , 13-33 ; 26:14-16 , 59-68 ;
Mr 12:1-12 ;
14:10 ,
11 ;
Lu 22:3-6
.See BACKSLIDERS , BACKSLIDING OF ISRAEL
–DECREES OF
Ac 15:28 ,
29 ;
16:4
–DESIGN OF
Ro 3:2 ;
9:4 ;
Eph 2:20-22 ;
1Ti 3:15
–DISSENSIONS IN
1Co 1:11-13 ;
3:3 ,
4 ;
11:18 ,
19 ;
2Co 12:20 ,
21
–DUTY OF, TO MINISTERS
1Co 16:10 ,
11 ;
Php 2:29 ;
4:10-18 ;
1Th 5:12 ,
13 ;
1Ti 5:17 ;
Heb 13:7 ,
17
.See MINISTERS
–GOVERNMENT OF, MOSAIC AND CHRISTIAN
De 17:8-13 ; Mt
16:19 ;
Lu 9:46-48 ;
22:24-30 ;
Joh 20:23 ;
Ac 1:15 ,
23-26 ;
6:2 ,
3 ,
5 ,
6 ;
11:22 ,
29 ,
30 ;
13:1 ,
3 ,
5 ;
14:23 ; 15:1-31 ; 16:4 , 5 ; 20:17 , 28 ;
1Co 7:17 ;
11:2 ,
33 ,
34 ;
12:5 ,
28 ;
14:26 ,
33 ,
40 ;
16:3 ,
16 ;
2Co 2:2-11 ;
Ga 2:9 ,
10 ;
Eph 4:11 ,
12 ;
Php 1:1 ;
1Ti 3:1-13 ;
4:14 ;
5:1 ,
22 ;
2Ti 1:6 ;
Tit 1:5 ;
Heb 13:17 ,
24 ;
Jas 5:14 ,
15 ;
1Pe 5:1-3 ;
3Jo 1 :9,
10;
Jude 1 :22,
23
.See MINISTERS, DUTIES OF
–RULES OF DISCIPLINE IN, MOSAIC AND CHRISTIAN
Ge 17:14 ;
Ex 12:15 ;
30:33 ,
37 ,
38 ;
Le 7:27 ;
17:8 ,
9 ;
19:5-8 ;
20:18 ;
22:3 ;
Nu 9:13 ;
15:31 ;
19:13 ,
20 ;
De 13:12-18 ;
17:2-13 ;
19:16-21 ;
21:1-9 ,
18-21 ;
22:13-29 ;
Ezr 10:1-44 ;
Mt 16:19 ;
18:15-18 ;
Joh 9:22 ,
34 ,
35 ;
16:2 ;
20:23 ;
Ro 14:1 ;
15:1-3 ;
16:17 ;
1Co 4:19 ,
21 ;
5:1 ,
2 ,
4-7 ,
11-13 ;
16:22 ;
2Co 2:6-8 ,
10 ,
11 ;
6:14 ,
15 ;
7:8 ;
10:1-11 ;
13:1 ,
2 ,
10 ;
Ga 5:10 ,
12 ;
6:1 ;
1Th 5:14 ;
2Th 3:6 ,
14 ,
15 ;
1Ti 1:19 ,
20 ;
5:1 ,
2 ,
19 ,
20 ;
6:3-5 ;
2Ti 4:2 ;
Tit 1:13 ;
2:15 ;
3:10 ,
11 ;
2Jo 1 :10,
11;
Jude 1 :22,
23;
Re 22:19
.See EXCOMMUNICATION
.See MINISTERS, DUTIES OF
–LOVE FOR
Ps 102:14 ;
122:6 ,
9 ;
128:5 ,
6 ;
137:1-6 ; Isa
22:4 ; 58:12 ; 62:1 , 6 , 7 ; 66:10 , 13 , 14 ;
Jer 9:1 ;
14:17 ;
51:50 ,
51 ;
La 2:11 ;
3:48-51
–MEMBERSHIP IN
Isa 44:5 ;
Eze 44:6 ,
7 ,
9 ;
Mt 12:50 ;
19:14 ;
Mr 10:14 ;
Lu 18:16 ;
Joh 15:5 ,
6 ;
Ac 2:41 ,
47 ;
4:4 ;
5:14 ;
9:35 ,
42 ;
11:21 ;
Ro 12:4 ,
5 ;
1Co 3:11-15 ;
12:12-28 ;
Eph 4:25 ;
5:30 ;
Php 4:3 ;
Re 21:27
.See RIGHTEOUS, DESCRIBED
–PROPHECIES CONCERNING PROSPERITY OF
Ge 12:3 ;
49:10 ;
De 32:21 ;
Ps 2:8 ;
22:27-31 ;
46:4 ,
10 ;
65:2 ;
66:4 ;
68:31 ,
32 ;
69:35 ,
36 ;
72:1-20 ;
85:10-12 ;
86:9 ; 87:4 ; 89:1-37 ; 96:1-13 ; 102:13-16 , 18-22 ; 110:1-7 ; 113:3 ; 118:24 ; 126:5 , 6 ;
132:15-17 ; 138:4 , 5 ; 145:10 , 11 ;
Isa 2:2-5 ;
4:2 ,
3 ,
5 ,
6 ;
9:1-7 ;
11:1-10 ;
18:7 ;
19:24 ,
25 ;
23:17 , 18 ; 24:16 ; 25:6-8 ; 29:18-24 ; 30:20 ; 32:1-20 ; 33:5 , 13-24 ; 35:1-10 ; 40:4-11 ;
41:17-20 ; 42:1-12 ; 44:3-5 ; 45:6 , 8 , 14 , 23 , 24 ; 46:12 , 13 ; 49:6-12 , 18-23 ; 51:3-16 ; 52:1-15 ;
53:10-12 ; 54:1-17 ; 55:1-13 ; 56:3-8 ; 59:19-21 ; 60:1-22 ; 61:1-11 ; 62:1-12 ; 65:1-25 ;
66:7-23 ;
Jer 3:17 ;
4:2 ;
16:19-21 ;
31:7-9 ,
34 ;
33:22 ;
Eze 17:22-24 ;
34:23-31 ;
47:1-12 ;
Da 2:35 ,
44 ,
45 ;
7:13 ,
14 ,
18 ,
22 ,
27 ;
12:1-13 ;
Joe 2:26-32 ;
3:18 ;
Am 9:11 ,
12 ;
Mic 4:1-7 ;
5:2-15 ;
Hab 2:14 ;
Zep 2:11 ;
3:9-20 ;
Hag 2:7-9 ;
Zec 2:10 ,
11 ;
6:15 ;
8:20-23 ;
9:1 ,
9-17 ;
14:8-21 ;
Mal 1:11 ;
Mt 8:11 ;
11:5 ,
11 ;
13:16 ,
17 ,
31-33 ;
16:18 ;
Mr 4:26-32 ;
Lu 7:22 ;
Joh 8:35 ;
10:16 ;
Ac 2:16-21 ;
Ro 1:5-7 ;
1Co 15:24-28 ;
Eph 1:10 ;
Heb 12:23 ,
24 ,
27 ,
28 ;
Re 5:10 ,
13 ,
14 ;
11:15 ;
12:10 ;
15:4 ;
20:4-6 ;
21:9-27 ;
22:1-5
.See JESUS, KINGDOM OF
–LIST OF CONGREGATIONS OF CHRISTIANS
.Antioch
Ac 13:1
.Asia
1Co 16:19 ;
Re 1:4
.Babylon
1Pe 5:13
.Cenchrea
Ro 16:1
.Caesarea
Ac 18:22
.Cilicia
Ac 15:41
.Corinth
1Co 1:2
.Ephesus
Eph 1:22 ;
Re 2:1
.Galatia
Ga 1:2
.Galilee
Ac 9:31
.Jerusalem
Ac 15:4
.Joppa
Ac 9:42
.Judaea
Ac 9:31
.Laodicea
Re 3:14
.Pergamos
Re 2:12
.Philadelphia
Re 3:7
.Samaria
Ac 9:31
.Sardis
Re 3:1
.Smyrna
Re 2:8
.Syria
Ac 15:41
.Thessalonica
1Th 1:1
.Thyatira
Re 2:18
–UNITY OF
Ps 133:1 ;
Joh 10:16 ;
17:11 ,
21-23 ;
Ro 12:4 ,
5 ;
1Co 10:17 ;
12:5 ,
12-27 ;
Ga 3:26-28 ;
Eph 1:10 ;
2:14-19 ,
21 ;
3:6 ,
15 ;
4:4-6 ,
12 ,
13 ,
16 ,
25 ;
Col 3:11 ,
15
.See ECCLESIASTICISM
–TRIUMPHANT
Ga 4:26 ;
Heb 12:22 ,
23 ;
Re 3:12 ;
21:3 ,
10