The New Testament Pattern of Ekklesia

Neil Girrard

Scriptures Referenced in This Article:
          (Follow the Scripture links if you want to study the Scriptures for yourself.)
Mt. 24:10 π Jn. 3:3 π Jn. 3:5 π Jn. 17:22 π Acts 2:47 π Acts 5:11 π Acts 7:38 π Acts 8:1 π Acts 8:3 π Acts 9:31 π Acts 11:22 π Acts 11:26 π Acts 12:1 π Acts 12:5 π Acts 13:1 π Acts 14:21 π Acts 14:23 π Acts 14:26 π Acts 14:26-27 π Acts 15:3 π Acts 15:4 π Acts 15:22 π Acts 15:41 π Acts 16:4-5 π Acts 18:22 π Acts 20:17 π Rom. 8:9 π Rom. 13:1 π Rom. 16:1 π Rom. 16:4 π Rom. 16:5 π Rom. 16:16 π Rom. 16:23; 2nd π 1 Cor. 1:2 π 1 Cor. 1:11-12 π 1 Cor. 4:17 π 1 Cor. 11:16 π 1 Cor. 14:4-5 π 1 Cor. 14:12 π 1 Cor. 16:1 π 1 Cor. 16:19; 2nd π 2 Cor. 1:1 π 2 Cor. 8:1 π 2 Cor. 8:18-19 π 2 Cor. 8:23-24 π 2 Cor. 9:2 π Gal. 1:2 π Gal. 1:22 π Eph. 4:21 π Phlp. 4:15 π Col. 4:15 π Col. 4:16 π 1 Ths. 1:1 π 1 Ths. 2:14 π 2 Ths. 1:1 π 2 Ths. 1:4 π Phlm. 2 π 3 Jn. 9-10; 2nd π Rev. 1:4 π Rev. 1:11; 2nd π Rev. 1:20 π Rev. 2:1 π Rev. 2:7 π Rev. 2:8 π Rev. 2:11 π Rev. 2:12 π Rev. 2:17 π Rev. 2:18 π Rev. 2:23 π Rev. 2:29 π Rev. 3:1 π Rev. 3:6 π Rev. 3:7 π Rev. 3:13 π Rev. 3:14 π Rev. 3:22

For those who are not Greek scholars nor acquainted with the Greek words used in the New Testament, the word "ekklesia" is the word that is most often translated "church." It is also translated as "assembly" or "congregation." A careful examination of how the word "ekklesia" is used in the New Testament reveals a pattern that is inconsistent with our modern practice of "church."

The New Testament uses the word "ekklesia" in only two ways: singular and plural. The following list of Scriptures is an exhaustive list of every time a specific "church" or "ekklesia" is referred to in the Greek.

Singular - Homes

Singular - Cities

Plural - Regions

There are some other verses which imply the same thing by reading them in their context:

Singular - Homes

1 Cor. 14:4-5 - He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the ekklesia. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the ekklesia may receive edification. [The context is the local assembly - one ekklesia.] (top)

1 Cor. 14:12 - Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the ekklesia that you seek to excel. [The context is the local assembly - one ekklesia.] (top)

Singular - Cities

Acts 2:47 - ...the Lord added to the ekklesia [of Jerusalem, the only ekklesia at that time] daily those who were being saved. (top)

Acts 5:11 - So great fear came upon all the ekklesia [of Jerusalem, the only ekklesia at that time, because of what happened to Ananias and Sapphira] (top)

Acts 7:38 - This is he who was in the congregation (ekklesia) in the wilderness [the children of Israel in the wilderness were one ekklesia] (top)

Acts 8:3 - As for Saul, he made havoc of the ekklesia [of Jerusalem, the only ekklesia at that time] (top)

Acts 12:1 - Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the ekklesia [of Jerusalem, he arrests only James the brother of John and Peter, both pillars of the Jerusalem ekklesia.] (top)

Acts 12:5 - Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the ekklesia. [of Jerusalem. Peter was arrested "during the Days of Unleavened Bread," a 7 day feast, and was released before it was over - not much time to get word to other cities. And notice that only one ekklesia prayed for him.] (top)

Acts 14:23 - So when they had appointed elders in every ekklesia, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. [The context is Acts 14:21 : "...they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch..." Three cities in which they "appointed elders in every ekklesia" implying that every city had one ekklesia.] (top)

1 Cor. 4:17 - For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every ekklesia. [There is a direct correlation evident in Paul's mind between "everywhere," that is, every location, every city, and "every ekklesia."] (top)

2 Cor. 8:18-19 - And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the ekklesias, and not only that, but who was also chosen by the ekklesias to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind [The subject is some highly respected brother, perhaps Luke, who was sent by Paul "throughout all the ekklesias" and who was then chosen by all the ekklesias to travel with Paul in joint responsibility for the large financial gift Paul was collecting for the saints in Jerusalem. The implication that there is one ekklesia in each town is present in these statements.] (top)

2 Cor. 8:23-24 - If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the ekklesias, the glory of Christ. Therefore show to them, and before the ekklesias, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. ["our brethren" refers to the previously mentioned but unnamed brother and any of the others traveling with him who were messengers from various ekklesias. The phrase "before the ekklesias" refers to all those ekklesias who had been influenced by Achaia's zeal in giving to this need. See 2 Cor. 9:2; top )

3 Jn. 9-10 - I wrote to the ekklesia, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the ekklesia. [The ekklesia is possibly that of Corinth, where Gaius, to whom 3 John is addressed, was an elder in the town. Though this Gaius is not necessarily the same Gaius of Rom. 16:23 , it is not inconsistent for a town that embraces the divisions of men's teachings ( 1 Cor. 1:11-12; top ) to progress to having a Diotrephes who becomes a local tyrant.]

Plural - Regions

Rev. 2:7 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesias. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. [The specific context is to the ekklesia of Ephesus, but Jesus says, "...what the Spirit says to the ekklesias" referring to the seven ekklesias of Asia.] (top)

Rev. 2:11 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesias. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. [The specific context is to the ekklesia of Smyrna, but Jesus says, "...what the Spirit says to the ekklesias" referring to the seven ekklesias of Asia.] (top)

Rev. 2:17 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesias. To him who overcomes I will give some to the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. [The specific context is to the ekklesia of Pergamos, but Jesus says, "...what the Spirit says to the ekklesias" referring to the seven ekklesias of Asia.] (top)

Rev. 2:23 - And I will kill her children with death. And all the ekklesias shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. [Jesus says, "All the ekklesias (of Asia) will know He is their Judge and He will give to each member of each ekklesia according to his works."] (top)

Rev. 2:29 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesias. [The specific context is to the ekklesia of Thyatira, but Jesus says, "...what the Spirit says to the ekklesias" referring to the seven ekklesias of Asia.] (top)

Rev. 3:6 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesias. [The specific context is to the ekklesia of Sardis, but Jesus says, "...what the Spirit says to the ekklesias" referring to the seven ekklesias of Asia.] (top)

Rev. 3:13 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesias. [The specific context is to the ekklesia of Philadelphia, but Jesus says, "...what the Spirit says to the ekklesias" referring to the seven ekklesias of Asia.] (top)

Rev. 3:22 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the ekklesias. [The specific context is to the ekklesia of Laodicea, but Jesus says, "...what the Spirit says to the ekklesias" referring to the seven ekklesias of Asia.] (top)

The Yellow Pages

Now let's compare that list of Scriptures with the Yellow Pages of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the author's home town at the time this was originally written. The listing of churches begins on page 379 and continues through 394 - that's 15 pages of divisions in just one town. The categories of churches includes: (top)

  1. Adventist,
  2. Anglican,
  3. Apostolic,
  4. Assemblies of God,
  5. Baha'i,
  6. Baptist,
  7. Brethren in Christ,
  8. Buddhist,
  9. Catholic,
  10. Charismatic,
  11. Christian,
  12. Christian Science,
  13. Church of Christ,
  14. Church of God,
  15. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
  16. Congregational,
  17. Eastern Orthodox,
  18. Episcopal,
  19. Evangelical Free,
  20. Foursquare Gospel,
  21. Friends,
  22. Full Gospel,
  23. Holiness,
  24. Independent Fundamental,
  25. Interdenominational,
  26. Islamic,
  27. Jehovah's Witnesses,
  28. Jewish,
  29. Lutheran,
  30. Mennonite,
  31. Metaphysical,
  32. Methodist,
  33. Muslim,
  34. Nazarene,
  35. Non-Denominational,
  36. Orthodox,
  37. Pentecostal,
  38. Presbyterian,
  39. Reformed in America,
  40. Religious Science,
  41. Salvation Army,
  42. Scientology,
  43. Unification,
  44. Unitarian,
  45. Unity,
  46. Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches,
  47. Vineyard,
  48. Wesleyan,
  49. Word and
  50. Zen.

That's 50 categories of "churches." (That is a condensed list, by the way, as nearly every division has it's own breakaway subdivisions.)

Let's look a little more closely at this list. Some are obviously other religious groups who for whatever reason wanted to be listed in with all the other "Christian" churches. This would be the:

  1. Buddhist,
  2. Islamic,
  3. Jewish,
  4. Muslim, and
  5. Zen churches.

Take away 5 categories from our original number and we have 45 categories left. (top)

Other categories would be what most consider cultic groups which are only marginally considered to be "Christian" in their scope. These would be the:

  1. Baha'i,
  2. Christian Science,
  3. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
  4. Jehovah's Witness,
  5. Metaphysical,
  6. Religious Science,
  7. Scientology,
  8. Unification, and
  9. Unitarian churches.

Take away 9 more categories from our last number and we have 36 categories left.

At least one embraces blatantly unScriptural practices such as open homosexuality:

  1. the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.

Take away 1 more category from our last number and that still leaves us with 35 categories - a rather lengthy list of churches which, though they teach something that fairly accurately resembles the gospel of Jesus Christ, are still inconsistent with the New Testament pattern of one ekklesia of one church in one city, not to mention contradictory to the oneness Christ calls us to attain to. (see Jn. 17:22; top ) For that reason alone, they are to be recognized as tools of division within the body of Christ and are not to be supported in any way by those who have been born again and who have the Spirit of Christ indwelling them. This list would be:

  1. the Adventist,
  2. Anglican,
  3. Apostolic,
  4. Assemblies of God,
  5. Baptist,
  6. Brethren in Christ,
  7. Catholic,
  8. Charismatic,
  9. Christian,
  10. Church of Christ,
  11. Church of God,
  12. Congregational,
  13. Eastern Orthodox,
  14. Episcopal,
  15. Evangelical Free,
  16. Foursquare Gospel,
  17. Friends,
  18. Full Gospel,
  19. Holiness,
  20. Independent Fundamental,
  21. Interdenominational,
  22. Lutheran,
  23. Mennonite,
  24. Methodist,
  25. Nazarene,
  26. Non-Denominational,
  27. Orthodox,
  28. Pentecostal,
  29. Presbyterian,
  30. Reformed in America,
  31. Salvation Army,
  32. Unity
  33. Vineyard,
  34. Wesleyan, and
  35. Word churches.

There is only one true ekklesia in Albuquerque, New Mexico, just as there is only one true ekklesia in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and all the other towns listed in the New Testament as having an ekklesia - and as is true of every town that has more than one believer living there. If you are a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico and you have been born again ( Jn. 3:3 , 5 ) and you have the Holy Spirit living within you ( Rom. 8:9 ), you already belong to the one true ekklesia of Albuquerque - no matter what other divisions you might subscribe to. If you live in another town and you have been born again and you have the Holy Spirit living within you, you already belong to the one true ekklesia of that town - no matter what denominational divisions you subscribe to. There are no exceptions - and there is no Biblical basis for any of the "pastors" and leaders of all these "churches" in the Yellow Pages to continue to act as modern day Diotrephes ( 3 Jn. 9-10; top ), accomplishing nothing but bringing confusion and division to the body of Christ.

Other than seeing Albuquerquere as one town (because it is so large, heavily populated and spread out), the only other Scriptural alternative available to the Christian people of Albuquerque is to recognize the individual neighborhoods (which do often have committees which oversee the neighborhood, so it is a recognized official entity - see Rom. 13:1; top ) and return to one's own neighborhood to find the genuine followers of Christ there. This indeed may very well be the more Scriptural application to our modern mega-cities.

But there is certain to be a number of elders whom God has appointed to watch over the city of Albuquerque - let those men come together and be recognized and submitted to by all these other divisive men and you will see God transform Albuquerque from a divided house into a center of reconciliation such as has not been seen since the days when the Spirit was first poured out in Jerusalem. But so long as all these imported and self-appointed spiritual "experts" and professionals are received as genuine gifts from God while the local men whom God would raise up are either excluded, castigated or kept imprisoned by the tyrannical "church" systems, Albuquerque will remain a divided house. So long as these exalted clergy arrogantly continue to refuse to obey the simple command to "submit one to another in the fear of God" ( Eph. 4:21; top ) there is no hope that the one body of Christ of Albuquerque, New Mexico can become that which God would have it become. Instead, it will continue to bicker and fight against one another and fulfill the wishes of the real enemy of the body of Christ, Satan. And this is true of any other city as well.

There are other patterns of ekklesia in the New Testament which can also be observed - such as meeting in homes so that the members of the body are equipped to do the work of ministry and recognizing all of the giftings God gives to make His body mature - but if this concept of the unity of the ekklesia is not embraced, only those who truly seek God will walk in that unity and we will see the envy of the divided "church" manifest itself in hatred and betrayal just as Jesus predicted. ( Mt. 24:10; top )

May God grant that His body would come together in the unity of the Spirit based on the fact that He has created us to be brothers and sisters one to another in one location, our own town. And may He grant us the grace to repent of the numerous abominations we have found to be acceptable reasons to divide His people, His ekklesia.


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