Study Title: The Flight of the Radiant Woman Author: Kirby Williams Lesson Title: The Ecclesia in the New Testament Lesson No.: 5 Lesson Text: Rev. 12:2-5 Memory Verse: "" -ESV -------------------------------------------------- IV. The Ecclesia in the New Testament. A. The meaning of the word "ecclesia". 1. The "called out ones". 2. First images, Matt. 12: 46-50, the family of believers. B. Other names in the NT for the church. _______________________________________ John 10:16 _______________________________________ 1Cor. 12:27, Col. 1:18 _______________________________________ 1Cor. 3:16 _______________________________________ Eph. 2:21-22 _______________________________________ Heb. 12:22 _______________________________________ Rev. 21:2 _______________________________________ 1Tim 3:15 _______________________________________ Matt. 5:13 _______________________________________ Matt. 5:14 _______________________________________ 2Cor. 3:2-3 _______________________________________ John 15:5 _______________________________________ Rom. 11:17-18 _______________________________________ 1Cor. 3:9 _______________________________________ 1Cor. 3:9 _______________________________________ 2John 1 _______________________________________ Rev. 21:9 _______________________________________ Rev. 19:7-8 _______________________________________ Eph 2:19 _______________________________________ Eph 2:19 _______________________________________ 1Peter 1:1, Heb. 11:13 _______________________________________ 2Cor. 5:20 _______________________________________ 1Pet. 2:9 _______________________________________ 1Pet. 2:9 _______________________________________ 1Pet. 2:9 _______________________________________ 1Pet. 2:10 _______________________________________ Phil. 3:3 _______________________________________ Gal. 3:29 _______________________________________ Acts 15:16 _______________________________________ Rom. 9:27 _______________________________________ Gal. 6:15-16 _______________________________________ Rom. 8:33 _______________________________________ Eph. 1:1 _______________________________________ 2Cor. 5:17 _______________________________________ Col. 3:10 _______________________________________ Matt. 12:49-50 _______________________________________ Matt. 13:33 _______________________________________ Matt. 28:19 _______________________________________ Acts 9:2 _______________________________________ Rom. 6:18 _______________________________________ Rom. 6:22 _______________________________________ Rom. 8:14 _______________________________________ 1Pet. 2:17, 5:9 _______________________________________ Acts 11:26 ** Thanks to Dr. Bob Reymond in his Systematic Theology, pg. 810, footnote 13 for the bulk of this list. C. The use of "ecclesia" by Christ. 1. Looking at Matthew 16:18 (Matt. 16:15-20). 2. Looking at Matthew 18:17 (Matt. 18:15-17, Deut. 19:15). D. The church in the New Testament. 1. The "ecclesia" in Acts. a. Starting with "the brethren", Acts 1:15. b. Fantastic growth at Pentecost, Acts 2:47, 41-42. c. The first reference to the "ecclesia", Acts 5:11. d. The "ecclesia" begins to grow in Israel, Acts 9:31. e. The "ecclesia" grows through the missionary effort. -- Paul & Barnabas as missionaries, Acts 13:1-3. -- "Church planting" in Galatia, Acts 14:23. -- Reporting back the good news to the church at Antioch, Acts 14:27. -- Reporting back the good news to the church at Jerusalem, Acts 15:4. f. Paul's charge to the elders of Ephesus, Acts 20:28. 2. In Paul's epistles. a. The word "ecclesia" meant individual churches, Rom. 16:3-5. b. The word "ecclesia" meant the universal church, 1Cor. 1:2-3, 10:32, 12:28. c. The church should have uniform conduct, 1Cor. 7:17, 14:33. d. The church should take care of its own, 1Cor. 16:1-3, 2Cor. 8:1-4. e. The attributes of the church. -- To protect the truth, 1Tim. 3:15. -- As the body of Christ, Eph. 4:15-16. -- As the bride of Christ, Eph. 5:25-27. 3. The "ecclesia" in Hebrews. a. Read Heb. 12:18-21. i. What great event so important to our study of the church is the writer of Hebrews referring to? ii. In what general terms does the first phrase of verse 18 describe that event? b. Read Heb. 12:22-24. i. What three ways does the writer of Hebrews refer to the church in verse 22? Explain each of them. ii. Extra credit. What significance does the reference to "myriad angels in the heavenly Jerusalem" have to this discussion of the church? (Read Deut. 33:2-3 to help you with your answer). iii. How does he designate the church in verse 23? (Read Luke 10:20, Rev. 21:27 to help you with your answer). c. Hebrews does not go into many details concerning the inner workings of the church, but does provide several admonitions to Kingdom-dwellers. i. Read Heb. 10:24-25. ii. Read Heb. 13:7 & 17. **All quotations are taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.