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Church (ἐκκλησία)

Often translated as Church, ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) actually means a regularly summoned assembly. It is used of a legislative body, casual gathering, or an assembling of people. The English word “Church” is derived from the Greek word κυριακόν (kyriakon), meaning “pertaining to the Lord,” which was used to describe the place of meeting, the Lord’s house, referring to the building the assembly meets in. Due to its predominant use to describe the building or place of meeting, over the centuries, Church became the word of choice to describe more than just the physical building, incorporating within its meaning the local meeting of the members of the body of The Christ as well as the institution of Christianity. In Anglo-Saxon England, the word circa was used to refer to both the congregation and the building. This use influenced modern English translations to adopt Church over the Greek word assembly.

In Matthew, chapter sixteen, verse eighteen, Jesus speaks to Peter about an assembly He will build with its foundational rock being Christ Himself, Matthew 16:18. Context clarifies that Jesus is not speaking of the Jews but an assembly of people to come. After the resurrection of Christ, this assembly came into existence on the day of Pentecost when the promise of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers in the upper room who were waiting as Christ had instructed them before His last ascension. Assembly is used to describe this group of believers in the resurrection of Jesus, indicating their uniqueness from the general population of Jews, Acts 2:47.

Assembly is used to describe the gathering of Israel in the wilderness at Mount Sinai, Acts 7:38. However, this does not refer to those who are in […]

Church (ἐκκλησία)Luther Walker2024-10-10T06:12:25-07:00

To Set Upon or Recline (κεῖμαι)

To set upon or recline (κεῖμαι) is used in a literal and metaphorical sense to express that which is laid upon something for a purpose.

In response to the Pharisees coming to John for immersion, John states that even now the axe has been laid on the roots of the tree, indicating their false religious system was about to fall because the Messiah is coming, for they had usurped the law of Moses for the traditions of their fathers, Matthew 3:10. After the birth of Christ, when He was taken to the Temple, Simon the Priest blessed Joseph and Mary and said to her, this child is laid for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign that will be spoken against, Luke 2:34.

As a child is rocked in his mother’s arms or laid to rest in a manger, as Christ was after his birth, Luke 2:12, laid is also used of how Satan pacifies the world system to control it, 1 John 5:19. Satan placates the world system to maintain control, for he is the father of it.

There is a veil that lays upon the hearts the Jews when they read the Mosaic law, 2 Corinthians 3:15. The glory of the law fades away at the coming of Christ because the law was not laid down for a righteous man, 1 Timothy 1:9-10. Moses indicated this when he would cover his face with a veil so that the sons of Israel did not see the glory of God that was upon him fade, 2 Corinthians 3:13. However, this veil is taken away when they turn to the Lord, 2 Corinthians 3:16.

Although Christ’s body was laid in a tomb, three days […]

To Set Upon or Recline (κεῖμαι)Luther Walker2024-09-19T06:34:54-07:00

Boldness in Speech (παρρησιάζομαι)

Boldness in speech (παρρησιάζομαι) is to clearly speak a word openly.

After Paul’s conversion to Christianity and three years in the desert learning from Christ to serve as the steward of the dispensation of grace, he returned to Damascus, speaking clearly and openly, with boldness of speech, showing from Scripture that Jesus is the Messiah, Acts 9:27.

While Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch of Pisidia sharing the gospel of the Christ in the synagogue, the Jews were filled with envy because of the great multitude of Gentiles following Paul; therefore, they began to speak falsely against and oppose what Paul was saying. Their attempt to thwart the good news Paul declared to them only caused Paul and Barnabas to grow in the openness and clarity of their speech, telling the Jews since they did not desire to follow God and counted themselves as unworthy to receive enteral life, they would turn to the Gentiles, Acts 13:46.

In Ephesus, when Apollos, a man from Alexandria, spoke accurately concerning the things of the Lord, knowing only the immersion of John the Baptist, as he began to speak openly in the synagogue, Aquila and Priscilla heard him. They then took him aside and filled him in on all that had happened since the immersion of John, more accurately explaining to him the way of God, Acts 18:26.

When defending himself against false charges from the Jew before Festus and Agrippa, after Festus called him mad, Paul spoke freely to King Agrippa because Paul was convinced that the King already knew about this matter, Acts 26:26. Because of his openness and clarity of words, Agrippa responded saying, “You almost persuade me also to become a Christian.” However, the matter at […]

Boldness in Speech (παρρησιάζομαι)Luther Walker2024-09-16T14:59:24-07:00

Troubled (ταράσσω)

Troubled (ταράσσω) means to shake together, stir up, or throw into confusion.

A few years after the birth of Christ, three magi from the east came to Judea looking for the King of the Jews. This troubled Herod, a Roman King, Matthew 2:3. After gathering all the High Priests and scribes of Israel to determine where the Christ would be born, Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem to seek out the child with the pretense that he wanted to also prostate before Him.

While Zacharias was performing his priestly service in the Temple of the Lord, an angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Zacharias was troubled when he saw the messenger and fear fell upon him, Luke 1:12.

After the resurrection of Christ, in one of the instances that He showed the disciples that He is, in fact, raised from the dead, when He appeared to them, at first there was great fear and trembling in them. During the journey of two of the disciples to Emmaus, a man joins them asking what they are speaking about. Surprised that he did not know about what had happened over the last few days, they informed him how the rulers of Israel put Jesus to death. A man who was great in words and works from God that they had hope was the Messiah. In response, the man opens their minds concerning how the Scripture stated it was necessity for the death and resurrection of the Messiah. While they were speaking with this stranger, their hearts burned within them. When they came to the village they constrained the stranger to come and stay with them for the […]

Troubled (ταράσσω)Luther Walker2024-08-01T06:14:52-07:00

Prostration (προσκυνέω)

Prostration (προσκυνέω), the act of lying stretched out on the ground with the face downward, is a profound expression of reverence and compliance. It symbolizes complete dependence and submission to a higher authority, conveying an attitude of deep humility.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus restored a man’s sight on the Sabbath, which caused quite a stir with the ruling religious party. After the Pharisees accused the man of not being blind, which was refuted by his parents, they again questioned him concerning the healing, especially regarding who performed this act upon him. At that time, the man who was blind did not know who had given him sight; however, even he could see that such a one would be from God. The Pharisees disagreed and cast him out of the synagogue because he was healed on the Sabbath. After hearing what had happened, Jesus found the man and asked him if he believed in the Son of God. Inquiring who the Son of God is, the previously blind man prostrated before Jesus when he became aware He was the one who healed him, John 9:38.

Within our English Bibles the word “worship” is predominantly used to translate the word “prostration”, which expresses the concept of lying stretched out in reverence and compliance; therefore, it conveys the meaning of giving proper credit for who a person is. Worship is used in our English translations for a few different Greek words, such as, religious reverence (σεβάζομαι), Romans 1:25, rendering religious service (λατρεύω), Hebrews 10:2, and even prayer. Making it difficult to determine what is implied by the term worship. We see such an instance when Paul instructs the saint in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without […]

Prostration (προσκυνέω)Luther Walker2024-10-18T07:34:05-07:00

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