Ekklēsia: Bride or Body?

Ekklēsia: Bride or Body? Bible commentaries and Biblical writers frequently refer to both the church of the Gospels and the Church of the Epistles as the bride of Christ, thus making the two usages synonymous. Thus the relationship of Christ to the church of the Gospels and to the church of the book of Revelation in contrast to the Church of the Epistles has not been properly understood. The Word of God separates these two bodies with the bride of Christ being the church of the Gospels and the Body of Christ being the Church of the Epistles. But before we begin a study of the significance of the two churches, let’s examine what we mean by the word “church.” When we see a building with a steeple on it, we point to it and say, “That is a church.” This is one usage—a building. Another current usage of “church” is a group of people who gather for religious ritual. We also refer to various denominations such as the Methodist, Presbyterian or Roman Catholic as churches. Another usage of the word “church” is a group of people who are born again of God’s Spirit. The meaning of “church” varies with its context. The Greek word for our English word “church” is ekklēsia , meaning “the called-out.” People may be called out for various reasons; for example, if a group of people decided they were going bowling and then gathered at the bowling alley, they would be an ekklēsia because they are called out to bowl. In Acts 19 a mob is called a church, an ekklēsia . Why? Because a mob is composed of a group of people who have gathered for a specific purpose. Acts 19:23-32: And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuad