The authority of the church? Part 1
Let's define the word “Church”, from the Old English and German word pronounced kirche. In Scotland, it was kirk.
The following entries are from the Oxford Universal English Dictionary:
Church [Old English cirice, circe; Middle English chereche, chiriche, chirche; whence churche, cherche, etc.: -Greek Kuriakon...]
Kirk The Northern English and Scottish form of CHURCH, in all its senses.
The word church would have been an acceptable translation for the Greek word kuriakos. However, not by the wildest imagination of the most liberal translator can it ever be used for ecclesia. In the earlier Greek It was pronounced ku-ri-a-kos or ku-ri-a-kon. As we can see, this word doesn't even resemble the Greek word ecclesia, whose place it has usurped. The meaning of Ku-ri-a-kos is understood by its root: Ku- ri-os, which means lord. Thus, kuriakos (church) means pertaining to the lord. It refers to something that pertains to, or belongs to, a lord. The Greek kuriakos eventually came to be used in Old English form as cirice (Kee-ree-ke), then churche (kerke), and eventually church in its traditional pronunciation. A church, then, is correctly something that pertains to, or belongs to, a lord.
Now, as we can see, there is a major problem here. The translators broke the rules in a big way. When they inserted the word church in the English versions, they were not translating the Greek word kuriakos, as one might expect. They were substituting an entirely different Greek word. This was not an honest acceptable translation for the Greek word ecclesia.
Now, let's look at the word, ecclesia . This Greek word appears in the New Testament approximately 115 times. That's just in this one grammatical form. It appears also in other forms. And in all but 3 instances, it is wrongly translated as church in the King James Version. Those three exceptions are found in Acts 19:32, 39, 41. In these instances the translators rendered it assembly instead of church. But, the Greek word is exactly the same as the other 112 entries where it was changed to church wrongly.
In Acts 19, ecclesia is a town council: a civil body in Ephesus. Because of this the translators were forced to abandon their erroneous translation in these three instances. Nonetheless, 112 times they changed it to church. This fact has been covered-up under centuries of misuse and ignorance. The Greek word ecclesia is correctly defined as: The called-out (ones) [ECC = out; KALEO = call]. So we can see how this word was used to indicate a civil body of select (called, elected) people.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica:
In the New Testament, ecclesia (signifying convocation) is the only single word used for church. It (ecclesia) was the name given to the governmental assembly of the city of Athens, duly convoked (called out) by proper officers and possessing all political power including even juridical functions.
Many believe that it is the Church that has all authority in the matters of faith on this earth. I do not even have to really point to one religion or denomination because almost all have this belief.
But the ecclasia would be better stated as called out for authority, specifically chosen by Messiah while acting in the Name of Messiah. To go forth and teach the nations (starting with the nation of Israel) the True Word of God. Showing the fulfillment of the prophecies of old and replacing man made church with faith in God. Through His will, and commandments.
Many believe Christ created the Church and taught the first followers, giving them authority to act in His behalf.
But does the church really act in His behalf? And the question is, If we are not acting in his behalf do we have his authority? It’s like praying in the name of Yeshua (Jesus). As long as you pray in the name of Yeshua (Jesus), in his behalf, and for his glory then all things will come.
Joh 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Joh 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
But the first time you pray in His name out of selfishness, then you are not asking in the name of Yeshua, you are asking in your own name.
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
And when you ask in your own name or the name of someone, or something other than our Messiah, and we ask a mountain to move, does it?
Mat 16:15 He said to them, But who do you say that I am?
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
If the church is a new church why didn’t he tell anyone else? I have found no scripture that supports the idea that our Messiah created a whole new church. The Scripture’s tell of an assembly of Jews who believe in the Messiah and that he has come. He starts off by asking who am I. The answer was the Son of God. He didn’t ask, am I the new beginning of a new church, but who am I. The rock or foundation is that SIMON believed Yeshua (Jesus) was the messiah. For the first ten years after the resurrection, there were no Gentiles in this Assembly. Only when Cornelius comes into the Kingdom of Messiah Yeshua, the King of the Jews, does it take a new turn:
Act 11:18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.
It was entirely Hebraic (Jewish) up until then, the continuation of the faith of Abraham, Moses and King David. It is the promise fulfilled that was made to these men and many other Hebrew men, as Luke writes of:
Luk 1:30 And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luk 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luk 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Luk 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
Interesting that it’s the House of Jacob and not ‘the Church’ that the Lord will reign over forever. Yeshua, too, speaks of His continued Hebraic roots in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible:
Rev 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the assemblies. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.
It is not a new church but a fulfillment of the prophecies of an existing faith.
Gen 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
The scripture says everlasting, not lasting until the Messiah comes. Scripture says he was the stone the builders rejected that became the capstone. Not the capstone of a new faith, but the corner stone of the existing one.
Psa 118:22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Isa 28:16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.'
The new or old church is a misunderstanding of what Ecclesia means. First off it means assembly. Not meaning that only those in this group will be apart of the belief, and blessing of the Messiah, but all who come to believe. Not one church (assembly) or another, but all those who come to belief. Many seem to be under the understanding, that there is a separation in the Church or assemblies that believe in God the Father and his promised Son Yeshua the Messiah. Once again I can’t find any scripture that supports this view. And for his Glory, is the Glory of God the Father. The God of a well-established faith.
Psa 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
Psa 45:7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
Psa 102:25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
Psa 102:26 They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
Psa 102:27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.
Were does it say God changes, and a new Church is coming? The same faith that prophesied that the Messiah was coming, is the same faith that accepted him
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Not a new church, religion, or faith. Yeshua didn’t usher in a new God.
Mic 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Psa 2:7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Pro 30:4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know
His Church (ASSEMBLY) is from long ago, from the days of eternity (before the creation of time and counted days).
Quoting from the Oxford Universal English Dictionary on the word ecclesia :
Ecclesia [mediaeval Latin, and Greek - from : SUMMONED] -A regularly convoked assembly, especially the general assembly of Athenians. Later, the regular word for church.
The ecclesia or ekklesia was the principal assembly of the democracy of ancient Athens during its Golden Age (480–404 BC). It was the popular assembly, opened to all male citizens over the age of 18 by Solon in 594 BC meaning that all classes of citizens in Athens were able to participate, even the thetes. The ecclesia opened the doors for all citizens, regardless of class, to nominate and vote for magistrates - indirectly voting for the Areopagus - have the final decision on legislation, war and peace, and have the right to call magistrates to account after their year of office. In the 5th century BC their numbers amounted to about 43,000 people. However, only those wealthy enough to spend much of their time away from home would have been able to participate until Pericles' reforms in early 451-2 BC allowing payment for jurors. The assembly was responsible for declaring war, military strategy, and electing strategoi and other officials. It originally met once every month, but later it met three or four times per month. The agenda for the ecclesia was established by the Boule, the popular council. Votes were taken by a show of hands.
Richard Anthony wrote - Matthew 16:18, …And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church (Greek - ekklesia)…
The Greek word ekklesia, is used 115 times in the New Testament, and in most bibles, it is always translated as church (except in Acts 19:32,39,41, where it is properly translated as assembly ).
The first complete English bible was the Tyndale bible in about 1524, and that bible did not use the word church anywhere in its pages, it used the word congregation. Sometime after this bible they started replacing the word congregation with the word church.
Now, some people might say we're just mincing words; they say, Church, assembly, what's the difference? “You know what I mean when I say Church.” But words are very, very important according to the Word of God. The following verses tell us that one of the duties of all disciples of Messiah is to diligently look at the words to describe His Body.
Matthew 4:4, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 12:36-37, But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Proverbs 6:2, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
Proverbs 30:5-6, Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
One of the jurisdictions of the natural man is the Church. There are many Churches out there, even the Church of Satan. The Church of Wicka. The Church of Humanity. You name it, there's a Church for it. We have to differentiate because our Messiah’s ekklesia is not the Church. If you look in a dictionary, under the word Church, it's defined as a place of worship of any religion as a Jewish or heathen temple. When the world says Church, they are thinking of a building or a structure, and this is actually the original meaning of Church, but somehow it transferred over as being the body of Messiah. But as we're told in scripture, God dwelleth not in temples made with hands
Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
There's many different definitions for the Church, and it's really an arbitrary and capricious word. And we're going to take a look at how the natural man got jurisdiction over that. Man got jurisdiction over the Church because Man is the one that created it, he's the one that took the word ekklesia to a word that has no substance.
Now lets look at the meaning of Ekklesia
First, we'll look at the meaning of what our Messiah’s ekklesia is, we'll look at the real thing first, then we'll compare the legal fiction that's being created as the substitute for God’s ekklesia. The word ekklesia is the original Greek Word, it was used in the Septuagint. So, the seventy-two translators that translated the Septuagint around 280 B.C. were very much aware of that word ekklesia. They used it in the Septuagint as a replacement of the Hebrew for the congregation of Israel.
Now, if we go to the modern word studies on ekklesia, they'll always point to the secular meaning of the Greek, that it was a group of citizens called together. They rarely go to the original meaning. The first time it's spoken in the New Testament, by our Messiah, is:
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my ekklesia…
When you go to Tyndale's bible, which was the first English Bible, he translated ekklesia as assembly. In the George Ricker Berry Interlinear Greek/English New Testament (it's a literal translation of the Greek into English), which was written in the late 1800's, he translated ekklesia as assembly, and you won't find the word church anywhere in there. Yeshua only used the word ekklesia three times. It's not recorded in the book of Mark, John, or Luke. Matthew is the only one who recorded it.
In Strong's Greek Concordance, the word ekklesia (word #1577) is defined as an assembly, and it's from the word ek, (word #1537) which means out of ; and the word klesis (word #2821) which means a calling. So ekklesia means to be called out, and obviously Yeshua is the one that's calling us out. But is that the first time we were ever called out?
The apostle Paul wrote:
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Now Paul is quoting the Old Testament from Isaiah 52:11
Isa 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
So we were called out in the Old Testament. In the Septuagint, Isaiah 52:11 reads, Depart ye, depart, go out from thence, and touch not the unclean thing; go ye out from the midst of her; separate yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord.
From the Hebrew Tanach it is Depart , depart, go out from there Touch no unclean thing Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the Lord.
So, when you go to the original Greek in the Septuagint and find out what those verses mean, you find out what you're being called out of. And that's what His ekklesia is, it is those who are called out.
When Isaiah says, go ye out from the midst of her, what does that mean? Well, when you go to the original Greek, out from the midst means out from the center. And the word her is from the Greek autos which means self.
In Hebrew it is the same word used in Exodus 3:10, speaking of coming out of Egypt or bondage.
So basically, what this verse is saying is to depart and separate yourself from your self will (those wants of the world), bondage, and touch not the impure. So what we're called out of is our self We're called out of the self-will and all of those things that have to do with the flesh. And that is His ecclesia.
This goes along with:
Mat 10:38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
The apostle Paul said, I die daily,
1Co 15:31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day
What this means is to do His Will, and crucify the deeds of the flesh, kill our old man.
So, there's only one definition for ekklesia, and that's assembly (or congregation). Now, how is it possible to take the word church (which means a physical structure) and insert it in there? Because the word Church does not mean assembly at all. It doesn't even closely correlate.
The idea that Yeshua created a whole new church and called out His first members doesn’t even make since. The Apostles were not the first to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah Joseph and Mary were the first to believe in the Messiah before his birth. John the Baptist is the first to have Devine inspiration that Yeshua (Jesus) was indeed the promised Messiah. And many before believed in the coming of the promised Messiah. But he did call out his first believers that he elected to die to self, and teach the people the uncorrupted massage of the One True God. Not a new church, religion, or faith
Yeshua our Messiah is not the beginning of a new church, but a restoration of an existing and perverted belief. The called out assembly were the beginning of the elected believers in the messiah, those first to be called out by Messiah to remove there old man. They are the assembly that would bring about the restoration of the scriptural belief and not the perverted doctrines of man that go against that scripture. We were not called out to authority but called out of our worldly flesh and beliefs
Not a new Church of Christ, but his Fathers (They are one in the same). Not a new Church but a redefining of the existing faith.
Mal 3:1 Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
Mat 16:15 He said to them, But who do you say that I am?
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Yeshua never said he would build his church upon these men. But he was electing the first to be called out of them selves and follow him. The rock was not the man, but his belief that the Messiah had come.
As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our Father
