Ekklesia #1
Notes
Transcript
What is the Ekklesia?
What is the Ekklesia?
We are going to explore where the term Ekklesia comes from.
We are going to uncover the purpose of His Ekklesia.
Matthew 16:18 (NASB95)
18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
First lets look at the word Jesus used and the context of that word at the time.
History of the word Ecclesia or Ekklesia
The ecclesia or ekklesia (Greek: ἐκκλησία) was the principal assembly of the democracy of ancient Athens during its "Golden Age" (480–404 BCE). It was the popular assembly, open to all male citizens with 2 years of military service. In 594 BC, Solon allowed all Athenian citizens to participate, regardless of class, even the lowest class.
The assembly was responsible for declaring war, military strategy and electing the generals and other officials. It was responsible for nominating and electing magistrates, thus indirectly electing the members of the Areopagus. It had the final say on legislation and the right to call magistrates to account after their year of office. In the 5th century BC its members numbered about 43,000 people. It would have been difficult, however, for non-wealthy people outside of the urban center of Athens to attend until payments for attendance were introduced in the late 5th century. It originally met once every month, but later it met three or four times per month. The agenda for the ekklesia was established by the Boule, the popular council. Votes were taken by a show of hands, counting of stones and voting using broken pottery.
A quorum of 6,000 members was required sometimes to do business. The ecclesia elected by lot annually the Boule or council. Some of their power under Solon was delegated to the Court by Pericles in his reforms.
Many of the Greek gatherings they would sacrifice pigs to their gods before the discussions were made.
Church = Ekklesia or Ecclesia
1 a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.
1A an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating.
1B the assembly of the Israelites.
1C any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously.
Root Words:
Ek = out of, from, by, away from
Kaleo = call, bid, to be named,
In other words called out by name together
Called Out by Name Together to do what?
People ask me what is the purpose of the church?
Why should we go to church?
Matthew 16:18–19 (NASB95)
18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
The Ekklesia is to overpower darkness with light.
The Ekklesia is to use the keys of the kingdom of heaven to bring heaven to earth.
The Ekklesia is to bind what is to be bound and loose what is to be loosed.
What did God tell Adam and Eve to do?
Be Fruitful, Multiply, Fill, Subdue and Rule Over
Genesis 1:28 (NASB95)
28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
After Adam and Eve sinned they were told by God to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth...
After Jesus rose from the dead the mandate on His bride (the Ekklesia) is to be fruitful, multiply, fill, subdue and rule over again.
We are His Bride, His Ekklesia.
What is the purpose of His Ekklesia?
-We are called out by name, to experience Him together and be transformed by Holy Spirit and then sent out and commissioned to bring heaven to earth.
The gathering part is what equips us to go.
What was the first gathering of the Ekklesia?
-Acts 2 in the upper room.
The first gatherings of the Ekklesia were in courtyards of homes.
After Acts 2 when the holy spirit was poured out on the Ekklesia they grew very fast.
They grew so fast they did not know how to gather together as bigger groups. They looked to the Greeks and Romans at how they met in bigger groups.
This is how the idea of chairs all in one direction and an elevated place for the teacher to share came from.
When Jesus said My Ekklesia did he mean the Greek structure of seating and preaching or was He referring to a called out group who will make decisions that impact their cities and their world?
If the Greek Ekklesia was making decisions like going to war, military strategy, electing generals, then what does Jesus’s Ekklesia have the authority to do?
Ephesians 1:22–23 (NASB95)
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
The Ekklesia is the fullness of Him fills all in all.
We are His Body. His body takes action with our feet and hands.
We gather to be transformed by His love and power.
We gather to rule over darkness by brining His Light
We gather to bring His dominion over sickness and death.
We gather to become more His bride and fill the earth with heaven.
next week:
What are all the signs of an authentic Ekklesia?
What are all the signs of an authentic Ekklesia?
We are called out by name, to experience Him together and be transformed by Holy Spirit and then sent out and commissioned to bring heaven to earth.
The purpose of the church is to:
-Experience
-Become
-Give
Activation:
Jesus, would You forgive me for believing that the church is something different than You intended?
Jesus, would You help me to be transformed by Your Love?
Jesus, would You help me to become Your intended bride and Your Ekklesia?
Who is Jesus asking you to be His extension to?
Other Resources:
Acts 2:38–47 (NASB95)
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
28 “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
History
The ecclesia or ekklesia (Greek: ἐκκλησία) was the principal assembly of the democracy of ancient Athens during its "Golden Age" (480–404 BCE). It was the popular assembly, open to all male citizens with 2 years of military service. In 594 BC, Solon allowed all Athenian citizens to participate, regardless of class, even the thetes.
The assembly was responsible for declaring war, military strategy and electing the stratego and other officials. It was responsible for nominating and electing magistrates, thus indirectly electing the members of the Areopagus. It had the final say on legislation and the right to call magistrates to account after their year of office. In the 5th century BC its members numbered about 43,000 people. It would have been difficult, however, for non-wealthy people outside of the urban center of Athens to attend until payments for attendance were introduced in the late 5th century. It originally met once every month, but later it met three or four times per month. The agenda for the ekklesia was established by the Boule, the popular council. Votes were taken by a show of hands, counting of stones and voting using broken pottery.
A quorum of 6,000 members was required sometimes to do business. The ecclesia elected by lot annually the Boule or council. Some of their power under Solon was delegated to the Court by Pericles in his reforms.
The thetes (Ancient Greek: θῆτες, romanized: thêtes, sing. θής, 'serf') were the lowest social class of citizens. The thetes were those who were workers for wages, or had less than 200 medimnoi (or their equivalent) as yearly income.
Strategos was the title of the commander of a Greek army; we might call them “general”. In a hoplite battle, his place was in the first rank of the phalanx. In democratic Athens, ten generals were elected each year, who were under the supreme command of the polemarch (“war leader”).
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 1577 ἐκκλησία
1577 ἐκκλησία [ekklesia /ek·klay·see·ah/] n f. From a compound of 1537 and a derivative of 2564; TDNT 3:501; TDNTA 394; GK 1711; 118 occurrences; AV translates as “church” 115 times, and “assembly” three times. 1 a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly. 1A an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating. 1B the assembly of the Israelites. 1C any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously. 1D in a Christian sense. 1D1 an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting. 1D2 a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order’s sake. 1D3 those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body. 1D4 the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth. 1D5 the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven.
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 1537 ἐκ, ἐκπερισσῶς, ἐκφωνέω
1537 ἐκ, ἐκπερισσῶς, ἐκφωνέω [ek, ex /ek/] prep. A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; GK 1666 and together with Strongs 4053 as GK 1735, together with Strongs 5455 as GK 1771; 921 occurrences; AV translates as “of” 367 times, “from” 181 times, “out of” 162 times, “by” 55 times, “on” 34 times, “with” 25 times, and translated miscellaneously 97 times. 1 out of, from, by, away from.
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 2564 καλέω
2564 καλέω [kaleo /kal·eh·o/] v. Akin to the base of 2753; TDNT 3:487; TDNTA 394; GK 2813; 146 occurrences; AV translates as “call” 125 times, “bid” 16 times, “be so named” once, “named + 3686” once, and translated miscellaneously three times. 1 to call. 1A to call aloud, utter in a loud voice. 1B to invite. 2 to call i.e. to name, by name. 2A to give a name to. 2A1 to receive the name of, receive as a name. 2A2 to give some name to one, call his name. 2B to be called i.e. to bear a name or title (among men). 2C to salute one by name. Additional Information: For synonyms see entries 994, boao; 2896, krazo; and 2905, kraugazo.See entry 5823 for comparison of synonyms.