What does the word Ekklesia mean in its true translated form?
In its true translated form, the Greek word Ekklesia means a called out assembly. It does not inherently mean a structured church with pastors, bishops, and deacons, though it can refer to the Body of Christ in a local church context.
Les explains that the word translated 'Church' in the New Testament is the Greek word Ekklesia, and in its true translated form it simply means a called out assembly. He uses 'assembly' purposely because many confuse 'Church' with only the Body of Christ, but it does not necessarily mean a group with pastors, bishops, and deacons—though when Paul speaks of the Body of Christ in the local church, it does. He illustrates this with Stephen's reference to the 'Church in the wilderness,' which was Israel called out of Egypt, a called out assembly, not the Body of Christ. The Jewish believers in Jerusalem were also a called out assembly, separated from Judaizers, yet not yet the Body of Christ. Even the riotous mob in Ephesus was called an Ekklesia, which the King James translators rendered 'assembly.' So terminology must be handled carefully.
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What does the Greek word Ekklesia actually mean when translated?
The word Ekklesia, in its true translated form, means a 'called out assembly.'