Ecclesia simply means a called-out assembly, and it does not always refer to the Church as the Body of Christ.
In the Greek text, the word translated 'church' is ekklesia, meaning a called-out assembly. Les Feldick teaches that the same word is used for Israel in the wilderness and even for a riotous mob in Ephesus. It only refers to the Body of Christ when Paul identifies it with that qualification.
Acts 7:38 — Stephen calls Israel 'the church in the wilderness,' showing that ecclesia can refer to Israel as a called-out assembly.
Acts 19:39-41 — The riotous mob in Ephesus is called an ecclesia, translated 'assembly,' showing the word is not limited to a church.
Ephesians 1:22-23 — Paul speaks of the church as His body, showing the distinctive New Testament usage of ecclesia.
The Greek word ekklesia, translated 'church' in our Bible, literally means a called-out assembly. It is used in the New Testament for a variety of gatherings, not only for the Body of Christ. In Acts 7:38, Stephen refers to the children of Israel as 'the church in the wilderness' — a called-out assembly of God's people under Moses. In Acts 19:32, 39, and 41, the Greek word ekklesia is rendered 'assembly' for the disorderly mob in Ephesus, which had been called together by the silversmiths. Thus the word itself simply denotes a gathering of people who have been called out, and its meaning depends on the context.
Les Feldick stresses that you cannot automatically equate the word 'church' with the Body of Christ. He explains that ekklesia is a called-out assembly, and he gives two contrasting examples: Israel at Sinai and the riotous mob at Ephesus. Israel was called out of Egypt and assembled at Sinai, so it was an ecclesia, but it had no deacons, bishops, or pastors and was not the Body of Christ. Likewise, the mob in Ephesus that rioted against Paul's preaching was called an ecclesia, even though it was ungodly. Les teaches that the present-day Church is distinguished as the Body of Christ, and Paul almost always qualifies it as 'the church which is His body.'
Les Feldick says no. The children of Israel at Sinai were not a church as we understand the church. They were a called-out assembly, an ecclesia, because God called them out of Egypt and assembled them at Sinai. But they were under the law and under Moses — a totally different setting from the Body of Christ. Stephen called them 'the church in the wilderness,' but the word means called-out assembly, not the Body of Christ.
In Acts 19, Paul's preaching caused many pagans to turn from idols, which hurt the silversmiths' business. They stirred up a mob that gathered in the amphitheater. Luke uses the Greek word ecclesia for this gathering, and the translators rendered it 'assembly' because it was an unlawful, disorderly mob. Les uses this example to show that seeing the word 'church' or 'ecclesia' does not automatically mean the Body of Christ.
Paul almost always identifies the church as the body of Christ, saying 'the church, which is his body' or 'the body, which is the church.' That qualification makes it clear he is not talking about just any called-out assembly. The church today is indeed a called-out assembly, but it is one whose head is in heaven, Christ, and we are His body.
Les explains that the Jewish believers in Jerusalem after Pentecost were a called-out assembly because they had separated themselves from mainstream Judaism and believed Jesus was the Christ. They are rightly called an ecclesia, but not necessarily the Body of Christ. They were still under the umbrella of Judaism.
Why the Gospels Aren't for the Church — 2 Corinthians 5
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Israel in the Wilderness and the Ephesian Riot
Les contrasts Israel as a called-out assembly with the ungodly mob in Ephesus, both called ecclesia, and explains Paul qualifies the church as the Body of Christ.
Stephen and the Ephesian Mob
Les repeats that Israel in the wilderness and the riot in Ephesus were both called ecclesia, proving the word can refer to a called-out assembly in an ungodly sense too.
Not a Church as We Understand It
Les emphasizes Israel at Sinai was a called-out assembly, not a church — no deacons, bishops, or pastors.
The Ephesian Ecclesia
Les shows the riotous mob in Ephesus was called the ecclesia, so seeing 'church' doesn't automatically mean the Body of Christ.
Paul's Qualifying Phrase: Body of Christ
Les explains that Paul gives a new connotation to ekklesia — the church which is His body — which qualifies today's church as a called-out assembly with Christ as head.
What "Baptized Unto Moses" Really Means — 1 Corinthians 10 Explained
No not the word, baptized, but this whole idea of a called out assembly is the Ecclesia, and called the Church in the wilderness, and so forth, but Israel was not baptized to become members of that Ecclesia. Now let me show you what I'm talking about. Go back to Acts chapter 7, otherwise there's a blank if I don't show you what I'm referring to.
The Word Ekklesia in Our Bible
Les defines the Greek word ekklesia as translated 'church' and also translated 'assembly,' and applies it to the Jewish believers in Acts 2.
Acts 7:38: This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Stephen calls Israel 'the church in the wilderness,' showing ecclesia can mean a called-out assembly, not the Body of Christ.
Acts 19:32: Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
The rioting mob in Ephesus is called an 'assembly' (ekklesia in Greek), showing the word can refer to a disordered, ungodly gathering.
Acts 19:39: But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
The town clerk uses the same Greek word ekklesia for a lawful assembly, proving its general meaning of a called-out gathering.
Acts 19:41: And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
Again the riotous gathering is called an 'assembly,' the same Greek word translated 'church' elsewhere.
Ephesians 1:22-23: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Paul identifies the church as Christ's body, showing the unique usage for believers in this dispensation.
Acts 2:47: Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The Lord added the saved Jewish believers to the church (ekklesia) at Jerusalem, a called-out assembly.
1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Paul speaks of the church as the body of Christ with many members, the distinctive New Testament meaning.
No. Les Feldick teaches that Ecclesia simply means a called-out assembly. It is used for Israel in the wilderness and even for the riotous mob in Ephesus. It only refers to the Body of Christ when the context, especially Paul's teaching, identifies it that way.
Stephen called Israel 'the church in the wilderness' because they were a called-out assembly. God had called them out of Egypt and gathered them at Sinai. It was not the Body of Christ — it was Israel under the Law with Moses.
The Greek word ekklesia simply means a called-out assembly. In Acts 19, the silversmiths called out a mob to riot against Paul's preaching, and Luke uses the same Greek word for that gathering. The translators rendered it 'assembly' because it was not a church.
Paul almost always uses a qualifying phrase, such as 'the church, which is his body.' This distinguishes the present-day church from every other called-out assembly in Scripture.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Gospels Aren't for the Church — 2 Corinthians 5