What is the definition ofekklesia?

In using, then, the word "church," it must be always understood to mean an assembly of people, and the assembly of which we speak is the Assembly of God.

Mr. Hole uses the word church and assembly interchangeably, which might cause some confusion. The Greek word ecclesia is used in the New Testament to describe both the true universal Church of God, comprised of all believers, and also the local church or assembly. The word means called out ones. The English word assembly is thus a better translation of ecclesia than is the word church. But as long as we know its true meaning, either church or assembly can be used without problems. The main problem with the word church is that people get it mixed up with some church-building or some denomination (the Baptist church, etc.). Neither of these is a correct use of ecclesia.

By carefully examining every place in scripture where this word occurs, its plain meaning is “assembly.” I will point out one or two instances in which it is even so translated, and cannot mean anything else. Turn to Acts 19:32, 39, 41. In each of these verses, the word translated “assembly” is ekkleesia, and evidently means, a gathering of people together.

180 We must consider more at length the word ἐκκλησία, usually rendered "congregation or church," but by us "assembly." Though we might in general be indifferent about this expression, we dare not be so ever about a false rendering of the word of God. The Greek word ἐκκλησία means "assembly"; and especially denotes an assembly of those who in the Greek states, as also in some modern republics, had the rights of citizenship in contradistinction to those inhabitants who had them not, and who bore the not easily translated name πάροικος, which we have rendered "foreigner" or "without citizenship." We have not translated ἐκκλησία by "congregation" (gemeinde), because this designation does not represent the true meaning of the word in its original character. In order therefore to obviate any embarrassment of understanding, we have translated it by "assembly"; and the reader will find it used unmistakeably in this sense in Acts 19:41, where we read, "The town clerk dismissed the assembly." We felt ourselves compelled, in order not to weaken its true force, to use the same term in every case. It is therefore used for every kind of assembly, whether of the children of Israel in the wilderness, or of the tumultuous persons rushing into the theatre, or for the "lawful assembly" at Ephesus (Acts 19); both for the general assembly of Christians in heaven, and for the so-called church-congregation (gemeinde) on earth, whether it be the assembly in a place or in a private house. Thus scripture has applied the word, commonly used to denote the gatherings of the citizens, to the assembly of God.

The word ek-klesia, — nearly always translated 'church' in the Authorized Version of the Bible, — was originally a heathen word, and meant a lawful assembly in a free Greek city of all those who possessed the right of citizenship, for the transaction of public affairs. (See Trench, Greek Synonyms).

'Assembly' is a better translation of ek-klesia than 'congregation,' for congregation has in it the meaning of to congregate, or come together, of one's own voluntary will; whereas ek-klesia emphasizes the call that brings them together: God's own call, through the herald of Jesus Christ our Lord. In Acts 19, we find this word three times translated 'assembly' in our Authorized Version.

You will notice that the word ek-klesia is made up of two words: the first is ek, which is like 'ex' in our word 'exit', and means 'from, out of, away from.' The second part of the word is klesia, which is from the word kaleo, meaning, 'I call: ' indeed one may recognize the root of our English word 'call' in it. So the whole word means, "called-out-ones," with the emphasis on 'called.' Paul wrote to the Assembly at Rome, "Ye also are the called of Jesus Christ." (Rom 1:6), and he tells them they are "saints by calling." See note in New Translation.

In the N.T. the word is also used for any gathering of people, as at the tumult in Ephesus. Acts 19:32, 39, 41. In James 2:2 the word 'assembly' is really the synagogue, or place of meeting. In Heb. 12:23 the words 'GENERAL ASSEMBLY' should be joined to ver. 22, reading "and to the innumerable company of angels, the general assembly:" the word 'and' dividing the subjects. The Greek word used in Acts 19:32, etc. is ἐκκλησία, and this often occurs in the N.T. where it is translated 'church.' It signifies 'called out,' and the church is a people called out by God to Himself from the mass of mankind. The church may more accurately be designated by the word 'assembly.' See CHURCH.

This word 'ecclesia' or 'church', sometimes translated 'assembly', simply means a number of persons called-out, if you like, 'called-out ones'. Different contexts indicate different thoughts connected with this word. For instance in Acts 7 we read about "the church that was in the wilderness" (v.38), and that is a reference to the nation of Israel. It was called-out from Egypt with a view to moving through the wilderness and eventually possessing the land of promise.

There is a word with which Greeks, Jews, and Christians were well acquainted, though each attached to it a different meaning. That word, which in Greek is ecclesia, is rendered into English by church or assembly.