The Church

In creating an English language version of the New Testament, from the Greek, I am comfortable with the practice of translation. When agapaw is translated “charity” in the KJV, and followed by “love” in newer versions, I am comfortable, even though original intent, to some degree, may be lost. It is an accurate translation. I am somewhat comfortable with the practice of transliteration, whereby a Greek word is rendered letter for letter, rather than through translation. The most familiar example of this practice is baptisma, or baptism, as rendered by the King James translators. Even though the application of this transliteration has been skewed over time, the practice of transliteration is not inherently ineffective. But, oh how we all wish the King James translators would have written “immersed” rather than baptized.

I am extremely uncomfortable with the practice of substitution. Although, as with transliteration, it is not inherently inaccurate, the possibility of opinion, and agenda, become a probability. Such is the case with some “high profile” words in the New Testament. Baptism, although a transliteration, is also a substitution word, because of the implication of sprinkling or pouring as an acceptable alternative to immersion. The word “repent” is not an accurate translation of the Greek, and it will be dealt with in a future article.

Brother Hugo McCord’s New Testament Translation of the Everlasting Gospel contains an Appendix in the back of the book, explaining many of these thoughts. I am especially drawn to his work, because Dr. McCord can effectively convey his brilliance and apply it to my simplicity. I don’t agree with all of Dr. McCord’s published views on theology, but I am not qualified to contest his expertise on language translation. Some of the thoughts presented in this article are influenced by our beloved brother, Hugo McCord.

“And Jesus said, ‘And thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…”

The word “church” never appears in the Greek text of the New Testament. According to McCord, the word “church” refers historically “to a physical building, a meetinghouse, which the Lord’s people in the first century did not build, and for which there is no New Testament word”. Church is English, from kirk (Dunkirk was named for a meetinghouse located at Dun or Dunn). Tyndale, in the first English translation of the Greek text in 1525, used “congregation”, because he knew that “church” was an inaccurate translation. King James I, who was head of the Church of England, and who had, using McCord’s words, a “vested interest in the word church”, ordered the fifty-four translators to change “congregation” to “church” in 1611, and the rest is history. For what it’s worth, Alexander Campbell, like Tyndale, used “congregation” to describe the body of Christ, knowing that “church” was inaccurate.

The Greek word is ekklesia, which simply means, “called out” or gathered. There are a couple of citations in Acts 19 (verses 32 and 41) where ekklesia is used to describe a mob. In verse 39, ekklesia refers to a group of law-abiding citizens. In the thirty-six other citations of ekklesia, all references are to the Lord’s people. In one of these thirty-six citations, Acts 7:38, Stephen’s word, captured by Luke, is ekklesia, and is used to describe the Hebrew nation that wandered in the wilderness of Sinai after leaving Egypt.

So, we see, that ekklesia refers to a gathering of people. Whether lawful, riotous, Hebrew or universal, it refers to a gathered group of people. In the references to the Lord’s people, who are gathered, one might assume an additional term, “the elect”, to coincide with gathered. So, instead of church, in the 35 references to the Lord’s people, we have a “gathering of the elect” to describe those who are “called out”.

So, what’s the big deal? Wouldn’t you think that most people understand this? Wouldn’t you think that most people are taught, and understand, that the church is not a building, but people? The church is an institution, but it is not a physical institution, defined by architecture and building materials. The church is people. The home is an institution, very different from a house, which is defined by architecture, landscaping and building materials. The church and the home are God ordained institutions, or entities, comprised of people.

“Husbands love your wives as Christ loved” an organization? Technically correct, but woefully short on conveying the meaning! Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved his people! Husbands love your families as Christ loves His family! Christ is the head of His body, His people, not an organization, as King James thought. Husbands are to be the head of their family as Christ is the head of His!

People who are head of an organization manage that organization. Yes, they lead, but they lead by managing. Jesus led, and expects men to lead, by ministering and managing. Even within the church, shepherds have management responsibility, but they also have ministering responsibilities. An eldership that manages to the exclusion of ministering, is a recipe for disaster. A husband or father that manages his family without ministering is as well.

The Lord adds people to other people, not people to an organization. It’s not as if we’ve joined the Rotary Club. We have joined the elect of God; joined the people who are saved; joined the people who are called out from the world!

“And Jesus said, ‘And thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…”

It would have been a bit more difficult to memorize and quote if this passage from Matthew 16 had said, “… upon this rock I will build my people, elect and gathered from the world”. But, it would not have given the slightest inclination for us to think of a physical building or an organization. Christ did not come to build a church. He came to build His people, and He will build His people by building their faith in Him.