It is from the New Testament primarily, if not really exclusively,
that the real meaning and idea of the Church is derived. The Christian
Church is a New Testament institution, beginning with Pentecost,
and ending, probably, with the rapture. Two words are of special
importance in this connection:
a) Ecclesia, from Two Greek Words Meaning "To Call Out From."
This word is used in all about 111 times in the New Testament. It
is used in a secular sense in Acts 19:39--"It shall be determined
in a lawful assembly"; of Israel in the wilderness (Acts 7:38),
and of the assembly of believers in Christ (Matt. 16:18; 18:17; 1
Cor. 1:2; Eph. 5:25-27). In keeping with this idea the saints are
said to be the "called-out" ones (Rom. 8:30; 1 Cor. 1:2; cf. 2 Cor.
6:17).
b) "Kuriakon"--That Which Belongs to the Lord.
So we have "the supper of the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:20); the "day of
the Lord" (Rev. 1:10). See also Luke 22:25 and Rom. 14:8, 9, as
illustrating that over which the Lord has dominion and authority.
To sum up then: The Church is composed of the body of believers who
have been called out from the world, and who are under the dominion
and authority of Jesus Christ.
c) The Growth of the Church Idea in the New Testament.
At first there was but one Church at Jerusalem. The meetings may
have been held in different houses, yet there was but one Church
with one roster: so we read of the total membership consisting
at one time of 120 (Acts 1:15), again of 3,000 (2:41), and still
again of 5,000 (4:4), to which there were daily additions (2:47).
The apostles were at the head of the Church (2:41-47). See Acts,
cc. 1 and 2, for a fuller account of the first Church.
The second stage in the growth of the Church was its spread throughout
Judea and Samaria, as recorded in Acts 8.
Antioch, in Syria, then became the head of the Gentile Church (Acts
13:1), as Jerusalem was the head of the Jewish Church (Acts 15);
Paul representing the Church at Antioch, and Peter and James at
Jerusalem. The assembly at Antioch was called "the church" just as
truly as was the assembly at Jerusalem (11:22; 13:1).
Because of the missionary activities of the apostles, especially
Paul, churches sprang up in different cities, especially in Asia
Minor, e.g., Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, and Philippi.
In view of all this the term "church" came to be used of the Church
_universal,_ that is, the complete body of Christ as existing
in every place (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:2, 13; Matt. 16:18); of
_local_ churches in any one place (Col. 4:16; Phil. 4:15; 1
Cor. 1:2, etc.); of _single meetings,_ even where two or three
met together (Matt. 18:19; Col. 4:15; Phil. 1:2; Rom. 16:5).
It is evident, then, from what has here been said, that by the term
"church" is included all that is meant from the Church Universal
to the meeting of the church in the house. Wherever God's people
meet in the name of Christ to worship, there you have the Church.