The Meaning of Church in Scripture

The word Church, (Ecclesia) signifieth in the Books of Holy Scripture divers things. Sometimes (though not often) it is taken for Gods House, that is to say, for a Temple, wherein Christians assemble to perform holy duties publiquely; as, 1 Cor. 14. ver. 34. “Let your women keep silence in the Churches:” but this is Metaphorically put, for the Congregation there assembled; and hath been since used for the Edifice it self, to distinguish between the Temples of Christians, and Idolaters. The Temple of Jerusalem was Gods House, and the House of Prayer; and so is any Edifice dedicated by Christians to the worship of Christ, Christs House: and therefore the Greek Fathers call it Kuriake, The Lords House; and thence, in our language it came to be called Kyrke, and Church.

The word Church (Ecclesia) has several meanings in Holy Scripture. Sometimes, though not often, it means God’s House, a temple where Christians gather to perform religious duties publicly. For example, 1 Cor. 14, verse 34 says, “Let your women keep silence in the Churches:” But here, “Churches” refers figuratively to the congregations gathered there. The word has since been used for the building itself, to distinguish Christian temples from those of idolaters. The Temple of Jerusalem was God’s House and the House of Prayer. Likewise, any building Christians dedicate to the worship of Christ is Christ’s House. For this reason, the Greek Fathers call such a building Kuriake, The Lord’s House. From Kuriake, our language came to use the names Kyrke and Church.

Church (when not taken for a House) signifieth the same that Ecclesia signified in the Grecian Common-wealths; that is to say, a Congregation, or an Assembly of Citizens, called forth, to hear the Magistrate speak unto them; and which in the Common-wealth of Rome was called Concio, as he that spake was called Ecclesiastes, and Concionator. And when they were called forth by lawfull Authority, (Acts 19.39.) it was Ecclesia Legitima, a Lawfull Church, Ennomos Ecclesia. But when they were excited by tumultuous, and seditious clamor, then it was a confused Church, Ecclesia Sugkechumene.

Church, when it does not mean a building, means the same as Ecclesia in the Greek commonwealths. It means a congregation or assembly of citizens called together to hear a magistrate speak to them. In the Roman commonwealth, such an assembly was called Concio. The speaker was called Ecclesiastes and Concionator. When citizens were called together by lawful authority (Acts 19.39.), the assembly was Ecclesia Legitima, a lawful Church, Ennomos Ecclesia. But when citizens were stirred into gathering by riotous and rebellious shouting, the assembly was a confused Church, Ecclesia Sugkechumene.

It is taken also sometimes for the men that have right to be of the Congregation, though not actually assembled; that is to say, for the whole multitude of Christian men, how far soever they be dispersed: as (Act. 8.3.) where it is said, that “Saul made havock of the Church:” And in this sense is Christ said to be Head of the Church. And sometimes for a certain part of Christians, as (Col. 4.15.) “Salute the Church that is in his house.” Sometimes also for the Elect onely; as (Ephes. 5.27.) “A Glorious Church, without spot, or wrinkle, holy, and without blemish;” which is meant of the Church Triumphant, or, Church To Come. Sometimes, for a Congregation assembled, of professors of Christianity, whether their profession be true, or counterfeit, as it is understood, Mat. 18.17. where it is said, “Tell it to the Church, and if hee neglect to hear the Church, let him be to thee as a Gentile, or Publican.”

“Church” also sometimes means those entitled to belong to the congregation, even when they are not actually gathered. In other words, it means all Christians, however widely scattered they may be. For example, Acts 8:3 says that “Saul devastated the Church.” In this sense, Christ is said to be the Head of the Church. Sometimes “Church” means a particular group of Christians, as in Colossians 4:15: “Greet the Church that meets in his house.” Sometimes it means only the Elect, as in Ephesians 5:27: “A glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish.” This refers to the Church Triumphant, or the Church To Come. Sometimes “Church” means an assembled congregation of people who profess Christianity, whether their profession is sincere or false. This is the meaning in Matthew 18:17: “Tell it to the Church. And if he refuses to listen to the Church, treat him as a Gentile or tax collector.”

And in this last sense only it is that the Church can be taken for one Person; that is to say, that it can be said to have power to will, to pronounce, to command, to be obeyed, to make laws, or to doe any other action whatsoever; For without authority from a lawfull Congregation, whatsoever act be done in a concourse of people, it is the particular act of every one of those that were present, and gave their aid to the performance of it; and not the act of them all in grosse, as of one body; much lesse that act of them that were absent, or that being present, were not willing it should be done. According to this sense, I define a CHURCH to be, “A company of men professing Christian Religion, united in the person of one Soveraign; at whose command they ought to assemble, and without whose authority they ought not to assemble.” And because in all Common-wealths, that Assembly, which is without warrant from the Civil Soveraign, is unlawful; that Church also, which is assembled in any Common-wealth, that hath forbidden them to assemble, is an unlawfull Assembly.

Only in this last sense can the Church be understood as one person. Only then can the Church be said to have a will, speak, command, be obeyed, make laws, or act at all. For without authority from a lawful assembly, any act performed by a gathering belongs only to the individuals who helped perform it. The act is not the act of everyone together, as a single body. Still less is it the act of those who were absent or present but unwilling for it to happen. In this sense, I define a CHURCH as “A group of people professing the Christian religion, united under one Sovereign. At that Sovereign’s command they ought to assemble, and without that Sovereign’s authority they ought not to assemble.” And because any assembly without the civil Sovereign’s authorization is unlawful in every Commonwealth, the same applies to a Church. A Church that assembles in a Commonwealth that has forbidden its members to assemble is an unlawful assembly.

It followeth also, that there is on Earth, no such universall Church as all Christians are bound to obey; because there is no power on Earth, to which all other Common-wealths are subject: There are Christians, in the Dominions of severall Princes and States; but every one of them is subject to that Common-wealth, whereof he is himself a member; and consequently, cannot be subject to the commands of any other Person. And therefore a Church, such as one as is capable to Command, to Judge, Absolve, Condemn, or do any other act, is the same thing with a Civil Common-wealth, consisting of Christian men; and is called a Civill State, for that the subjects of it are Men; and a Church, for that the subjects thereof are Christians. Temporall and Spirituall Government, are but two words brought into the world, to make men see double, and mistake their Lawfull Soveraign. It is true, that the bodies of the faithfull, after the Resurrection shall be not onely Spirituall, but Eternall; but in this life they are grosse, and corruptible. There is therefore no other Government in this life, neither of State, nor Religion, but Temporall; nor teaching of any doctrine, lawfull to any Subject, which the Governour both of the State, and of the Religion, forbiddeth to be taught: And that Governor must be one; or else there must needs follow Faction, and Civil war in the Common-wealth, between the Church and State; between Spiritualists, and Temporalists; between the Sword Of Justice, and the Shield Of Faith; and (which is more) in every Christian mans own brest, between the Christian, and the Man. The Doctors of the Church, are called Pastors; so also are Civill Soveraignes: But if Pastors be not subordinate one to another, so as that there may bee one chief Pastor, men will be taught contrary Doctrines, whereof both may be, and one must be false. Who that one chief Pastor is, according to the law of Nature, hath been already shewn; namely, that it is the Civill Soveraign; And to whom the Scripture hath assigned that Office, we shall see in the Chapters following.

It also follows that no universal Church on Earth exists that all Christians are bound to obey. This is because no power on Earth has authority over all other commonwealths. Christians live under various princes and states. But each Christian is subject to the commonwealth of which he is a member. Consequently, he cannot be subject to the commands of any other person. Therefore, a Church capable of commanding, judging, absolving, condemning, or performing any other act is a civil commonwealth of Christians. It is called a civil state because its subjects are human beings, and a Church because its subjects are Christians. Temporal and spiritual government are merely two terms introduced to make people see double and mistake their lawful sovereign. It is true that, after the Resurrection, the bodies of the faithful will be not only spiritual but eternal. But in this life their bodies are physical and subject to decay. Therefore, all government in this life, whether of state or religion, is temporal. Nor may any subject lawfully teach a doctrine that the governor of both state and religion forbids. And there must be only one governor. Otherwise, factions and civil war must follow within the commonwealth, between Church and state. The conflict will divide supporters of spiritual authority from supporters of temporal authority, the Sword of Justice from the Shield of Faith. More than that, the conflict will divide every Christian within his own heart, as a Christian and as a human being. The teachers of the Church are called pastors, and so are civil sovereigns. But unless pastors are subordinate to one another, so that there can be one chief pastor, people will receive conflicting teachings. Both teachings may be false, and one must be false. We have already shown who that one chief pastor is under the law of nature: the civil sovereign. In the following chapters, we will see whom Scripture has assigned to that office.