ἐκκλησία, -ας, ἡ

(ἐκ-καλέω), [in LXX chiefly for קָהָל, otherwise for one of its cogn. forms ;]

__1. prop. an assembly of citizens regularly convened (in Thuc. ii, 22, opposite to σύλλογος, a concourse): Act.19:32, 39 41.

__2. In LXX of the assembly, congregation, community of Israel (Deu.4:10 23:2, al.): Act.7:38, Heb.2:12" (LXX) .

__3. NT, esp. of an assembly or company of Christians, a (the) church;

__(a) of gatherings for worship: 1Co.11:18 14:19, 34 35;

__(b) of local communities: Act.8:3, 1Co.4:17; with name added, Act.8:1, Rom.16:1, 1Th.1:1, al.; pl. Act.15:41, 1Co.7:17; τ. Χριστοῦ, Rom.16:16; τ. Ἀσίας, 1Co.16:19; τ. ἁγίων, 1Co.14:33; εἰπο]ν τ. ἐκκλησίᾳ, Mat.18:17 (but see Hort, Ecclesia, 10); of a house-congregation (DB, i, 431a), Rom.16:5, 1Co.16:19, Col.4:15, Phm 2;

__(with) of the whole body of Christians: Mat.16:18, 1Co.12:28, Eph.1:22, Php.3:6, al.; τ. θεοῦ, Act.20:28 (Κυρίου, T, R, mg.), 1Co.15:9, Gal.1:13, 1Ti.3:15; ἐ. προτοτόκων ἀπογεγραμμένων ἐν οὐρανοῖς, Heb.12:23.

SYN.: συναγωγή, which see (see Tr. Syn. §i; DB, i, 426; Hort, Ecclesia, esp. 4ff. 107ff.; Hamilton, People of God, ii, 37ff.; reff. s.vv. "Church," "Congregation," in DB and DCG; Cremer, 332). (AS)

an assembly; the assembly, congregation, community; (the) church