Is there one true church among the thousands of denominations, sects, and churches? Some claim they are the one true church. What is the Bible truth? This study examines the 2 Greek words that describe the church: ekklēsía – assembly or congregation, and sṓma – body.
Meaning of ekklēsía
- ekklēsia
- An assembly, congregation, church; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers. –Strong’s Concordance
- (from 1537 /ek, “out from and to” and 2564 /kaléō, “to call”) – properly, people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church (the mystical body of Christ) – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.
[The English word “church” comes from the Greek word kyriakos, “belonging to the Lord” (kyrios). 1577 /ekklēsía (“church”) is the root of the terms “ecclesiology” and “ecclesiastical.”] –HELPS Word-studies - 1. An assembly of the people convened at the public place of council for the purpose of debating
2. In the Septuagint often used for the assembly of the Israelites
3. Any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance or tumultuously.
4a. An assembly of Christians gathered for worship.
4b. A company of Christians. –Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
Examples of ekklēsía
As you can see, ekklēsia is context dependent, there are lots of ekklēsia, for example…
- [Jewish] ekklēsia in the wilderness (Acts 7:38)
- [Gentile] ekklēsia was in confusion (Acts 19:32, 41)
- ekklēsia [court of law] where complaints are settled (Acts 19:39)
- ekklēsia of the Gentiles (Rom 16:4)
- ekklēsia that is in their house (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 14:32; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15)
- and to the whole ekklēsia (Rom 16:23)
- ekklēsia of Asia greet you (1Cor 16:19)
- ekklēsia of the faithful dead in heaven (Heb 12:23)
- In the Septuagint, often equivalent to קָהָל, the assembly of the Israelites, Judges 21:8; 1 Chronicles 29:1, etc., especially when gathered for sacred purposes, Deuteronomy 31:30 (Deuteronomy 32:1); Joshua 8:35 (Joshua 9:8), etc.; in the N. T. thus in Acts 7:38; Hebrews 2:12.––Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
Interpretation of ekklēsía
The decision to use “church” (instead of “assembly” or “congregation”), in the King James Version, may be explained by King James’ desire, and possibly that of some of the translators, to retain “ecclesiastical language” in the King James translation; providing “scriptural” support for the clergy/laity system already established, ecclesiastical positions of authority in the state “church” and King James’ position as the head of both “church” and state.
There are many other assemblies, congregations, groups, and throngs (ekklēsia) that come together for various purposes This would include any religious group, any secular group, any political group, any social group, and even any criminal group, etc. Therefore, whenever talking about an ekklēsia , it’s necessary to specify what kind it is, unless the context is understood. Consider these many Christian ekklēsia in the first Century…
- a great persecution broke out against the ekklēsia in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1)
- I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the ekklēsia in Cenchreae. (Rom 16:1)
- Also greet the ekklēsian that meets in their house. (Rom 16:5)
- That’s why I’ve sent Timothy to you to help you remember my Christian way of life as I teach it everywhere in every ekklēsia . (1 Cor 4:17)
- The ekklēsiai in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the ekklēsiai that meets at their house. (1 Cor 16:19)
- You Philippians also know that in the early days, when I left the province of Macedonia to spread the Good News, you were the only ekklēsia to share your money with me. (Phi 4:15)
- Greet our brothers and sisters in Laodicea, especially Nympha and the ekklēsian that meets in her house. (Col 4:15)
- They have told the ekklēsias here of your loving friendship. (3 John 1:6)
- And to Aphia our beloved and to Arkippus our fellow laborer and to the ekklēsia that is in your house. (Philemon 1:2)
- “To the messenger of the ekklēsias in Ephesus, write: The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says: (Rev 2:1)
Since the word ekklēsia depends on the context, it doesn’t make sense to talk about the one true ekklēsia without being more specific. In general, it just doesn’t make sense to add “one” and “true” to any ekklēsia. It’s probably either redundant, misleading, or dishonest to add “one” and “true” to any specific ekklēsia.
As you can see, there is no such thing as the one true ekklēsia. If you search for “one true church” in any Bible, you will not get any relevant results. There is no such thing as The One True Church: not the Roman Catholic, not the Seventh Day Adventist, not the Jehovah’s Witness, not the Mormons, nor any other group who claims it. But don’t despair, let’s consider the second word.
Meaning of sṓma
- sṓma
- The physical body. (sṓma) is also used figuratively of the mystical Body of Christ (= the Church, the one people of God). –Strong’s Concordance
- 1. the body both of men and of animals.
2. the name of celestial bodies (stars, comets, meteors) and terrestial bodies (men, animals, plants)
3. tropically σῶμα is used of a (large or small) “number of men closely united into one society, or family as it were; a social, ethical, mystical body”; so in the N. T. of the church: Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:16; Ephesians 4:16; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 2:19 3:15; with τοῦ Χριστοῦ added, 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 4:12; Ephesians 5:30; Colossians 1:24; of which spiritual body Christ; is the head, Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18; Colossians 2:19, who by the influence of his Spirit works in the church as the soul does in the body. ἕν σῶμα καί ἕν πνεῦμα, Ephesians 4:4.
4. the thing itself versus its shadow –Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
Examples of sṓma
As you can see sṓma is also context dependent, there are lots of sṓma, for example…
- Where the sṓma is there also the vultures gather (Luke 17:37)
- When you sow, you do not plant the sṓma that will be, but just a seed (1 Cor 15:37)
- There are heavenly sōmata and earthly sōmata (1 Cor 15:40)
- These are a shadow of the things to come, but the sṓma [that casts the shadow] belongs to Christ. (Col 2:17)
- blood sacrifices for sin … sṓma are burned outside the camp (Heb 13:11)
- put bits into the horses’ mouth … we direct their entire sṓma (Jam 3:3)
- disputing with the devil about the sṓma of Moses (Jude 1:9)
- horses, wagons, sōmatōn (that is, humans) (Rev 18:13)
Interpretation of sṓma
Unlike the many ekklēsia, the Bible specifically says there is one sṓma of Christ. There is one “body” of Christ.
- There is one sṓma (Eph 4:4)
- From whom the whole sōma fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the sōmatos unto the edifying of itself in love. (Eph 4:16)
- We are parts of his sṓmatos (Eph 5:30)
- we, who are many, are one sṓma (1 Cor 10:17)
- For as we have many members in one sōmati, and all members have not the same office [a deed, function]: So we, being many, are one sōma in Christ, and every one members one of another. (1 Cor 12:4-5)
- For as the sōma is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one sōmatos, being many, are one sōma: so also is Christ. By one Spirit we were all baptized into one sṓma . Whether we are Jewish or Greek, slave or free, God gave all of us one Spirit to drink. (1 Cor 12:12-13)
- Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one sṓmati. Be thankful.
Therefore, it makes perfectly good sense to talk about one true sṓma of Christ because there are many bodies, but there is only one true body of Christ. This body contains every man, woman, and child, in every land, in every language, and throughout all time, who have called, are calling now, or will call in the future on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. (Isaiah 55:1)
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6)
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)
What is “the ekklēsias, which is his sōmatos”?
And, there are two references to this great and glorious company that use both sṓma and ekklēsia, and in both of these cases the context of the words has to be understood to be the entire company of Christians, so it makes sense to talk about this “called out … congregation or assembly … body” as “the one true church which is Christ’s body.”
Christ is the head of the ekklēsias. It is his sōmatos, and he is its Savior. (Ephesians 5:23)
Christ is also the head of the ekklēsias, which is his sōmatos. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. (Colossians 1:18)
So many ekklēsia but only one sṓma. So many churches but only one body of Christ. So many ways to gather, meet, and worship but only one spiritual body of Christ. This body includes all Christians on the Earth, it includes all Christians who have gone on before, and it will include all Christians in heaven. This has never been true of any individual ekklēsia and it never will.
Warning against groups calling themselves “the one true church”
If any group claims they are “the one true church” or “the body of Christ,” or something similar, such as, “the only viable representation of the one true church which is Christ’s body,” leave immediately, head for the exit, run don’t walk. At best, they are ignorant or deceived. At worst, they are deceitful or dishonest. This kind of thinking often leads to dangerous and divisive doctrines…
Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and filled with self-centered ambition, don’t brag. Don’t say that you are wise when it isn’t true. That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil. However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers. (James 3:13-18)
These false teachers are dried-up springs. They are a mist blown around by a storm. Gloomy darkness has been kept for them. They arrogantly use nonsense to seduce people by appealing to their sexual desires, especially to sexual freedom. They seduce people who have just escaped from those who live in error. They promise these people freedom, but they themselves are slaves to corruption. A person is a slave to whatever he gives in to. People can know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and escape the world’s filth. But if they get involved in this filth again and give in to it, they are worse off than they were before. It would have been better for them never to have known the way of life that God approves of than to know it and turn their backs on the holy life God told them to live. These proverbs have come true for them: “A dog goes back to its vomit,” and “A sow that has been washed goes back to roll around in the mud.” (2 Peter 2:17-22)
Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him. You used to live that kind of sinful life. Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, and you’ve become a new person. This new person is continually renewed in knowledge to be like its Creator. Where this happens, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, uncivilized person, slave, or free person. Instead, Christ is everything and in everything. (Colossians 3:5-11)
For deeper study:
- 5 instructions to local churches
- Caregiver or Clergy — Love in action in the parable of “The Good Samaritan“
- All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes
- The Twisted Scriptures by Carl Ketcherside
- Who is a deacon?
- 8 Gifts of Service for Your Church
- 5 ways to be an example to all believers