CHURCH

The Greek word translated church signifies generally an assembly, either common or religious; and it is sometimes so translated, as in Ac 19:32,39. In the New Testament it usually means a congregation of religious worshippers, either Jewish, as Ac 7:38, or Christians, as Mt 16:18 1Co 6:4. The latter sense is the more common one; and it is thus used in a twofold manner, denoting, 1. The universal Christian church: either the invisible church, consisting of those whose names are written in heaven, whom God knows, but whom we cannot infallibly know, Heb 12:23; or the visible church, made up of the professed followers of Christ on earth, Col 1:24 1Ti 3:5,15 2. A particular church or body of professing believers, who meet and worship together in one place; as the churches of Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, etc., to which Paul addressed epistles.

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Church. Church
Derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e., “the Lord’s house”), which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship.

In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew kahal of the Old Testament, both words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in post-apostolic times it early received this meaning. Nor is this word ever used to denote the inhabitants of a country united in the same profession, as when we say the “Church of England,” the “Church of Scotland,” etc.

We find the word ecclesia used in the following senses in the New Testament: (1.) It is translated “assembly” in the ordinary classical sense (Acts 19:32, 39, 41).

(2.) It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible catholic church (Eph. 5:23, 25, 27, 29; Heb. 12:23).

(3.) A few Christians associated together in observing the ordinances of the gospel are an ecclesia (Rom. 16:5; Col. 4:15).

(4.) All the Christians in a particular city, whether they assembled together in one place or in several places for religious worship, were an ecclesia. Thus all the disciples in Antioch, forming several congregations, were one church (Acts 13:1); so also we read of the “church of God at Corinth” (1 Cor. 1:2), “the church at Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1), “the church of Ephesus” (Rev. 2:1), etc.

(5.) The whole body of professing Christians throughout the world (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; Matt. 16:18) are the church of Christ.

The church visible “consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children.” It is called “visible” because its members are known and its assemblies are public. Here there is a mixture of “wheat and chaff,” of saints and sinners. “God has commanded his people to organize themselves into distinct visible ecclesiastical communities, with constitutions, laws, and officers, badges, ordinances, and discipline, for the great purpose of giving visibility to his kingdom, of making known the gospel of that kingdom, and of gathering in all its elect subjects. Each one of these distinct organized communities which is faithful to the great King is an integral part of the visible church, and all together constitute the catholic or universal visible church.” A credible profession of the true religion constitutes a person a member of this church. This is “the kingdom of heaven,” whose character and progress are set forth in the parables recorded in Matt. 13.

The children of all who thus profess the true religion are members of the visible church along with their parents. Children are included in every covenant God ever made with man. They go along with their parents (Gen. 9:9-17; 12:1-3; 17:7; Ex. 20:5; Deut. 29:10-13). Peter, on the day of Pentecost, at the beginning of the New Testament dispensation, announces the same great principle. “The promise [just as to Abraham and his seed the promises were made] is unto you, and to your children” (Acts 2:38, 39). The children of believing parents are “holy”, i.e., are “saints”, a title which designates the members of the Christian church (1 Cor. 7:14). (See BAPTISM.)

The church invisible “consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, the head thereof.” This is a pure society, the church in which Christ dwells. It is the body of Christ. it is called “invisible” because the greater part of those who constitute it are already in heaven or are yet unborn, and also because its members still on earth cannot certainly be distinguished. The qualifications of membership in it are internal and are hidden. It is unseen except by Him who “searches the heart.” “The Lord knoweth them that are his” (2 Tim. 2:19).

The church to which the attributes, prerogatives, and promises appertaining to Christ’s kingdom belong, is a spiritual body consisting of all true believers, i.e., the church invisible.

(1.) Its unity. God has ever had only one church on earth. We sometimes speak of the Old Testament Church and of the New Testament church, but they are one and the same. The Old Testament church was not to be changed but enlarged (Isa. 49:13-23; 60:1-14). When the Jews are at length restored, they will not enter a new church, but will be grafted again into “their own olive tree” (Rom. 11:18-24; comp. Eph. 2:11-22). The apostles did not set up a new organization. Under their ministry disciples were “added” to the “church” already existing (Acts 2:47).

(2.) Its universality. It is the “catholic” church; not confined to any particular country or outward organization, but comprehending all believers throughout the whole world.

(3.) Its perpetuity. It will continue through all ages to the end of the world. It can never be destroyed. It is an “everlasting kindgdom.”

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CHURCH. → (Hebrew: qahal, 'edah; Greek: ekklesia) → (The people of God; the collective body of believers. (Also, CONGREGATION, ASSEMBLY, THE BODY OF CHRIST.)) → Called COURTS Ps 65:4; 84:2,10; 92:13; 96:8; 100:4; 116:19; Isa 1:12; 62:9; Zec 3:7 → HOUSE OF GOD Ge 28:17,22; Jos 9:23; Jud 18:31; 20:18,26; 21:2; 1Ch 9:11; 24:5; 2Ch 5:14; 22:12; 24:13; 33:7; 36:19; Ezr 5:8,15; 7:20,23; Ne 6:10; 11:11; 13:11; Ps 42:4; 52:8; 55:14; 84:10; Ec 5:1; Isa 2:3; Ho 9:8; Joe 1:16; Mic 4:2; Zec 7:2; Mt 12:4; 1Ti 3:15; Heb 10:21; 1Pe 4:17 → HOUSE OF THE LORD Ex 23:19; 34:26; De 23:18; Jos 6:24; Jud 19:18; 1Sa 1:7,24; 2Sa 12:20; 1Ki 3:1; 6:37; 7:40; 8:10,63; 10:5; 2Ki 11:3,4,15,18,19; 12:4,9,10,13,16; 16:18; 20:8; 23:2,7,11; 25:9; 1Ch 6:31; 22:1,11,14; 23:4; 26:12; 2Ch 8:16; 26:21; 29:5,15; 33:15; 34:15; 36:14; Ezr 7:27; Ps 23:6; 27:4; 92:13; 116:19; 118:26; 122:1,9; 134:1; Isa 2:2; 37:14; Jer 17:26; 20:1,2; 26:2,7; 28:1,5; 29:26; 35:2; 36:5,6; 38:14; 41:5; 51:51; La 2:7; Eze 44:4; Hag 1:2; Zec 8:9 → SANCTUARY Ex 25:8; Le 19:30; 21:12; Nu 3:28; 4:12; 7:9; 8:19; 10:21; 18:1,5; 19:20; 1Ch 9:29; 22:19; 24:5; 28:10; 2Ch 20:8; 26:18; 29:21; 30:8,19; Ne 10:39; Ps 20:2; 28:2; 63:2; 68:24; 73:17; 74:3,7; 77:13; 78:69; 150:1; Isa 16:12; 63:18; La 2:7,20; 4:1; Eze 5:11; 42:20; 44:5,27; 45:3; 48:8,21; Da 8:11,13,14; 9:17,26; 11:31; Heb 8:2; 9:1,2 → HOUSE OF PRAYER Isa 56:7; Mt 21:13 → TABERNACLE Ex 26:1; Le 26:11; Jos 22:19; Ps 15:1; 61:4; 76:2; Heb 8:2,5; 9:2,11; Re 13:6; 21:3 → TEMPLE 1Sa 1:9; 3:3; 2Ki 11:10,13; Ezr 4:1; Ps 5:7; 11:4; 27:4; 29:9; 48:9; 68:29; Isa 6:1; Mal 3:1; Mt 4:5; 23:16; Lu 18:10; 24:53 → ZION Ps 9:11; 48:11; 74:2; 132:13; 137:1; Isa 35:10; Jer 31:6; 50:5; Joe 2:1,15 → HOLY PLACE Ex 28:29; 38:24; Le 6:16; 10:17; 14:13; 16:2-24; Jos 5:15; 1Ki 8:8; 1Ch 23:32; 2Ch 29:5; 30:27; 35:5; Ezr 9:8; Ps 24:3; 46:4; 68:17; Ec 8:10; Isa 57:15; Eze 41:4; 42:13; 45:4; Mt 24:15; Ac 6:13; 21:28; Heb 9:12,25 → HOLY TEMPLE Ps 5:7; 11:4; 65:4; 79:1; 138:2; Jon 2:4,7; Mic 1:2; Hab 2:20; Eph 2:21; 3:17 → MY FATHER'S HOUSE Joh 2:16; 14:2 → HOLY Ex 30:26-29; 40:9; Le 8:10,11; 16:13; 19:30; 21:12; Nu 7:1; 1Ki 9:3; 1Ch 29:3; 2Ch 3:8; Isa 64:11; Eze 23:39; 1Co 3:17 → EDIFICES
* See SYNAGOGUE
* See TABERNACLE
* See TEMPLE

→ MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS
* Called THE CONGREGATION in the O. T. (K. J. V. and others) Ex 12:3,6,19,47; 16:1,2,9,10,22; Le 4:13,15; 10:17; 24:14
* Called CHURCH in the N. T. (K. J. V.), but CONGREGATION earlier in Tyndale's translation Mt 16:18; 18:17; Ac 2:47; 1Co 11:18; 14:19,23,28,33,34; 15:9; Ga 1:13
* Also called

ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS Ps 89:7 ASSEMBLY OF THE UPRIGHT Ps 111:1
* BODY OF CHRIST Eph 1:22,23; Col 1:24
* BRANCH OF GOD'S PLANTING Isa 60:21
* BRIDE OF CHRIST Re 21:9
* CHURCH OF GOD Ac 20:28
* CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD 1Ti 3:15
* CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN Heb 12:23
* CITY OF THE LIVING GOD Heb 12:22
* CONGREGATION OF SAINTS Ps 149:1
* CONGREGATION OF THE LORD'S POOR Ps 74:19
* DOVE So 2:14; 5:2
* FAMILY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH Eph 3:15
* FLOCK OF GOD Eze 34:15; 1Pe 5:2
* FOLD OF CHRIST Joh 10:16
* GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRSTBORN (people) Heb 12:23
* GOLDEN CANDLESTICK (lampstand) Re 1:20
* GOD'S BUILDING 1Co 3:9
* GOD'S HUSBANDRY (farm) 1Co 3:9
* GOD'S HERITAGE Joe 3:2; 1Pe 5:3
* HABITATION OF GOD Eph 2:22
* HEAVENLY JERUSALEM Ga 4:26; Heb 12:22
* HOLY CITY Re 21:2
* HOLY MOUNTAIN Zec 8:3
* HOLY HILL Ps 2:6; 15:1
* HOUSE OF GOD 1Ti 3:15; Heb 10:21
* THE GOD OF JACOB Isa 2:3
* HOUSE OF CHRIST Heb 3:6
* HOUSEHOLD OF GOD Eph 2:19
* INHERITANCE Ps 28:9; Isa 19:25
* ISRAEL OF GOD Ga 6:16
* KING'S DAUGHTER Ps 45:13
* KINGDOM OF GOD Mt 6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31
* KINGDOM OF HEAVEN Mt 3:2; 4:17; 10:7; 5:3,10,19,20
* HIS KINGDOM Ps 103:19; 145:12; Mt 16:28; Lu 1:33
* MY KINGDOM Joh 18:36
* THY KINGDOM Ps 45:6; 145:11,13; Mt 6:10; Lu 23:42
* LAMB'S BRIDE Eph 5:22-32; Re 22:17
* LAMB'S WIFE Re 19:7-9; 21:9
* LOT OF GOD'S INHERITANCE De 32:9
* MOUNT ZION Heb 12:22
* MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOUSE Isa 2:2
* NEW JERUSALEM Re 21:2
* PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH 1Ti 3:15
* PLACE OF GOD'S THRONE Eze 43:7
* PLEASANT PORTION Jer 12:10
* SANCTUARY OF GOD Ps 114:2
* SISTER OF CHRIST So 4:12; 5:2
* SPIRITUAL HOUSE 1Pe 2:5
* SPOUSE OF CHRIST So 4:12; 5:1
* STRENGTH AND GLORY OF GOD Ps 78:61
* SOUGHT OUT, A CITY NOT FORSAKEN Isa 62:12
* THE LORD'S PORTION De 32:9
* TEMPLE OF GOD 1Co 3:16,17
* TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD 2Co 6:16
* VINEYARD Jer 12:10; Mt 21:41
* Christ's love for Joh 10:8,11,12; Eph 5:25-32; Re 3:9
* Loved by believers Ps 87:7; 137:5; 1Co 12:25; 1Th 4:9
* Is prayed for Ps 122:6; Isa 62:6
* Dear to God Isa 43:4
* Safe under his care Ps 46:1,2,5
* Salt and light of the world Mt 5:13
* Militant So 6:10; Php 2:25; 2Ti 2:3; 4:7; Phm 1:2
* God defends Ps 89:18; Isa 4:5; 49:25; Mt 16:18
* God provides ministers for Jer 3:15; Eph 4:11,12
* Is glorious Ps 45:13; Eph 5:27
* Is clothed in righteousness Re 10:8
* Believers continually added to, by the Lord Ac 2:47; 5:14; 11:24
* Unity of Ro 12:5; 1Co 10:17; 12:12; Ga 3:28; Eph 4:4
* Privileges of Ps 36:8; 87:5
* Worship of, to be attended Heb 10:25
* Harmonious fellowship of Ps 133; Joh 13:34; Ac 4:32; Php 1:4; 2:1; 1Jo 3; 4
* Divisions in, to be shunned Ro 16:17; 1Co 1:10; 3:3
* Baptized (immersed) into by one Spirit 1Co 12:13
* Ministers commanded to feed Ac 20:28
* Is edified by the word Ro 12:6; 1Co 14:4,13; Eph 4:15,16; Col 3:16
* The wicked persecute Ac 8:1-3; 1Th 2:14,15
* Not to be despised 1Co 11:22
* Defiling of, will be punished 1Co 3:17
* Extent of, predicted Isa 2:2; Eze 17:2; Da 2:34,35
* See ECCLESIASTICISM
* See JESUS, KINGDOM OF
* See MINISTERS
* See USURPATION, IN ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS

→ UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO De 32:9; Ps 2:6; 9:11,14; 14:7; 20:2; 46:4,5; 48:1,2,11-13; 50:2; 51:18; 53:6; 65:1; 69:35,36; 74:2; 84:1-10; 87:1-6; 99:2; 102:13,14,16,19-21; 110:2; 111:1; 114:2; 125:1; 126:1,2; 129:5; 132:13-16; 133:1-3; 134:1-3; 137:1-6; 149:2; Isa 1:8,27; 2:3; 4:2-6; 12:6; 14:32; 24:23; 27:2,3; 28:5,16; 31:4,5; 33:5,14,20-24; 35:1-10; 40:9-11; 43:1-7,21,25; 44:23; 49:14-17; 52:1,2,7-12; 59:20; 60:1-6,19-21; 61:1-3; 62:1,3,11,12; 66:8,18; Jer 3:14,15; 12:10; 13:11; 31:6,7,12,23; 33:9; 43:7; Joe 2:1,15-17; Zec 8:3; Mt 13:24; 16:18; Ac 7:38; 20:28; 1Co 3:9; 12:28; 15:9; 2Co 8:1; Eph 1:22,23; 2:21,22; 3:15,21; 5:23-27,29; Col 1:24; 1Ti 3:14,15; Heb 3:6; 12:22,23; 1Pe 2:5; Re 1:20; 21:2,11,23 → BACKSLIDDEN Ps 12:1; 80:1-19; Isa 1:2-27; 17:9-11; 43:22-28; Jer 2:5-34; 3:1-25; 8:5-22; 9:1-3; 10:19-22; 18:11-17; 50:4-7; Eze 2:3-5; 5:5-17; 16:23; Ho 2; 4; 6; Joe 2; Am 6; Mt 21:33-46; Mr 12:1-12; Lu 13:6-9; Re 2:1-6,12-25; 3:1-4,14-20
* Backslidings of Israel
* See sub-topic BACKSLIDING OF ISRAEL, under BACKSLIDERS
* See CORRUPTION IN, below
* See BACKSLIDERS

→ BENEFICENCE OF
* See BENEFICENCE
* See GIVING
* See LIBERALITY

→ CHRIST, HEAD OF Ps 118:22,23; Isa 33:22; 55:4; Mt 12:6,8; 21:42,43; 23:8,10; Mr 2:28; 12:10; Lu 6:5; 20:17,18; Joh 13:13; 15:1-8; Ac 2:36; Ro 8:29; 9:5; 1Co 3:11; 11:3; 12:5; Eph 1:10,22,23; 2:20-22; 4:15; 5:23-32; Col 1:13,18; 2:10,19; 3:11; Heb 3:3,6; 1Pe 2:7; Re 1:13; 2:1,9,12,13,18,19; 3:1,7; 5:6; 21:22,23; 22:16
* See JESUS, KINGDOM OF

→ CHRISTIAN, DIVINELY ESTABLISHED Mt 16:15-18; Eph 2:20-22; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; 1Ti 3:15 → CORRUPTION IN Ho 4:9; Mic 3:1-4,9,11; Mt 21:33-41,45; 23:2-7,13-33; 26:14-16,59-68; Mr 12:1-12; 14:10,11; Lu 22:3-6
* See BACKSLIDERS, BACKSLIDING OF ISRAEL

→ DECREES OF Ac 15:28,29; 16:4 → DESIGN OF Ro 3:2; 9:4; Eph 2:20-22; 1Ti 3:15 → DISSENSIONS IN 1Co 1:11-13; 3:3,4; 11:18,19; 2Co 12:20,21 → DUTY OF, TO MINISTERS 1Co 16:10,11; Php 2:29; 4:10-18; 1Th 5:12,13; 1Ti 5:17; Heb 13:7,17
* See MINISTERS

→ GOVERNMENT OF, MOSAIC AND CHRISTIAN De 17:8-13; Mt 16:19; Lu 9:46-48; 22:24-30; Joh 20:23; Ac 1:15,23-26; 6:2,3,5,6; 11:22,29,30; 13:1,3,5; 14:23; 15:1-31; 16:4,5; 20:17,28; 1Co 7:17; 11:2,33,34; 12:5,28; 14:26,33,40; 16:3,16; 2Co 2:2-11; Ga 2:9,10; Eph 4:11,12; Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:1-13; 4:14; 5:1,22; 2Ti 1:6; Tit 1:5; Heb 13:17,24; Jas 5:14,15; 1Pe 5:1-3; 3Jo 1:9,10; Jude 1:22,23
* See MINISTERS, DUTIES OF

→ RULES OF DISCIPLINE IN, MOSAIC AND CHRISTIAN Ge 17:14; Ex 12:15; 30:33,37,38; Le 7:27; 17:8,9; 19:5-8; 20:18; 22:3; Nu 9:13; 15:31; 19:13,20; De 13:12-18; 17:2-13; 19:16-21; 21:1-9,18-21; 22:13-29; Ezr 10:1-44; Mt 16:19; 18:15-18; Joh 9:22,34,35; 16:2; 20:23; Ro 14:1; 15:1-3; 16:17; 1Co 4:19,21; 5:1,2,4-7,11-13; 16:22; 2Co 2:6-8,10,11; 6:14,15; 7:8; 10:1-11; 13:1,2,10; Ga 5:10,12; 6:1; 1Th 5:14; 2Th 3:6,14,15; 1Ti 1:19,20; 5:1,2,19,20; 6:3-5; 2Ti 4:2; Tit 1:13; 2:15; 3:10,11; 2Jo 1:10,11; Jude 1:22,23; Re 22:19
* See EXCOMMUNICATION
* See MINISTERS, DUTIES OF

→ LOVE FOR Ps 102:14; 122:6,9; 128:5,6; 137:1-6; Isa 22:4; 58:12; 62:1,6,7; 66:10,13,14; Jer 9:1; 14:17; 51:50,51; La 2:11; 3:48-51 → MEMBERSHIP IN Isa 44:5; Eze 44:6,7,9; Mt 12:50; 19:14; Mr 10:14; Lu 18:16; Joh 15:5,6; Ac 2:41,47; 4:4; 5:14; 9:35,42; 11:21; Ro 12:4,5; 1Co 3:11-15; 12:12-28; Eph 4:25; 5:30; Php 4:3; Re 21:27
* See RIGHTEOUS, DESCRIBED

→ PROPHECIES CONCERNING PROSPERITY OF Ge 12:3; 49:10; De 32:21; Ps 2:8; 22:27-31; 46:4,10; 65:2; 66:4; 68:31,32; 69:35,36; 72:1-20; 85:10-12; 86:9; 87:4; 89:1-37; 96:1-13; 102:13-16,18-22; 110:1-7; 113:3; 118:24; 126:5,6; 132:15-17; 138:4,5; 145:10,11; Isa 2:2-5; 4:2,3,5,6; 9:1-7; 11:1-10; 18:7; 19:24,25; 23:17,18; 24:16; 25:6-8; 29:18-24; 30:20; 32:1-20; 33:5,13-24; 35:1-10; 40:4-11; 41:17-20; 42:1-12; 44:3-5; 45:6,8,14,23,24; 46:12,13; 49:6-12,18-23; 51:3-16; 52:1-15; 53:10-12; 54:1-17; 55:1-13; 56:3-8; 59:19-21; 60:1-22; 61:1-11; 62:1-12; 65:1-25; 66:7-23; Jer 3:17; 4:2; 16:19-21; 31:7-9,34; 33:22; Eze 17:22-24; 34:23-31; 47:1-12; Da 2:35,44,45; 7:13,14,18,22,27; 12:1-13; Joe 2:26-32; 3:18; Am 9:11,12; Mic 4:1-7; 5:2-15; Hab 2:14; Zep 2:11; 3:9-20; Hag 2:7-9; Zec 2:10,11; 6:15; 8:20-23; 9:1,9-17; 14:8-21; Mal 1:11; Mt 8:11; 11:5,11; 13:16,17,31-33; 16:18; Mr 4:26-32; Lu 7:22; Joh 8:35; 10:16; Ac 2:16-21; Ro 1:5-7; 1Co 15:24-28; Eph 1:10; Heb 12:23,24,27,28; Re 5:10,13,14; 11:15; 12:10; 15:4; 20:4-6; 21:9-27; 22:1-5
* See JESUS, KINGDOM OF

→ LIST OF CONGREGATIONS OF CHRISTIANS
* Antioch Ac 13:1
* Asia 1Co 16:19; Re 1:4
* Babylon 1Pe 5:13
* Cenchrea Ro 16:1
* Caesarea Ac 18:22
* Cilicia Ac 15:41
* Corinth 1Co 1:2
* Ephesus Eph 1:22; Re 2:1
* Galatia Ga 1:2
* Galilee Ac 9:31
* Jerusalem Ac 15:4
* Joppa Ac 9:42
* Judaea Ac 9:31
* Laodicea Re 3:14
* Pergamos Re 2:12
* Philadelphia Re 3:7
* Samaria Ac 9:31
* Sardis Re 3:1
* Smyrna Re 2:8
* Syria Ac 15:41
* Thessalonica 1Th 1:1
* Thyatira Re 2:18

→ UNITY OF Ps 133:1; Joh 10:16; 17:11,21-23; Ro 12:4,5; 1Co 10:17; 12:5,12-27; Ga 3:26-28; Eph 1:10; 2:14-19,21; 3:6,15; 4:4-6,12,13,16,25; Col 3:11,15
* See ECCLESIASTICISM

→ TRIUMPHANT Ga 4:26; Heb 12:22,23; Re 3:12; 21:3,10

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church. Church, n. a place of divine worship, assembly or body of christians, congregation

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Church (chûrch), n. [[OE. chirche, chireche, cherche, Scot. kirk, from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel. kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all fr. Gr. κυριακόν the Lord's house, fr. κυριακόσ concerning a master or lord, fr. κύριοσ master, lord, fr. κυ̑ροσ power, might; akin to Skr. çūra hero, Zend. çura strong, OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf. Kirk.]] 1. 1. A building set apart for Christian worship.
2. 2. A Jewish or heathen temple. Acts xix. 37.
3. 3. A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping together. “When they had ordained them elders in every church.” Acts xiv. 23.
4. 4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed, observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman Catholic church; the Presbyterian church.
5. 5. The collective body of Christians.
6. 6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church of Brahm.
7. 7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community; ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array the power of the church against some moral evil.
Remember that both church and state are properly the rulers of the people, only because they are their benefactors. Bulwer. ☞ Church is often used in composition to denote something belonging or relating to the church; as, church authority; church history; church member; church music, etc. Apostolic church. See under Apostolic. — Broad church. See Broad Church. — Catholic or Universal church, the whole body of believers in Christ throughout the world. — Church of England, or English church, the Episcopal church established and endowed in England by law. — Church living, a benefice in an established church. — Church militant. See under Militant. — Church owl (Zoöl.), the white owl. See Barn owl. — Church rate, a tax levied on parishioners for the maintenance of the church and its services. — Church session. See under Session. — Church triumphant. See under Triumphant. — Church work, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work of a particular church for the spread of religion. — Established church, the church maintained by the civil authority; a state church.