The Church
The Church—Ecclesia in Greek—is a word that means “assembly.” What is meant by it is the “assembly of believers” who are justified by the grace of Christ, and who enter together into the communion of the one Body, the communion of the one Holy Sacraments, and the communion of the one Faith, under the care of legitimate shepherds.
One Body:
The Church as an assembly, and as one Body, has many references in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul.
He says: “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom 12:4–5).
Likewise: “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Cor 12:26–27).
The Church in this state is the Body of Christ, and He is the Head…
The Apostle Paul says about the Lord Christ: “And He is the head of the body, the church” (Col 1:18). See also Col 2:19; Eph 4:15; Eph 1:22; 5:23.
He also says: “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body” (Eph 1:22–23); “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones” (Eph 5:30); “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church” (Eph 5:23).
See Eph 5:23; Eph 1:22–23; Eph 4:15.
The Church is the assembly of those baptized with one baptism. They are those who have received sonship to God and live a holy life, because the Body of Christ is holy.
Therefore, anyone who does not walk in this holy life is isolated by the Church and separated from the assembly of believers—Excommunicated.
As the Scripture says: “Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person” (1 Cor 5:13).
The Believer Is a Church:
Just as the assembly of believers is called a church, so also each individual within it is a small church. He is a temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in him.
The believer resembles the church in the following:
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The church is consecrated with the Myron and sanctified to the Lord; likewise, the believer is anointed with the Myron with the same holy anointing.
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From the church rise praises and prayers; likewise, from the believer rise praises and prayers.
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In the church the sacrifice is offered and incense is raised; likewise, the believer says with David the Prophet: “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Ps 141:2).
As for the Church in terms of time:
It is divided into the Church Militant on earth and the Church Triumphant in heaven, which has preceded, fought the good fight, and finally has been laid up for it the crown of righteousness.
Likewise, we may say the Church of the Old Testament and the Church of the New Testament. Some divide it in another way with respect to the Law and Grace.
The Church Between the Law and Grace:
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The Church of the Natural Law:
From Adam to Moses. -
The Church of the Written Law:
From Moses to Christ. -
The Church of Grace:
From Christ until now…
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Kiraza Magazine – Seventh Year (Issue Two) 9-1-1976
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