When did the "Church" Begin?

Hello HARK!

I believe scripture supports it starting with Adam and Eve, Abraham etc and all those individuals who believe and follow Gods' Word. The Greek word for Church however is to the collective body of believers. God's Church or ISRAEL in the new covenant is defined as all those who believe and follow God's Word *ROMANS 9:6-8. Gentile believers are now grafted in according to ROMANS 11:13-27. If we are not a part of God's ISRAEL in the new covenant then we have no part in God's new covenant promise (see HEBREWS 8:10-12 from JEREMIAH 31:31-34).

Interestingly the Greek word Church though is only used in the new testament.

Church ἐκκλησία; ekklēsia From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.

So specifically perhaps it is the collective body of believers in the new testament that believe and follow Gods Word

God bless

PS, sorry if I am not to post here I came via another link and just realized after posting that this is a closed section.

I'll edit it. Sorry.

HARK! said:

According to Stephen, it goes back at least as far as the time of Moses.

(CLV) Ac 7:38
This is he who came to be in the ecclesia in the wilderness with the messenger, who speaks to him in mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who receives the living oracles to give to you,

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Parashat Lech Lecha TLV
Abram Obeys the Calling
12 Then Adonai said to Abram,
Get going out from your land,
and from your relatives,
and from your father’s house,
to the land that I will show you.
2 My heart’s desire is to make you into a great nation, to bless you,
to make your name great so that you may be a blessing.
3 My desire is to bless those who bless you,
but whoever curses you I will curse,
and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.
Hebrews 6: TLV
13 Now when God made His promise to Abraham—since He could swear by no one greater,
He swore by Himself,
14 saying, “Surely I will bless you, and surely I will multiply you.”

17 In the same way God, determining to point out more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchanging nature of His purpose, guaranteed it with an oath.
18 So by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for
refuge might have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.

2 Corinthians 1: TLV
20 For in Him all the promises of God are “Yes.” Therefore also through Him is the “Amen” by us,
to the glory of God.
21 Now it is God who establishes us with you in Messiah. He anointed us,
22 set His seal on us, and gave us the Ruach in our hearts as a pledge.

Running2win said:

IMO, as far as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the gifts that go with it, in this church age, it was at Pentecost.

But as far as being born again by faith, it's been going on since after Adams fall. We are all one in the house of God. Abraham looked for the Heavenly Jerusalem, David knew he would dwell in the house of the Lord forever, Job knew where he was going after he died.

Hebrews 12,
22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

Job 30,
23“For I know that You will bring me to death
And to the house of meeting for all living.

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Is that a church doctrine? Have you read and affirmed the prerequisite, pinned post in this section of the forums, and affirmed your abiding with the SOP of this particular section?

LoveGodsWord said:

Hello HARK!

I believe scripture supports it starting with Adam and Eve, Abraham etc and all those individuals who believe and follow Gods' Word. The Greek word for Church however is to the collective body of believers. God's Church or ISRAEL in the new covenant is defined as all those who believe and follow God's Word *ROMANS 9:6-8. Gentile believers are now grafted in according to ROMANS 11:13-27. If we are not a part of God's ISRAEL in the new covenant then we have no part in God's new covenant promise (see HEBREWS 8:10-12 from JEREMIAH 31:31-34).

Interestingly the Greek word Church though is only used in the new testament.

Church ἐκκλησία; ekklēsia From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.

So specifically perhaps it is the collective body of believers in the new testament that believe and follow Gods Word

God bless

PS, sorry if I am not to post here I came via another link and just realized after posting that this is a closed section.

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Church age? what is that? Do MJ teach this?

visionary said:

Church age? what is that? Do MJ teach this?

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Hi Sis Visionary, sorry I do not understand your question. What is MJ? What do you mean Church age?

Isaiah 51:
1 Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness,
You who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.
2 Look to Abraham your father,
And to Sarah who bore you;
For I called him alone,
And blessed him and increased him.

Before the mixed multitude joined, it was a family. Would a family be considered an ecclesia/church?

chunkofcoal said:

Before the mixed multitude joined, it was a family. Would a family be considered an ecclesia/church?

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Yes. Solid families make for solid congregations. The Torah-observant have always believed that whole-heartedly.

LoveGodsWord said:

Hi Sis Visionary, sorry I do not understand your question. What is MJ? What do you mean Church age?

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You are in MJ forum [Messianic Judaism]. We call gatherings of believers synagogue if in a building. Church is Greek to us. We are of the Hebrew flavor of faith.

visionary said:

You are in MJ forum [Messianic Judaism]. We call gatherings of believers synagogue if in a building. Church is Greek to us. We are of the Hebrew flavor of faith.

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Yes thanks Visionary. Does not MJ believe in the new testament which is Greek? The Greek definition of "church" is not the building but the people who have been "called out" to believe and follow follow God.

God bless

LoveGodsWord said:

Yes thanks Visionary. Does not MJ believe in the new testament which is Greek? The Greek definition of "church" is not the building but the people who have been "called out" to believe and follow follow God.

God bless

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Long story, amazing difference between "called out" and "church".

HARK! said:

You are in the right place to tell that story. I'd like to read it; if you would like to take the time to tell it.

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That story might offend guests and others.