Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Assembly
Subjects in this Topic:
a-sem´blı̄ (קהל, kÌ£aÌ„haÌ„l; ἐκκλησιÌα, ekkleÌ„sıÌa): The common term for a meeting of the people called together by a crier. It has reference therefore to any gathering of the people called for any purpose whatsoever (; the King James Version; the King James Version; , ). The solemn assemblies of the Jews were their feasts or religious gatherings of any kind (). The word paneÌ„Ìguris, “a general festal assembly†(), is transferred from the congregation of the people of Israel to the Christian church of which the congregation of Israel was a figure. In the same passage, ekkleÌ„sıÌa has the sense of calling, summoning. In classical Greek ekkleÌ„sıÌa was the name for the body of free citizens summoned by a herald. In this sense the church calls all the world to become identified with it. It denotes the whole body of believers, all who are called. Or it may refer to a particular congregation or local church (sunagoÌ„ÌgeÌ„, “synagogue†the Revised Version, margin). See CALLED; CHURCH; CONGREGATION.