ἘΚΚΛΗΣΊΑ: ἐκκλησία, -ας, ἡ [ (< ἐκ-καλέω), [in LXX chiefly for קָהָל, otherwise for one of its cogn. forms ;] ] 1. . prop., an assembly of citizens regularly convened (in Thuc., ii, 22, opp. to σύλλογος, a concourse): Ac 19:32, 39, 41.
2. . In LXX of the assembly, congregation, community of Israel (De 4:10 23:2, al.): Ac 7:38, He 2:12 (LXX).
3. . NT, esp. of an assembly or company of Christians, a (the) church; (a) . of gatherings for worship: I Co 11:18 14:19, 34, 35; (b) . of local communities: Ac 8:3, I Co 4:17; with name added, Ac 8:1, Ro 16:1, I Th 1:1, al.; pl., Ac 15:41, I Co 7:17; τ. Χριστοῦ, Ro 16:16; τ. Ἀσίας, I Co 16:19; τ. ἁγίων, I Co 14:33; εἰπὸν τ. ἐκκλησίᾳ, Mt 18:17 (but v. Hort, Ecclesia, 10); of a house-congregation (DB, i, 431a), Ro 16:5, I Co 16:19, Col 4:15, Phm 2; (c) . of the whole body of Christians: Mt 16:18, I Co 12:28, Eph 1:22, Phl 3:6, al.; τ. θεοῦ, Ac 20:28 (Κυρίου, T, R, mg.), I Co 15:9, Ga 1:13, I Ti 3:15; ἐ. προτοτόκων ἀπογεγραμμένων ἐν οὐρανοῖς, He 12:23.
SYN.: συναγωγή, q.v. (v. Tr., Syn., §i; DB, i, 426; Hort, Ecclesia, esp. 4ff., 107ff.; Hamilton, People of God, ii, 37ff.; reff. s.vv. "Church," "Congregation," in DB and DCG; Cremer, 332).