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aron · 07-13-2012, 05:36 AM

So Jesus said, "Whenever 2 or 3 are gathered in My name, there I will be in their midst", and "Whenever two of you are in harmony, it will be established."

But according to the reading in Matthew 18, this is different from the church. You have the Lord's name, you have His presence, you have His authority, but you are "not the church".

Okay. So what are these two or three, functioning in His name, His presence, and His authority? Matthew 18 doesn't designate a term. So, maybe, let's call it a "meeting". We are gathered together, so that is a meeting. Problem is, the Bible, both OT/Septuagint and NT, also designates a meeting or assembly as an "ekklesia", the same word we translate as church. So we have a dilemma, and need some new "high peak terminology" to get out of it.

I know! Let's call them "vital groups"! We can create new terminology to designate sub-units that fit our theological schema!

How am I doing, folks? Am I making progress here?

07-13-2012, 05:36 AM	#36
aron Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Natal Transvaal Posts: 5,631	2 or 3 gathered in My name So Jesus said, "Whenever 2 or 3 are gathered in My name, there I will be in their midst", and "Whenever two of you are in harmony, it will be established." But according to the reading in Matthew 18, this is different from the church. You have the Lord's name, you have His presence, you have His authority, but you are "not the church". Okay. So what are these two or three, functioning in His name, His presence, and His authority? Matthew 18 doesn't designate a term. So, maybe, let's call it a "meeting". We are gathered together, so that is a meeting. Problem is, the Bible, both OT/Septuagint and NT, also designates a meeting or assembly as an "ekklesia", the same word we translate as church. So we have a dilemma, and need some new "high peak terminology" to get out of it. I know! Let's call them "vital groups"! We can create new terminology to designate sub-units that fit our theological schema! How am I doing, folks? Am I making progress here? __________________ "Freedom is free. It's slavery that's so horribly expensive" - Colonel Templeton, ret., of the 12th Scottish Highlanders, the 'Black Fusiliers'