[Sons to Glory!]

Originally Posted by aron

Did the 'ekklesia' of Acts 19:41 which was dismissed by the town clerk consider itself to the the "genuine church in the city" in Ephesus? Did the 'ekklesia' that Paul wrote greeting to in Romans 16:5 consider itself the "genuine church in that city"? If so, why didn't Paul call it as such?

We tend to read a 19th and 20th-century meaning back on a 1st- and 2nd-century text, and these are the kinds of presuppositions we need hold in order to ask the kind of questions we're asking.

I'd say, rather, that a "genuine church" doesn't consider whether it's the "genuine church" or not, simply because it has neither time nor inclination for such fancies. Instead it's focused on Jesus Christ, as Lord, Saviour, and Ruler of the kings of the earth. There's nothing else to consider. Everything else that comes into being comes from this one singularity (Heb 1:2; John 1:3). There's no need for our divided attention. Focus on "the one thing" and everything else is taken care of (Luke 10:42). Focus on anything else and the subtle one has room for his machinations. The "house of mirrors" begins - what is 'genuine' and 'proper' and so forth.

The Body doesn't focus on the Body - it's focused on the Head. The Bride doesn't consider itself but the Bridegroom. The only reality is in Jesus Christ, nothing else; nothing else is worth even considering.

There's no "ground" nor "ministry" nor "present truth" nor "present move" nor anything else. Jesus is the Minister of the Age. Jesus is the Faithful Witness. There is no other. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews said, "We see Jesus" (2:8). When you see Jesus there's nothing else.

Perhaps the very best thing I've read concerning this whole conversation!