"Church" is not in the Bible!

Sons to Glory! · 10-18-2019, 12:02 PM

Why do translations use the word "church"!?!? It is a really bad substitution for the Greek word "ekklesia," which means "assembly" or "called-out gathering." Translator William Tyndale was adamant not to follow the King James translators in substituting the word church, and used the much more accurate "congregation."

King James wanted it in there, evidently, because calling Christian gatherings "congregations" might infer something of an independent body and he wanted to have better control of these. The original Old English/German word came from "kirche," meaning The Lord's House, or building. James could also much better control physical property, which "church" implied.

From there it was a slippery slope and many today therefore equate the physical building with church, which is just sad. So why do current translators - and the rest of us - continue this highly egregious error today?

10-18-2019, 12:02 PM	#1
Sons to Glory! Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,617	"Church" is not in the Bible! Why do translations use the word "church"!?!? It is a really bad substitution for the Greek word "ekklesia," which means "assembly" or "called-out gathering." Translator William Tyndale was adamant not to follow the King James translators in substituting the word church, and used the much more accurate "congregation." King James wanted it in there, evidently, because calling Christian gatherings "congregations" might infer something of an independent body and he wanted to have better control of these. The original Old English/German word came from "kirche," meaning The Lord's House, or building. James could also much better control physical property, which "church" implied. From there it was a slippery slope and many today therefore equate the physical building with church, which is just sad. So why do current translators - and the rest of us - continue this highly egregious error today? __________________ LC Berkeley 70s; LC Columbus OH 80s; An Ekklesia in Scottsdale 98-now Praise the Lord - HE'S GOT THIS!