What & Who Is Church

The English word is Church derived from the Greek adjective kuriakos, meaning belonging to the Lord. It was always used in versions of the scriptures to translate the Greek word ekklesia, meaning assembly of people. This Greek word is derived from the verb ekklaleo, meaning to summon or to call out. Its closest equivalent in Latin and in English is convocation, a calling together, an assembly. The Hebrew word QAHAL ha much the same basic meaning of a convoked assembly but in the strongest sense the QAHAL is the assembly of Israel convoked by God. Thus both QAHAL and EKKLESIA has a more general reference to the community of the faithful at large.