The Origin of the Church

A lecture on the origin of the church.

When the New Testament uses the term “ecclesia” with reference to a community of God’s people, it always and only refers to one of three things: (1) A particular assembly of Jesus Christ on earth, such as, “the church of God which is at Corinth”; (2) Particular assemblies of Jesus Christ addressed collectively, such as, “the churches of Galatia”; (3) The one assembly of Jesus Christ that will be gathered in glory, such as that “glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” The question answered in this study: When did Jesus establish His church?