Images of the Church

Images of the Church

Ecclesia/Church
- The Greek word for a public assembly
- Citizens would be called out to an ecclesia
- Greeks used it for voting/draft/decisions
- Jews may have used the term for city elders

The Bible provides a number of metaphors when talking about the Christian ‘ecclesia’ that help us to better understand what it means to be God’s people. While keeping in mind that no metaphor is perfect, we can learn a lot from these ‘images’ of the church.

Aliens/Foreigners
- Comparatively strange customs (1 Peter 2:11)
- Long for their true home (Philippians 3:20)

Branches of a vine/tree
- Grows to maturity (Matt 13:32)
- Meant to produce fruit (John 15:2, 8)
- Must remain connected to the vine to live (John 15:4)
- Made up of individual branches (John 15:5)
- Individual branches may be cut off (John 15:6, Romans 11:20)

Bride to be
- Belongs to the bridegroom (John 3:29)
- Pure/virgin (2 Cor. 11:2)
- Makes herself ready, in beauty (Rev. 19:7-8, 21:2)
- Wants many to come to celebration (Rev. 21:17)

Temple/Building/Stones/Pillars
- Built on foundation (Eph. 2:21)
- Owned by god (1 Cor. 6:19)
- Home to a god (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19, 2 Cor. 6:16, Eph. 2:22)
- Will be defended by god (1 Cor. 3:17)
- Under construction, needs perpetual maintenance (Romans 15:20, 1 Peter 2:5)
- As strong as the quality of materials (1 Cor. 3:9-15)
- Has staff needing compensation (1 Cor. 9:13-14)

Sheep/Flock
- Lost w/o a shepherd (Matt 9:36, 26:31, John 21:16-18, 1 Peter 2:25, 5:2)
- Distinct from goats (Matt 25:31-33)
- Listen/Follow the shepherd (John 10:3-4)
- Cared for by shepherd (John 10:9, 11-13)
- Have predators (Acts 20:29)
- Sometimes sacrificial (Romans 8:36)

City
- Very noticeable/influential (Matt 5:14)
- Large in number (Gal. 4:26-27, Hebrews 12:22)
- Designed by architect (Hebrews 11:10)
- Targeted by enemy (Revelation 20:9)
- Defended by God (Revelation 20:9)
- Diverse population (Rev. 21:12, 14)

Priesthood
- Holy (1 Peter 2:5)
- Make sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5)
- In full-time service to God (Rev. 1:6, 5:10)

Body
- A unified whole (Rom. 12:4, 1 Cor. 10:17, 12:12-13, Ephesians 2:15-16, 3:6, 4:4-6, Col. 3:15)
- Diverse parts w/different functions (Rom. 12:4-6, 1 Cor. 12:14, Eph. 4:7, )
- A complex system designed by God (1 Cor. 12:18)
- Interdependent (1 Cor. 12:22, 25-26)
- Submitted to the head (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:22-24)
- Growing to maturity (Eph. 4:12-16)
- Nurtured/Cared-for by head (Eph. 5:29)
- Must remain connected to head (Col. 2:19)
- Dead w/o the Spirit (James 2:26)

Household/Family
- Share in the persecution of the head (Matt 10:25)
- Cannot survive division (Matt 24:45)
- Care for one another (Galatians 6:10, 1 Tim 3:5)
- Unified by blood (Eph. 2:13, 19)
- Share a common name (Eph. 3:15, 1 Peter 4:16)
- Unique code of conduct (1 Tim 3:15)
- Deals with its internal problems (1 Peter 4:17)

Soldiers, Army
- Put on armor (Ephesians 6:10-18)
- Obeys commanding officer (2 Timothy 2:4)
- Endures hardship (2 Timothy 2:3)

Servants/Slaves/Workers
- Have been purchased (1 Cor. 7:23)
- Submit to the will of the authority (Romans 6:18, Eph. 6:6, Philippians 3:4-7
- Lack of freedom (1 Peter 2:16)

Kingdom/Nation/Israel
- A distinguished group of people (1 Peter 2:9)
- Distinct set of rules/laws (Galatians 6:16)
- People share a common bond (Eph. 2:11-13, 3:6)

Children/Child/Son/Adopted
- Become so by being born (John 1:13)
- Loved by parents (Ephesians 5:1)
- Realize their dependence on parents (Matt 18:3-4)
- Accept simple revelation (John 1:12, Luke 10:21)
- Imitate their parents (John 8:40, Philippians 2:15)
- Legal heirs (Romans 8:17)

Salt
- Used to preserve valuable resources (Matt 5:13)

Light/Lamp
- Makes darkness disappear (Matt 5:16)