Greek word · Strong's G1577

ἐκκλησία

ekklēsía · noun · “church, assembly”

In a sentence

Ekklēsia means assembly or gathering — the New Testament word for “church.” It is not a building but the people God has called out to be his own.

Ekklēsia simply meant a public assembly in the Greek world. The New Testament takes it and uses it for the gathering of God’s people — first local, then universal, called out by Christ to belong to him.

This is why “church” in the Bible is never a building. It is people: those Jesus is building, those gathered in his name, those the Spirit indwells together. The doors of the ekklēsia stand open to anyone who comes to Jesus.

Strong's reference

Definition: a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both)

KJV usage: assembly, church

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Acts 2:47 “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.