BIBLE NAMES FOR BIBLE THINGSWhen the King James translation was published a number of words in the Greek text of the Bible were not translated into English. It is imperative that we correctly translate these words and understand their true meaning before we can understand how to restore the New Testament assembly. Some modern Bible versions do translate some of these terms, but they are inconsistent in their translations. Following are the most important of these words: 1. CHURCH: (ekklesia - translated - church, assembly) The word "ekklesia" means a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly. This word is never at any time used to refer to a building. It always means "assembly." Yet in common usage the word "church" is used to refer to the building where the assembly meets. This results in a false understanding of what the Bible means concerning the assembly. Therefore, we should replace the word "church" with the word "assembly" and refer to the building as the "meeting place."
God's dwelling place, under the Old Covenant, was in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. Now under the New Covenant His dwelling place is within us. He no longer lives in a building. Under the Old Covenant the Jews had one holy day a week. But now, under the New Covenant, God desires that we worship 24 hours a day seven days a week. Every day is holy. God never intended the church building to be a holy place where we go to worship one or two days a week. As long as we think of the church as a holy building, we will not understand the unique teaching of Christ that we are His body, a holy building for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. Three times, in the King James version, "ekklesia" is translated "assembly," otherwise it is always rendered "church." See Acts 19:32,39,41 for the correct use of this word and how it should always be translated.
2. BAPTISM; BAPTIZE: It is most unfortunate that baptism is so misused and misunderstood. The Bible teaching is clear but alternate teachings have confused many people. After the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, God gave a new meaning to immersion [baptism]. Now, under the New Covenant to be immersed [baptized] means to be buried with Christ and raised to a new life. Christians have been crucified with Christ and therefore have died to the world. In their immersion they are buried with Christ and raised with Him to walk in a new way of life. Romans 6:1-23. This burial and resurrection is to be taken literally, not figurative. The Bible presents baptism as the actual burial of a spiritually dead person and his resurrection to a new life.
Next we take up a group of words which refer to the leaders of the assembly. We must have an accurate understanding of the meaning of these words before we can restore the leadership of the New Testament Assembly.
3. APOSTLE: APOSTLESHIP:
Not only were the twelve called "messengers" but there were others who were also called apostles [messengers]: In John 13:16 the word "apostle" is translated "he that is sent." "Most assuredly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him." A better translation would be, "The servant is not greater than his lord; neither is the messenger greater than he that sent him." The word "apostle" has the meaning of one sent with a message. In 2 Corinthians 8:23 and Philippians 2:25 it is correctly translated in the Authorisd Version as "messenger" which see to gain a better understanding of its true meaning. Failure to translate "apostle" results in not understanding what Christ wanted these men to do. They were messengers with the Good News, and in a sense we all are messengers of Christ. It is more a function of a work to be done in the body of Christ, rather than a position to be held in an organization. 4. BISHOP: (episkopos - translated - bishop, overseer.) Meaning - an overseer, superintendent, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly. In 1 Peter 2:25 this word is used of Christ, "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop [Overseer] of your souls." To call Christ our Bishop does not carry much information, but when we call Him the Overseer of our souls we have a better understanding of what God is telling us. In I Timothy 3:1 the term "office of a bishop" is used, but the original Greek text does not have the word "office." The idea that the local assemblies must have a man who serves as the boss is so entrenched that most translations make the same mistake as the King James translators. Christ is the Boss of the assembly and He has purposed that qualified men be overseers of His assembly. Therefore, every time we see the word "bishop" we must substitute the word "overseer." In Acts 20:28, Paul's instruction to the elders at Ephesus, this word is correctly translated "overseer." "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Here the elders are charged with the function of feeding God's sheep which is the assembly of God. (It is interesting that in this verse the translators correctly translated the word "bishop" but not the word "church.") Being an overseer is not holding a position of power, but of being Christ's servant overseeing the work Christ desires to be done.
5. PASTOR: (poimen - Translated - shepherd, pastor.) Meaning - shepherd. When we use terms like pastor and bishop we do not receive a clear picture of their responsibilities! In Ezekiel, chapter 34, God complains that the shepherds were ruling the flock with force and cruelty. God says He expects the shepherds to strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, and seek the lost. Shepherds who rule with force and do not care for the flock will be as harshly judged today as they were in the Old Testament days. This should cause us to be careful about how we shepherd the flock of God. See Ezekiel 34. 6. DEACON (diakonos - Translated - minister, servant, deacon.) This word means a servant, whether as doing servile work, or as an attendant rendering free service. In the New Testament the word is used of domestic servants, the civil rulers, Christ, the followers of Christ in relation to their Lord, the followers of Christ in relation to one another, the servants of Christ in the work of preaching and teaching, and those who serve in the assemblies. In 1 Timothy 3:10 and 13 the term "office of a deacon" is used, but the word "office" is not in the original text. It was added by the translators in a misconception of what a deacon did. Being a deacon does not refer to an office in the assembly but to the function of being a servant. Jesus said, "...Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." (Matthew 20:26,27) In this verse the word "minister" is elsewhere translated "deacon" and the word "servant" means a slave or bond servant. This is the true meaning of being a "deacon." It is not a position on a church board but a function within the assembly. 7. PROPHET: (prophetes - Always translated - prophet.) Meaning - one who speaks forth or openly, a proclaimer of a divine message. We do not have a good word in English to translate this word. The prophet's work is to deliver God's messages and interpret His will. Usually we think of a prophet as one who foretells the future, but predicting the future is only part of his job and not his major function. Also, in some religious groups the term prophet is greatly misused, therefore, the term "preacher" is perhaps a better translation for this function in today's assembly. Actually it includes anyone who proclaims the truth about Christ.
8. EVANGELIST: (euaggelistes - Translated - evangelist.) Meaning - a bringer of glad tidings. Ephesians 4:11 uses five terms for assembly leaders and four of these are not translated. The correct translation of this verse should be, "And he appointed some to be, messengers; and some, preachers; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Ephesians 4:11,12. When translated like this we begin to see the true function of the leaders of the assembly, and we can begin to truly restore the New Testament assembly. Following are some other terms which were not translated, yet are important for our discussion in understanding the New Testament assembly.
9. CHRIST (Christos - Always translated - Christ) Meaning - anointed.
10. SATAN (satanas - Translated Satan.) Meaning - adversary.
11. DEVIL It is most unfortunate that the King James translators used the word "devil" for two different Greek words, which have entirely different meanings. (diabolos - Translated - devil, false accuser, slanderer, and daimon - Translated - devils) 12. DEMON (daimon - Translated devil in the King James.) In the New Testament it means and should be translated "evil spirit." There is one Devil but many demons. Demons are the spiritual agents acting in all idolatry. The idol itself is nothing, but every idol has a demon associated with it who induces idolatry, with its worship and sacrifices. "What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have communion with demons. You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons." 1 Corinthians 10:19-21. "The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn't repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn't worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk." Revelation 9:20.
Looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 WEB
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