What is the meaning of the Church or “ _Ecclesia_ Εκκλησία”?

Before Christ, the Greeks used the word ecclesia to refer to the gathering of citizens with their rulers for a general assembly. The same meaning was used in the Old Testament when it was said, “I have hated the assembly of evildoers” (Ps. 26:5) and in the New Testament when it was said, “for the assembly was confused” (Acts 19:32; 39–40). Most of the time, when expressions like “the church of the faithful” or “saints” were used in the Old Testament, it was to refer to the people of God when they assemble to glorify God or to worship Him

whether inside the temple or outside of it. In the New Testament, it was used to refer to the assembly of the faithful either in a specific city (like the church of Jerusalem or Alexandria) or to refer to all the faithful all over the world since Adam and until the second coming of Christ.

Christ’s Church is the body of Christ. So where Christ, the Head of the body, is, there the Church will be also. He is the Church’s Head and Savior who sanctifies her, nourishes her and cherishes her (Eph. 5:26, 29) and the believers are counted as “members of His body” (Eph. 5:30) and she is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). The synonyms for the word “Church” include “kingdom of God” (2 Tim. 4:18), “The heavenly kingdom” and “the house of God” (1 Tim. 3:15) where believers realize that they are the people of God, who enjoy His salvation and sanctification and where they struggle towards perfection for the glory of God through the work of the Holy Trinity and enjoy being “partakers in the divine nature” (1 Pet. 1:4). The Lord Jesus says, “Do not fear little flock for it is your fathers’ good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The Church is also called “the house of God” (Heb. 10:20), built on “the foundation of the apostles and the prophets” (Eph. 2:20). This house is built using living stones which are the believers who offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable before God through Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:21). She is also called “ a chaste virgin to Christ ” (2 Cor. 11:2) for He “loved the Church and gave Himself for her, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25–27). She is also called the Bride of Christ (John 3:29; Rev. 21:2, 9; 22:17). He is the Church’s Bridegroom and the Bridegroom of every soul who enters into a personal relationship with Him.