Play

The Church In Paul’s Writings (1)

Wayne Galloway
09/20/20 - Sunday Evening Worship

The Church In Paul’s Writings (1)

 

Introduction:

 

1.  We have come to that part of our study to give consideration to the church in the epistles.

2.  Beginning with this lesson we will study about the church in the writings of Paul.  We will devote several lessons to the church in Paul and then follow with studies in Hebrews, James, 1, 2 Peter, and finally Revelation.

3.  Given this plan, when completed we should have a clear understanding of the church as it is revealed in the N.T.  Already we have studied through the synoptic gospels, the writings of John (except Revelation), and Acts.

4.  As we consider the church in Paul’s writings we will learn about the scope of the church, that is the view that Paul takes of it.  We will study about worship (including baptism and the Lord’s Supper) and give consideration to the government of the church.

5.  There is a great deal of material to consider so I plan 5 lessons to devoted to the writings of Paul.

6.  In this lesson let’s try to get an overall view of Paul’s perception of the church.

 

Discussion:

 

I.  There are two main ways in which Paul refers to the church.

 

    A.  In most of his epistles it is the community of believers in a specified locality (e.g. 1

         Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1).

         1.  In Galatians he writes to “the churches of Galatia” (1:2).

         2.  In other cases he gives additional description, e.g. the “saints in Rome” (Rom.

              1:7); Philippi (Phil. 1:1); Colossae  (Col. 1:2).

         3.  Paul’s perception, like in the gospels and Acts, is that the church is the people,

              who are believers in Jesus Christ who are sanctified or set apart as saints in a

              special relationship with God.

         4.  There is no suggestion of an institutional entity.

         5.  The only officials mentioned in these local groups are the elders and deacons (cf.

               Phil. 1:1).

         6.  There is no mention of bishops, cardinals, popes, synods, etc. over several

               congregations.  That no letter to such an office exists is conspicuous in its

               absence.

    B.  The second sense in which Paul uses the term “ekklesia” is of the universal church

          (Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18).

          1.  Again, it is composed of individual Christians, not congregations.

          2.  There is no evidence of grouping congregations together in an organizational

               entity like a diocese, a synod, or a district.  Such words are foreign to the

               language of Paul’s writings.  (As you are talking with others ask how their

               religious organization is organized.  Observe that such terms are not used in

                    Paul’s writings.  Ask what they make of this?)

 

II.  The nature of the church in Paul’s thinking is reflected in the images he uses to describe it.

 

     A.  The expression “in church” is used several times in 1 Corinthians (11:18; 14:19, 28,

           35) where it refers to an assembly of believers.

           1.  There is no suggestion of a special building.  The idea of a church as

                representing a building is totally alien to the N.T.

           2.  There is evidence of churches in a house (cf. Rom. 16:5, 10, 11).  In all probability

                this does not refer to the place where they met, but to the people who met and

                their association with a particular household (cf. 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Philemon

                2).

     B.  Paul refers to the church as a body.

           1.  In Romans Paul uses this image to show how different gifts can exist within the

                one church (12:4-8).  This illustrates the unity of the church and suggests that

                uniformity is not necessary.

           2.  In 1 Cor. the body serves as an illustration of the relationship between Christ and

                believers (12:12ff).

                a.  It suggests the closeness of the body between members, diversity of spiritual

                     gifts notwithstanding.

                b.  The various parts are necessary to each other if the whole is to function

                     efficiently.  It excludes individualism, but leaves room for the use of individual

                     abilities in interdependence.

                c.  Stress on the unity of the church is seen in the account of the Lord’s Supper

                     in 1 Cor. 10:17:  “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body,

                     for we all partake of the one bread.”  The idea of the common sharing of the

                     Lord’s Supper establishes the principle of the essential oneness of the

                     members of the community.

            3.  In Ephesians and Colossians the church is identified with the body of Christ

                 (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:12, 15-16; 5:23; Col. 1:18, 24).

                 a.  Christ as head is clearly the controlling factor.

                 b.  He has the preeminence (Col. 1:18) and is the source of the church’s life and

                       fullness.

                 c.  His headship is a unifying factor (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:15).  Unification is

                      accomplished through the cross (Eph. 2:16), which overcame the enmity

                      between Jews and Gentiles and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall

                      (Eph. 2:14).

            4.  While 1 Corinthians emphasizes unity in the local church, Ephesians and

                 Colossians emphasizes unity in the universal church.

 

Conclusion:

 

1.  For Paul, the totality of believers constitute the body of Christ (1 Cor. 6:15).

2.  Paul considers the church as always related to its head, which is Christ.

3.  For Paul, Christians are members of the body of Christ.