A church is not a synagogue. Synagogue is not a church.
Posted Nov 28, 2003 3:51 PM
The word “church [ekklesia],” according to Young’s Analytical Concordance, is never found in the O.T. It is used only 3 times in the four gospels, and are all found in Matthew. The first time in Matthew 16:18 after Peter’s confession: “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” Jesus said to him: “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock [the truth of that confession as revealed by the Father to Peter] I [Jesus] will [still in the future] build my church [ekklesia].” Synagogues were already in existence. The church [ekklesia] of Jesus was not, at that time. Jesus used this word again twice in Matthew 18:17 as he instructed his followers how to resolve a conflict within a local church [which would be established shortly afterward].
We read of the establishment of the first church in Acts 2:47, “… And the Lord added to the church [ekklesia] daily such as should be saved (KJV).” In Acts 2, there were about three thousand baptized on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem (vs. 41). No knowledgeable students of the Bible would dispute the fact that the church [ekklesia], spoken by Jesus in Matthew 16:18, was actually fulfilled and established on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
What then is the “church” [ekklesia] in the wilderness mentioned in Acts 7:38 by Stephen? He spoke of the congregation of the Jews in Exodus. Both KJV and ASV translated the word “ekklesia” here as the “church,” but none of the newer translations translate it as the “church.” In stead, the words: “congregation, or assembly” is chosen as a preferred rendition. Both the NKJ and NAS scholars must have realized that their original translation was not theologically correct, because the “church” was not established at the time of the Exodus, or existed in the wilderness or at any time in the Old Testament. Both NKJ and NAS have since revised this passage to read: “the congregation” in the wilderness, referring to the assembly of the Jews who were called out of Egypt. They were “congregating” in the wilderness. They were not the same as, or to be confused with, the “church” of Jesus Christ as mentioned in Matthew 16:18, or elsewhere throughout the New Testament.
Are there any other references in the NT in which the word “ekklesia” is used or translated to refer to “a gathering of people” other than the “assembly or congregation of the baptized believers of Jesus?” The answer is, “Yes.” In Acts 19:32, 39, and 41 the word “ekklesia” is used three times to refer to a secular assembly of people, unrelated to any church assembly. Any body of people who are “called out” to assemble for a common purpose, therefore, is an “ekklesia.” Nevertheless, Jesus’ “ekklesia” is new, unique, and different! Why? Jesus’ “ekklesia” is a body of people indwelled by his Spirit. The Spirit of Jesus inhabiting their lives is what makes his “ekklesia” new, unique and different. Without the Spirit of Christ, all “ekklesia” are the same as the assembly of the Jews in the wilderness (Acts 7:38) or the mob in Ephesus (Acts 19: 23-41).
We see, therefore, that, not all “ekklesia” is, or should be translated as “a church.” Both KJV and ASV translators have made a subtle theological error when they translated Acts 7:38 as the “church” in the wilderness. A correct literal translation should be: the “assembly, gathering, or congregation” in the wilderness. To render this passage as the “church” in the wilderness is to make an interpretation, not a literal translation. And this “interpretation” is not doctrinally or theologically correct. As noted, both the New King James and New American Standard versions have made the correction by using the word: “congregation” instead of “church” in the wilderness.
What about the word “synagogue”? Again, according to Young Analytical Concordance, the word “synagogue” appears only once in the Old Testament in KJV and ASV, in Psalm 74:8. The Hebrew word here is “moed,” an appointed place of meeting, or an appointed gathering. This same word appears four more times in the Old Testament, i.e., Lamentations 1:15, 2:6; Ezekiel 44:24; Zephaniah 3:18. This word, “moed,” is translated as follows:
In Lam. 1:15, an assembly (KJV, NKJ, RSV), a solemn assembly (ASV), an appointed time (NAS), a set time (AMP), an army (NIV). In Lam. 2:6, places of assembly (KJV), place of appointed festivals (AMP), appointed meeting place (NAS), place of meeting (NIV). In Ezek. 44:24, this same word is translated as: assemblies (KJV), appointed meetings (NKJ), appointed feasts (ASV, NAS, RSV, AMP, NIV). In Zeph. 3:18, it is translated as: solemn assembly (KJV, AMP), appointed feasts (NAS, NIV). Based upon these references, we now have a decent collection of the renditions of the word “moed.” Notice that none of the translations used the word: “synagogue” in these passages. Why? Synagogue was not in existence in the Old Testament time! God never instructed or authorized Israel to build a synagogue. Tabernacle, temple, appointed festivals, solemn assembly, assembly? Yes. Synagogue? No.
Why then did KJV and ASV translate this word [moed] in Psalm 74: 8 as “synagogue,” but none of the modern English versions did? My guess is: the translators of the KJV and ASV must have looked at the context of Psalm 74 and concluded that this Psalm was written after the sanctuary of the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 B.C. They must have further assumed that synagogues were in existence already. That assumption could be right, or could be wrong. But to render the word: “moed” as “synagogue” is not translating but interpreting. To interpret is to inject or insert one’s thinking of how a word or phrase should be understood by the readers or the audience. The translators of the New King James and New American Standard must have pondered on this point and decided to replace their interpretation with a more suitable translation. Now both the NKJ and NAS use the words: “meeting places” of God in the land instead of “synagogue” in Psalm 74:8. So there! It can be said, therefore, that both words: “synagogue” and “church” are never found in the Old Testament in any recent, contemporary, English versions or translations.
(Incidentally, those who advocate that the KJV is the only authorized and a perfect translation for the English speaking Christians should take note. KJV is a superb translation. It has served God’s purpose well, but it is dated, and it is not a perfect translation, as we have uncovered two incorrect renditions here. To translate a collection of 66 books correctly, accurately, and communicatively is an enormously complex undertaking. Even the best of the best fails from time to time. There are many good translations and interpretations today, and there are also many “easy to understand” paraphrases that are par excellent. They all are beneficial to our personal growth as we use them in our comparative investigations for the truth in God’s word, and not having to depend on others to spoon-feed us, or do the thinking for us. I have not found, however, a perfect translation of the Bible, in any language. If anybody knows of one, please tell me about it, ASAP!)
Again, continuing on with the references from Young Analytical Concordance, we find that the Greek word: “synagogue” appears in the New Testament several times in the Four Gospels and the book of Acts; none in the Epistles, and twice in Revelation.
Jesus taught the Jews in the synagogues (Mat. 4:23, 9:3, 12:9, 13:54; Mark 1:21, 39, 3:1, 6:2; Luke 4; 6:6, 13:10, John 6:59, 18:20.) He stood up in a synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read from Isaiah and told them the truth about himself (Luke 4:16-27). What was their reaction? “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, and drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way” (vs. 28-30). Jesus also warned his disciples that they would be scourged and beaten in the synagogues (Mat. 10:17, 23:34; Mark 13:9; Luke 12:11, 21:12.).
Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, preached Christ to the Jews in a synagogue in Jerusalem. He encountered violent opposition from members of the synagogue. They seized him and eventually stoned him to death (Acts 6:8-7:60). The Apostle Paul, shortly after his conversion, went into the local synagogues in Damascus to preach and teach about Christ to the Jews. They conspired to kill him. He escaped by night, being lowered in a basket through an opening in the city wall (Acts 9:17-24). Paul and Barnabas preached Christ in the synagogues in various cities (Acts 13:1-14:28). Some Jews believed; some did not. Those Jews who did not believe incited riot against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. Paul and Silas preached Christ to the Jews in a synagogue in Thessalonica. Some were persuaded; some were not (Acts 17:1-15). The Jews who did not believe ran them out of town and followed them to Berea and did the same thing there.
Paul went on to Athens, then on to Corinth, with fear and trembling (Act 18:9; 1Cor. 2:3). Nevertheless, every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue there, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks to believe that Christ is their Messiah and Savior (Acts 18:4). The Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court and charged him as God’s lawbreaker (vv. 12,13). Paul fled to Ephesus. There, he “entered the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way” (Acts 19:8,9).
In Revelation2: 9, Jesus comforted the church in Smyrna: “I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but a ‘synagogue of Satan.’ Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days…”
In Revelation 3: 9, Jesus comforted the church in Philadelphia: “I will make those who are of the ‘synagogue of Satan,’ who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars. I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you…”
There are also Greek verb forms (of the noun: “synagogue”), which are found in the New Testament as well. These words are: sunago (to bring, to assemble, or lead together; Mat. 26:57, 28:12, John 20:19, Acts 4: 31), sunalizomai (to throng together; Acts 1:4), sunerchomai (to come together; Mark 14:53), episunagoge (assembling together, gathering together; Heb. 10:25). The assemblies here do or do not necessarily refer to a church gathering.
A church does not have to gather together in order to be a church. Any body indwelled by the Spirit of Christ is a church, individually or collectively, in an assembly, gather together or not (Col. 1:24). A church is the temple of God, individually or collectively (1Cor. 6:19) Any individual, any assembly, any congregation, any gathering of people, if not inhabited by the Spirit of God, of Christ, or the Holy Spirit is not a church. They do not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9,10). A church is not a “Christian synagogue, a synagogue of Christ, or Christ’s synagogue,” and a synagogue is not a church. Let no man profane that which is sanctified, set apart, redeemed, and made holy by the blood of Christ, common again.
“Let us no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:14-16).
Since we claim to be the true church, let us show forth among us the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22,23). “Let us rid ourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from our lips [our key boards, and our web sites]. Do not lie to each other, since we have taken off our old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of our Creator” (Col. 3:8-10).
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18). If we keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or we will be destroyed by each other (Gal. 5:15). “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34). “He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…” (Rev. 2:7).
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...........................THE BOOK
What Happened At the Madison Church of Christ?
There are thousands of churches being taken over across America.
This book is only about one of those churches. It's about the Madison
Church Of Christ. By studying the methods used here along with the resource
references you might be able to inoculate your church. At the very least
you will recognize the signs early on.
Many of the current members of the Madison Church of Christ still don't
know what happened.
Some never will know! This book is for them as well.
Madison Church of Christ was a 60 year old church. At one time it was
one of the largest churches in the US, and the largest Church of Christ.
It thrived for many years on the vision of it's elders and those of
it's ministers. Those visions undoubtably came from the the inspired word
of Jesus Christ.
At sometime in the last 10 years there was a deliberate plan by a majority
of the elders to take the Madison Church of Christ into a more worldly
realm.
They used secrecy, covert planning, and outside sources to scheme and
to change the format and direction of the Madison Church of Christ.
The Elders knew that the membership would never approve such a plan.
Using the tools of the "Community Church Movement"(consultants, books,
seminars, meetings,planters,seeders) they slowly started initiating change
so it was never noticed by the members until it was too late.....
At the heart of the plan was the fact that old members were going to
be driven off so new techniques could be used to go out and reach the unchurched
through new "Contemporary Holy Entertainment" methods developed by the
"Community Church Movement"
Old members had to be kept on board long enough to get their plans ready,
or the funds would not be there to pay for the new building. So by the
plans very nature, it had to be secret.
The church had no plan in effect to renew or approve elders. There was
never any need. The elders had always been "as approved by God". 10 of the last
15 elders would begin to shed some doubt on that.
The Elders did not even need a majority at first, because some of the
elders went along unwittingly.
This edition starts shortly after some of the members begin to smell
something strange in January 2001. Later editions may go back and fill
in some of the timeline.
To even start to understand whats happening here, you must read the
background materials in the first of the book.
This is only the first edition, and not the end. New editions will be
printed as needed. To keep abreast of current changes, please visit our
web site; http://www.concernedmembers.com/madison
Here is the list of players;
5 Godly Elders
10 Not so Godly Elders
120 "Deacons" (allegiance unknown)
2,800 - 4,000 church "members"
2 "teners" (people who have publicly confessed to have broken all ten
commandments)
Unknown number of "sinners" (This is what the 10 elders call us.)
Unknown number of "demons" (Flying everywhere, to many to count)