A dictionary would give the root of the word “Church” from the Saxon “circe”, “circ” or “cyric”. The word “church” originates from pagan mythology. Pagan worship of false gods was usually in circular structures and their symbols often used circles. “Circle”, “circus” and “church” are derived from “Circe” a mythological witch goddess in Homer’s epic poem “Odyssey” who used pharmaceuticals to change men into animals. “Church” comes from the pagan meaning of “a place to worship a god”. Church means a “place” more than a body of people.

How did the English word “church” find its way into the Bible? Is it a stumbling block to understanding correct doctrine?

The Roman Christians at that time claimed to be the exclusive universal body of Christianity which encompassed the denomination, the place of worship, and the members of it. It claimed to be” the ecclesiam” of the Bible, and the mystical body of Christ. The Roman religion was synonymous with Christianity.

The root of the word “church” was first used to translate ekklesia (Greek) and ecclesia (Latin) by the Roman Church when converting Germanic pagans in Angle (England) to “Christianity” by using familiar terms of their pagan language. Their word “circe” or “cirice” meant a place to worship a god.

The first Anglo-Saxon translations were the West Saxon Gospels or Wessex Gospels in A.D. 990. These were the forerunners of the first English translations by John Wycliffe (1395), William Tyndale (1525) and King James (1611). The Saxon words “cirice”, “cyrcicean”,and  “chyrcan” became “chirche” in middle English and “church” in modern English. Tyndale refused to use the word “church” and instead used “congregation” for ekklesia which better represents the body people. King James insisted on the ecclesiastical word “church” is his version.

The English word “church” comes from the Anglo-Saxon root “circe” which evolved to mean a place to worship a (pagan) god. Even today pagan worship uses the word “church” in their identities: Church of Wicca, Church of Satan, etc. Today the term “church” can mean a building, a denomination, or all Christians in general.

Most Christians today believe in a “universal church” (by the way, which is still greatly divided). In other words, all saved souls end up in heaven. Those who rightly divide the word of truth reprove the concept of a universal church. Not all of the ekklesias in the NT are one in the same body.  Dispensational truth identifies an ekklesia in the Book of Acts period, a separate ekklesia in the present-day post-Acts period (the mystery of the Body of Christ), and then the seven ekklesia in the future Revelation period.

The members of the Body of Christ were chosen or elected by God before the foundation (overthrow) of the world (Eph 1:4). The Body of Christ is an elected company of people, who, when Christ is manifest in glory, will be assembled with Christ, Who is their Head, in glory. We are called “the fulness of Him that filleth all in all”. Christ is the Head of the Body and the Body is the fulness of Christ. (Eph 1:23) This is not said of the ekklesia being established during the Book of Acts or in the Book of Revelation. The Body of Christ is a separate calling by God.

The Body of Christ is not a “church” as stated in Ephesians 1:22-23. “Church” is not correct translation of the Greek form ekklesia in the Bible. Ekklesia is found 114 times in the New Testament. It is translated “church” in most English versions. Ekklesia is from a composition of ek= out from and kaleo= call (forth).

The Greek ekklesia should be translated as “called-out people” or “called-out gathering”. The word “congregation” as used in the Old Testament refers to the called-out nation of Israel. Those who believe they are tied to Israel and their kingdom gospel could use the term “congregation”. But the saved are called out from among the congregation of Israel. “Assembly” can be used for an ekklesia when referring to a specific group or location. The Body of Christ is still being built and is not yet assembled or gathered until the epiphaneia of Colossians 3:4. Some of the congregation of Israel will be called out in the future Revelation period.

The Body of Christ is not a “church” as so translated in the KJV.