Page 22 - The Rapture Question by John F. Walvoord

The Meaning of the Church
tament can be classified under the first meaning. Of particular
importance is the fact that ecclesia is never used of an assembly
or body of saints except in reference to saints of the present
age.
Use of ecclesia in the Septuagint
Three Hebrew words arc frequently translated “congre­
gation” in the Old Testament. Moed, having the thought of an
appointed meeting or assembly, is translated “congregation”
in 149 passages in the King James Version. Edah in the same
version is translated “congregation” 124 times. Only Kahal, in
various forms, is translated “ecclesia” in the Septuagint, and
it is rendered 86 times as “congregation” in the King James
Version. All three words as translated into English predomi­
nantly arc rendered “congregation.” These, as well as several
lesser words, never go beyond the simple concept of an assem­
bly. It is therefore a theological error, though commonly prac­
ticed, to read into these passages a spiritual concept reserved
for the church as the body of Christ in the New Testament.
Ecclesia as it appears in the LXX means simply “assembly,”
no more. The conclusion that the use of ecclesia in the LXX
automatically proves that the church, the body of Christ, was
in the Old Testament is a confusion of terms and has no real
basis in fact.
The church future in Matthew 16:18
The teaching that the body of Christ in the New Testa­
ment is a separate entity is supported by the predictive state­
ment of Christ in Matthew 16:18: “On this rock I will build
my church.” The figure of speech rests on a concept of a future
undertaking. Christ did not say “I am building” but “I will
build.” It is significant that this is the first reference to the
church in the New Testament, and it is here regarded as a
future undertaking of Christ Himself.

23