The English word church (or the Scottish kirk or the German kirche) is derived from the late Greek kyriakon which meant “the Lord’s house.” This word is in turn derived from an earlier version of the Greek used for Sacred Scripture, where we find the word ekklesia. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek to produce the Septuagint version, the word ekklesia was used for the Hebrew word kahal, meaning the religious assembly of God. Kahal also distinguished God’s covenant people from all others.
In the New Testament, we also find the usage of ekklesia for church for the same reason. Our Lord called the apostles to follow Him, and with other disciples formed a distinct group of followers. They were personally committed to Him even at the cost of separation from family and friends. Moreover, they were commissioned to make disciples of all the nations and to carry on the mission of Jesus.
More clarity is given to the idea of church in Acts of the Apostles and the epistles. Here we see ekklesia used to describe both local churches and the Church as a whole, but the local church is always seen as inherently part of the overall Church. Membership in the church involves baptism and a clear acceptance of Jesus as the Lord and Savior who suffered, died, and rose from the dead. With the admission of the Gentiles and the Fall of the Temple in AD 70, the Church has a clear distinction from Judaism. This Church has a hierarchical organization with bishops, presbyters, and deacons. Through the Church, the divine will of the Lord is revealed; for example, the Church guided by the Holy Spirit has preserved the writings of the Old Testament and recorded the revelation of the New Testament, and then set the canon of Sacred Scripture to produce the Bible. Not forgetting the communal dimension, the Church has had a genuine concern for the needs of each member, and each member plays a role in continuing the mission of Christ. Interestingly, in the year 100, St. Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans used the term Catholic (meaning “universal”) to describe the unity of this church.
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council stated, “The Church in Christ is in the nature of sacrament– a sign and instrument, that is of communion with God and of unity among all people…” (#1). Using images found in Sacred Scripture, the Council described the Church in many ways: The Church is a sheepfold or flock, entrusted to the care of human shepherds by the Good Shepherd, Jesus, who gave His life for His sheep (John 10:1ff). Just as Christ is the vine and the faithful the branches who receive life from Him, through the Church the life of Christ flows to us (John 15:1ff). St. Paul described the Church as the body of Christ: just as a body has many organs with various functions under the direction of the “head,” so the Church has many members each sharing in the mission of Christ in various ways and ministries all under the “head,” Christ (I Corinthians 12:1ff). Finally, St. Paul speaks of the Church as the Bride of Christ: Through our baptism into the Church, we, as individuals and as a community of believers, share in that covenant of love and life sealed by the blood of Christ.
In all, the beautiful significance of the word church can be best understood by reflecting on the “Four Marks of the Church”: First, the Church is one, in that all members are united in their belief, worship, sacraments, tradition, and leadership. For instance, a person can travel anywhere in the world and find the same exact Mass, same beliefs preached, and same leadership.
Second, the Church is holy because our Lord established it and continues to share His divine life– His grace– with its members. In turn, the Church continues the mission of Christ with each member striving to live a Christ-like life in accord with His teachings and with the help of His grace.
Third, the Church is Catholic (meaning “universal”) because it is destined to last for all time, and all the faithful on earth are united with the faithful in heaven and the souls in purgatory.
Finally, the Church is apostolic because Christ founded it upon the apostles, giving the authority to St. Peter, the first Pope, and the other apostles, the first bishops. This authority has been handed on to their successors as in the case of the choosing of St. Matthias to replace Judas. Because of these distinctive marks, Vatican II affirmed, “This Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him” (#8). Therefore, even though a visitor might not be a regular part of the community of that particular parish, in a sense he is because of his membership in the one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.
Therefore, the word church evokes a beautiful image intrinsically linked to the mystery of salvation.