Difference between revisions of "Assembly"

<div> '''1: '''''Ἐκκλησία''''' ''' (Strong'S #1577 — Noun [[Feminine]] — ekklesia — ek-klay-see'-ah ) </div> <p> from ek, "out of," and klesis, "a calling" (kaleo, "to call"), was used among the [[Greeks]] of a body of citizens "gathered" to discuss the affairs of state, &nbsp;Acts 19:39 . In the Sept. it is used to designate the "gathering" of Israel, summoned for any definite purpose, or a "gathering" regarded as representative of the whole nation. In &nbsp;Acts 7:38 it is used of Israel; in 19:32,41, of a riotous mob. It has two applications to companies of Christians, (a) to the whole company of the redeemed throughout the present era, the company of which Christ said, "I will build My Church," &nbsp; Matthew 16:18 , and which is further described as "the Church which is His Body," &nbsp;Ephesians 1:22; &nbsp;5:23 , (b) in the singular number (e.g., &nbsp;Matthew 18:17 , RV marg., "congregation"), to a company consisting of professed believers, e.g., &nbsp;Acts 20:28; &nbsp;1—Corinthians 1:2; &nbsp;Galatians 1:13; &nbsp;1—Thessalonians 1:1; &nbsp;2—Thessalonians 1:1; &nbsp;1—Timothy 3:5 , and in the plural, with reference to churches in a district. </p> &nbsp;Acts 9:31&nbsp;Acts 8:1&nbsp;Romans 16:23Church. <div> '''2: '''''Πανήγυρις''''' ''' (Strong'S #3831 — Noun Feminine — paneguris — pan-ay'-goo-ris ) </div> <p> from pan, "all," and agora, "any kind of assembly," denoted, among the Greeks, an assembly of the people in contrast to the council of national leaders, or a "gathering" of the people in honor of a god, or for some public festival, such as the Olympic games. The word is used in &nbsp;Hebrews 12:23 , coupled with the word "church," as applied to all believers who form the body of Christ. </p> <div> '''3: '''''Πλῆθος''''' ''' (Strong'S #4128 — Noun Neuter — plethos — play'-thos ) </div> <p> "a multitude, the whole number," is translated "assembly" in &nbsp;Acts 23:7 , RV. See [[Bundle]] , [[Company]] , Multitude. </p> [[Assemble]]

<p> '''A. Noun.''' </p> <p> <em> Qâhâl </em> ( '''''קָהָל''''' , Strong'S #6951), “assembly; company.” Cognates derived from this [[Hebrew]] noun appear in late [[Aramaic]] and Syriac. <em> Qâhâl </em> occurs 123 times and in all periods of biblical Hebrew.In many contexts, the word means an assembly gathered to plan or execute war. One of the first of these is Gen. 49:6. In 1 Kings 12:3 (RSV), “all the assembly of Israel” asked [[Rehoboam]] to ease the tax burden imposed by Solomon. When Rehoboam refused, they withdrew from him and rejected their feudal (military) allegiance to him. For the application of <em> qâhâl </em> to an army, see Ezek. 17:17: “Neither shall [[Pharaoh]] with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war.…” </p> <p> [[Quite]] often, <em> qâhâl </em> is used to denote a gathering to judge or deliberate. This emphasis first appears in Ezek. 23:45-47, where the “company” judges and executes judgment. In many passages, the word signifies an assembly representing a larger group: “David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. And David said to all the assembly of [[Israel]] …” (1 Chron. 13:1-2, RSV). Here, “the whole assembly” of Israel refers to the assembled leaders (cf. 2 Chron. 1:2). Thus, in Lev. 4:13 we find that the sin of the whole congregation of Israel can escape the notice of the “assembly” (the judges or elders who represent the congregation). </p> <p> Sometimes <em> qâhâl </em> represents all the males of Israel who were eligible to bring sacrifices to the Lord: “He whose testicles are crushed or whose male member is cut off shall not enter the assembly of the Lord” (Deut. 23:1, RSV). The only eligible members of the assembly were men who were religiously bound together under the covenant, who were neither strangers (living in Israel temporarily) nor sojourners (permanent non- Hebrew residents) (Num. 15:15). In Num. 16:3 and 33, it is clear that the “assembly” was the worshiping, voting community (cf. 18:4). </p> <p> Elsewhere, the word <em> qâhâl </em> is used to signify all the people of Israel. The whole congregation of the sons of Israel complained that Moses had brought them forth into the wilderness to kill the whole assembly with hunger (Exod. 16:31). The first occurrence of the word also bears the connotation of a large group: “And God [[Almighty]] bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude [ <em> qâhâl </em> ] of people …” (Gen. 28:3). </p> <p> '''B. Verb.''' </p> <p> <em> Qâhal </em> ( '''''קָהַל''''' , Strong'S #6950), “to gather.” The verb <em> qâhal </em> which occurs 39 times, is derived from the noun <em> qâhâl </em> . Like the noun, this verb appears in all periods of biblical Hebrew. It means “to gather” as a <em> qâhal </em> for conflict or war, for religious purposes, and for judgment: “Then [[Solomon]] assembled the elders [ <em> qâhal </em> ] of Israel …” (1 Kings 8:1). </p>

<p> Besides the use of this word for any 'collecting together,' as the 'assembly of the wicked,' it has a special reference in the O.T. to the children of Israel as 'the assembly,' whether they were collected together or not. Several Hebrew words are used, some implying 'an appointed meeting,' others a 'calling together,' etc. 'The whole assembly of the congregation' were to eat the passover, &nbsp;Exodus 12:6 , though each family ate it in its own house. They accused Moses of having brought them into the wilderness to kill the 'whole assembly with hunger,' &nbsp;Exodus 16:3; so in many places. When they were especially called together to the feasts it is often called a [[Solemn Assembly]] as in &nbsp;Leviticus 23:36; &nbsp;Numbers 29:35; &nbsp;Deuteronomy 16:8; &nbsp;2 Kings 10:20; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 7:9; &nbsp;Nehemiah 8:18 , etc. </p> <p> In the N.T. the word is also used for any gathering of people, as at the tumult in Ephesus. &nbsp;Acts 19:32,39,41 . In &nbsp;James 2:2 the word 'assembly' is really the synagogue, or place of meeting. In &nbsp; Hebrews 12:23 the words 'GENERAL ASSEMBLY'should be joined to ver. 22, reading "and to the innumerable company of angels, the general assembly:" the word 'and' dividing the subjects. The Greek word used in &nbsp; Acts 19:32 , etc. is ἐκκλησία,and this often occurs in the N.T. where it is translated 'church.' It signifies 'called out,' and the church is a people called out by God to Himself from the mass of mankind. The church may more accurately be designated by the word 'assembly.' See [[Church]] </p>

<p> (in Heb. '''''מוֹעֵד''''' , ''Moed','' etc.; in Gr. '''''Ἐκκλησία''''' ) '','' a term used in the New [[Testament]] to denote a convocation or congregation of persons legally called out or summoned. (See Congregation). </p> <p> '''(1.)''' In the usual or secular sense (&nbsp;Acts 19:39). Asia Minor, in the time of the apostles, was divided into several districts, each of which had its own legal assembly. (See [[Asiarch]]). Some of these are referred to by Cicero, and others by Pliny, particularly the one at Ephesus. The regular periods of such assemblies, it appears, were three or four times a month; although they were convoked extraordinarily for the dispatch of any urgent business. (See Asia (Minor).) </p> <p> '''(2.)''' In the [[Jewish]] sense, the word implies a religious meeting, as in a synagogue (&nbsp;Matthew 18:17); and in the Christian sense, a congregation of believers (&nbsp;1 Corinthians 11:18); hence a church, the Christian Church, and is used of any particular church, as that at [[Jerusalem]] (&nbsp;Acts 8:1) and [[Antioch]] (&nbsp;Acts 11:26). (See [[Synagogue]]); (See Church). </p> <p> [[Masters Of Assemblies]]  ( '''''בִּעֲלֵי''''' '''''אֲסֻפוֹת''''' , ''Baaley' Asuphoth', Lords Of The Gdtherings;'' Sept. '''''Οἱ''''' '''''Παρὰ''''' '''''Τῶν''''' '''''Συναγμάτων''''' , Vulg. ''Per Magistrorum Consilum),'' is a phrase occurring in &nbsp;Ecclesiastes 12:11, and supposed to refer to the master-spirits or associates of the meetings of the wise and curious ( '''''חֲכָמִים''''' , of the parallel clause), held in Eastern countries, and where sages and philosophers uttered their weighty sayings. (See [[Master]]). The preacher endeavored to clothe the infinitely wise and perfect doctrines which he taught in proper language. They were the words of truth, and were designed to prove quickening to the sluggish soul as goads are to the dull ox (&nbsp;Acts 2:37). They were received from the one great shepherd or teacher, and came with great power as the sayings of the most wise and eloquent of their learned assemblies; and they would take hold of the hearts and consciences of men, holding them to the obedience of the truth, as nails driven through a- sound board firmly bind and fasten it where we will (see Stuart, Comment. in loc.). Hengstenberg, however (Comment. in loc.), fancifully understands the participators in the sacred collection (or apothegms of Scripture) to be meant. (See [[Ecclesiastes]]). </p>

<p> ''''' a ''''' - ''''' sem´blı̄ ''''' ( קהל , <i> ''''' ḳāhāl ''''' </i> ; ἐκκλησία , <i> ''''' ekklēsı́a ''''' </i> ): The common term for a meeting of the people called together by a crier. It has reference therefore to any gathering of the people called for any purpose whatsoever (&nbsp;Exodus 12:6; &nbsp;Psalm 22:16 the King James Version; &nbsp; Psalm 89:7 the King James Version; &nbsp; Acts 19:32 , &nbsp;Acts 19:41 ). The solemn assemblies of the [[Jews]] were their feasts or religious gatherings of any kind (&nbsp;Isaiah 1:13 ). The word <i> ''''' panḗguris ''''' </i> , "a general festal assembly" (&nbsp;Hebrews 12:23 ), is transferred from the congregation of the people of Israel to the Christian church of which the congregation of Israel was a figure. In the same passage, <i> ''''' ekklēsı́a ''''' </i> has the sense of calling, summoning. In classical Greek <i> ''''' ekklēsı́a ''''' </i> was the name for the body of free citizens summoned by a herald. In this sense the church calls all the world to become identified with it. It denotes the whole body of believers, all who are called. Or it may refer to a particular congregation or local church ( <i> ''''' sunagṓgē ''''' </i> , "synagogue" &nbsp;James 2:2 the Revised Version, margin). See Called; Church; Congregation . </p>