– Among the Hebrews, this word designated the holy assembly of the children of Israel, depository of the covenant with God and human instrument of the history of salvation:
Num 20:4: Why have you led the assembly of the Lord into this desert, to let us die here with our flocks?
Deut 23:1 : No one will marry his father’s wife, nor will he lift the covering of his father’s bed.
Judg 20:2 : The heads of all the people and all the tribes of Israel stood before the assembly of the people of God.
1Sam 17:47 : All this crowd will know that it is not with sword or spear that the Lord triumphs.
1Ch 29,1 : King David said to the whole assembly: “My son Solomon, the only one whom God has chosen, is still young and weak”.
– In the context of the NT, the word church is the name used to designate the assembly of Christians:
Acts 2,4-5,42-43 : They began to speak in other tongues, as the Holy Spirit gave them to speak.
Acts 5:11 : A great fear came over the whole community and all those who had heard about this event.
1Cor 11:18 : First, I hear that when your assembly comes together, there is disharmony among you.
– The term designates the assembly of Christians in Jerusalem; the communities founded by Paul; the assembly of all Christians; the Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ:
Mt 16:18 : You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church; the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Mt 18:17 : If you refuse to listen to them, tell the Church. And if he refuses to listen also to the Church, let him be like a heathen to you.
Mt 28,19s : Go therefore and teach all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Jn 17 :4 : I glorified you on earth. I have finished the work you gave me to do.
– It already existed as a true organism since Pentecost:
Acts 2,41s : Those who received his word were baptized. And that day the number of supporters increased […].
Acts 4:32 : The multitude of the faithful were of one heart and one soul.
Acts 13 :1 : There were then in the Church of Antioch prophets and teachers
1Cor 12:28 : In the Church, God made apostles first, prophets second.
– It is one in government and doctrine:
Jo 10,16 : I need to lead them too, and they will listen to my voice and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Jn 17:20-23 : So that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so that they too may be in us.
Acts 4:32 : The multitude of the faithful were of one heart and one soul.
1Cor 12,12s : As the body is one with many members, and all the members of the body […] form one body.
1Cor 14:33 : For God is not the God of confusion, but of peace.
Eph 4,3-6 : Be careful to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Col 1:18 : He is the Head of the Body, of the Church. He is the Beginning, the firstborn from the dead.
Col 3:15 : May the peace of Christ triumph in your hearts, to which you were called in order to form one body.
– It is holy in its origin, doctrine and fruits:
Jn 17:17-19 : Sanctify them through the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world.
1Cor 1,2 : To the church of God which is in Corinth, to the faithful sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to holiness.
1Cor 6:11 : But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 5:23 : The God of peace grant you perfect holiness.
2Th 2:13 : God chose you from the beginning to give you salvation, through sanctification by the Spirit and through faith in the truth.
Eph 1 :4: And he chose us in him before the creation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in his sight.
Eph 2:21 : It is in him that every building, arranged harmoniously, rises up to form a holy temple in the Lord.
Eph 5:27 : To present her to himself all glorious […] without […] any other similar blemish, but holy and blameless.
Titus 2:14 : Who gave himself for us, to redeem us from all iniquity, to purify us.
1Pt 1,15s : Following the example of the holiness of him who called you, be holy in all your actions.
– Is catholic/universal:
Mt 24:14 : This Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world to serve as a witness to all nations.
Mt 28:19 : Go therefore and teach all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2 :5-11: There were then in Jerusalem devout Jews from every nation under heaven.
Acts 10:9-16, 28, 34-35 , 45 : While they were traveling […], Peter went up to the roof of the house to pray.
1Tm 2,4 : Who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
– Is apostolic:
Mt 16,18s : And I say to you: you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.
Acts 1:12 , 26 : So they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olives, which is near Jerusalem.
Eph 2:20ff : Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
1Tm 4,14 : Do not neglect the charism that is in you and that was given to you by prophecy.
Rev 21:14 : The city wall had twelve foundations with the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
– It is infallible:
Mt 16:18 : And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.
Lc 10,16 : Whoever listens to you listens to me; and whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.
Jn 14:16s : And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete, to be with you forever.
Acts 15:28 : Indeed, it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to impose any burden on you other than the following essential.
1Tm 3,15 : I want you to know how you ought to behave in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God.
– Will remain until the end of the centuries:
Mt 16:18 : You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church; the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
Mt 24:14 : This Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world to serve as a witness to all nations.
Mt 28,20 : Teach them to observe all that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the world.
Lc 1,32s : The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David […] and his kingdom will have no end.
Jn 14:16 : And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete, to be with you forever.
Eph 3:21 : To him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for all generations of eternity. Amen.
– Christ is the invisible head of the Church:
Eph 1:22s : And he put all things under his feet, and made him supreme head of the Church, which is his body.
Eph 4:15 : But through the sincere practice of charity, let us grow in every way, in Christ the Head.
Eph 5:23 : For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Col 1:18 : He is the Head of the Body, of the Church.
1Pt 2,25 : For you were like sheep that went astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and guardian of your souls.
– Peter – and his successors in the bishopric of Rome, the popes – is the visible head of the Church:
Mt 16,16-19 : Simon Peter replied: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!”.
Lc 22,31s : Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded you to sift you like wheat; but I prayed for you.
Jn 1,41s : So he immediately went looking for his brother and said to him: “We have found the Messiah (which means the Christ)”.
Jo 21,15ss : “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”. He replied: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you”.
– The college of the apostles also has authority:
Mt 18:18 : What you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, […] whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Mt 28,18ss : But Jesus, approaching, said to them: All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Jn 20,21-23 : He said to them again: “Peace be with you! As the Father sent me, so I send you.”
Acts 14:22 : They confirmed the souls of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith.
Acts 15 : The apostles and elders came together to discuss this matter.
Acts 16:4 : In the cities through which they passed, they taught them to observe the decisions that had been taken.
1Cor 4,21 : Which do you prefer? Shall I visit you with a rod, or with charity and a spirit of gentleness?
– And their successors:
Ac 1,21-26 : Of these men who have been with us all the time that the Lord Jesus lived among us.
Acts 20:28 Take care of yourselves and of all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers .
1Tm 4,14 : Do not neglect the charism that is in you and that was given to you by prophecy.
2Tm 4,2 : Preach the word […] rebuke, threaten, exhort with all patience and commitment to instruct.
Titus 2:15 : This is what you must teach, preach and defend with all authority. And let no one belittle you!
1Pt 5,1-4 : I was a witness of the sufferings of Christ and I will share with them in that glory that will be revealed.
– The faithful must obey the Church:
Mt 18,15ff : If your brother has sinned against you, go and rebuke him between you and him alone.
Lc 10,16 : Whoever listens to you listens to me; and whoever rejects you rejects me; and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.
Rom 13:5 : It is necessary to submit, not only out of fear of punishment, but also out of conscience.
Gal 5,7 : You ran well. Who, then, cut you off from obeying the truth?
Heb 13:17 : Be submissive and obey those who guide you (for they watch over your souls and must give an account of them).
– Must contribute with material aid:
Mt 10:10 : Neither a knapsack for the journey, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his sustenance.
Lc 10,7 : Stay in the same house, eat and drink what they have, for the worker is worthy of his wages.
1Cor 9,7-14 : Who feeds a flock and does not feed on the milk of the flock?
Gal 6,6 : He who receives the catechesis of the word, shares all his goods with the one who instructs him.
Phl 2,25.29 : I thought it necessary to send you our brother Epaphroditus, […] to help me in my needs.
– The Church is described as the new people of God:
Acts 15:7-8 :14 : God chose me from among you, that the Gentiles might hear the word by my mouth.
Acts 20:28 Take care of yourselves and of all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers .
Romans 9:25-26 : I will call those who were not my people my people, and those who were not loved beloved.
Romans 15:9-10 : Therefore I will praise you among the nations and sing praises to your name.
– A new temple:
Jo 2,21 : But he spoke of the temple of his body.
1Cor 3,16 : Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
– Spiritual building:
1Pt 2,5 : And like other living stones, you also become the materials of this spiritual building.
– Body of Christ:
Rom 12:4: For as in one body we have many members, and each of our members has a different function.
1Cor 12,12-13 : As the body is one whole with many members, and all the members of the body, although many, form one body.
Col 1,24 : What is lacking in the tribulations of Christ, made up in my flesh, by his body which is the Church.
– Spouse of Christ:
2Cor 11 :2 : For I betrothed you to one husband and presented you to Christ as a chaste virgin.
Eph 5:32 : This mystery is great, I mean with reference to Christ and the Church.
Rev 19 : 7: Let us rejoice and give glory to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is at hand. His wife is prepared.
Rev 21,9 : Come, and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
Rev 22:17 : The Spirit and the Bride say: “Come!”. May the one who hears also say: “Come!”.
– The Church is founded by Jesus:
Mt 16:18 : And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.
– Jesus is the head of the Church:
Eph 1:22 : And he put all things under his feet, and made him supreme head of the Church.
Eph 5:23 : For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the Church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Col 1:18 : He is the Head of the Body, of the Church. He is the Beginning, the firstborn from the dead.
– The NT describes her development:
Lc 10,1-2 : Great is the harvest, but few are the workers. Pray to the Lord of the mess to send workers to his mess.
Mt 13,31-32 : The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a mustard seed that a man takes and sows in his field.
– Write also his sanctity and his powers:
Mt 16,18-19 : And I tell you: you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.
Mt 18,17-18 : And if he also refuses to listen to the Church, let him be to you like a pagan and a publican.
Jn 20:23 : Whose sins you forgive are forgiven, whose sins you retain are retained.
1Pt 2,5 : And like other living stones, you also become the materials of this spiritual building.
– The conditions and provisions to be part of it:
Mt 5,3-10 : Blessed are those who have a poor heart, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!
Mt 18,3 : If you do not change yourselves and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mt 22,12 : My friend, how did you get in here without the wedding garment? The man didn’t say a word.
Lk 6:20 : Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God!
Luke 18:17 : Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.
Jn 3,3.5 : Jesus replied: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God”.
– The charisms and offices:
1Cor 12,1-2 : Regarding spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to live in ignorance.
Eph 4,11-12 : To some he appointed apostles; to others, prophets; to others, evangelists, pastors, doctors.
– The Church anticipates the Kingdom of God of which she is a sacrament:
Mt 13,31-32 : The Kingdom of Heaven is compared to a mustard seed that a man takes and sows in his field.
Mk 4,30-31 : To whom shall we compare the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we represent it? It’s like a mustard seed.
Lc 13,18-29 : What is the Kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? It is similar to mustard seed.
– It is mystery revealed in Christ:
Rom 16:25 : According to the revelation of the mystery, kept secret for centuries.
Eph 1,9-10 : He has revealed to us the mysterious design of his will, which he had always formed in his benevolence.
– It is founded on the apostles and the prophets:
Eph 2:20 : Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.
– Early widespread in Jerusalem:
Acts 8: 1: On that day, a great persecution broke out against the community of Jerusalem. All dispersed across the regions.
Acts 11:22 : The news of these things reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem. So they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
– Later spread around the world:
Rom 1 : 7: To all who are in Rome, beloved by God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God.
Rom 16 :5-23 : Greet my dear Epeenetus, who was the firstfruits of Asia for Christ.
1Cor 1,2 : To the church of God which is in Corinth, to the faithful sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to holiness.
2Cor 1,1 : Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and his brother Timothy, to the church of God.
Phil 4:22 : All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
– See ASSEMBLY, MYSTICAL BODY.
