Why Did Bible Translators Not Translate Ekklesia As Assembly?

The Greek word ekklesia means assembly.

However, it is translated as church in the Bible.

Why?

This may help.

In 1536, William Tyndale was strangled to death and burned at the stake by the Holy Roman Empire because he was seeking to translate the Bible into English for ordinary people.

One major problem the Roman Catholic Church had with William Tyndale was his refusal to translate ekklesia as church.

This is because the Roman Catholic Church needed an incorrect translation to enforce "Church Authority" on the people.

If the people were educated about the correct translation of the word ekklesia, then the Roman Catholic Church would lose its authority and control over the people.

In 1536, William Tyndale was found guilty of "heresy" by the Roman Catholic Church.

At the age of 42, he was sentenced to strangulation and burning at the stake by the Holy Roman Empire.

On October 6, this sentence was carried out.

Fast forward to today...

It has become common and acceptable for Bible translators to translate ekklesia as church rather than assembly, even though it is an incorrect translation.

By translating the word ekklesia as church rather than assembly, the narrative of the Bible has been hidden.

For example, Jesus never said, "I will build my church."

Jesus said, "I will build my assembly."

The assembly built by Jesus is the assembly of believers in Jesus from all nations who together form the spiritual temple of God.

Check out Ephesians 2:11-22.

Jesus is the cornerstone of this temple.

Based on Paul’s teachings in Ephesians, it is a spiritual temple of grace in contrast to the physical temple of law that once stood in Jerusalem.

God destroyed that temple in AD 70 through the Roman armies just as Jesus foretold in Luke 21:5-24 and Matthew 22:7.

In accordance with the old covenant law, Jesus said Jerusalem would be desolated and the temple destroyed in judgment of first-century Israel who rejected him and killed those who believed in him.

Check out Matthew 23-24; 26:64; Mark 13; Luke 19:41-44; Luke 21 and 23.

Today, people are waiting for a third temple to be rebuilt.

However, God is already building the third temple...

...it is a spiritual temple consisting of believers in Jesus from all over the world who shine the light of God into their nations.

This spiritual temple has grown into a spiritual nation.

Check out 1 Peter 2:4-10

In conclusion, there is no "church" that has authority and control over people.

The word church is not in the Bible.

No one has to submit to the "authority of the church."

William Tyndale didn't.

Our authority is the Bible...correctly translated and correctly interpreted in light of the biblical narrative.

NOTE:

I am not against churches.

Many lives have been changed through churches, and much good is done through them.

However, no person or group of people can claim to have "church authority" over anyone.

"Church authority" has no biblical support.

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