Abstract:
The article explores the documents of the New Testament in search of the
concept 'church' and finds that, in a nutshell, the answers are as follows:
the Spirit-controlled, charismatic togetherness of people 'in
Christ' (Paul); cross-bearing followers of Jesus (Mk); the people of God
on their way through history (Lk-Ac); the faithful locked in battle with
Satanic powers, but with the expectation of occupying the heavenly Jerusalem
(Rv); the community with which Christ became solidary, and
which is heading for its heavenly place of rest (Reb); the poor but pious
community, putting their faith into practice (Ja); the body of Christ in
which his universal reign can be experienced (Col); the sphere in which
salvation is realized (Eph); disciples following Jesus as God-with-us,
experiencing the rift between synagogue and church (Mt); friends and
confidants of Christ, living at loggerheads with the synagogue (Jn); the
household of God, governed by householders (Pastorals); and the socially
ostracized elect of God whose way of life should be a demonstration of
their otherness as Christians (1 Pt).
