ecclesia

Ecclesia is a term with origins in ancient Greek, derived from ekklesia, meaning an assembly of those called out. The word historically referred to a gathering convened for a specific purpose, often a political or civic one.

In classical Greece, ekklesia designated the citizen assembly that held legislative and judicial responsibilities. In Athens, for example, eligible male citizens met to debate and vote on laws and policies. The concept also appeared in other Greek city-states with variations in composition and function. The term was sometimes used more broadly to denote an organized gathering or body of people summoned for common action.

In biblical usage, ekklesia is often translated as “assembly” or “church.” In the Septuagint, it renders the Hebrew qahal, the Israelite congregation. In the New Testament, ekklesia usually refers to a community of believers—local assemblies of Christians or, by extension, the universal body of Christ—rather than a church building. Over time, Christian usage shaped ecclesiology, the study of the church’s nature, mission, and governance.

Today, ecclesia continues to influence religious vocabulary. In theology and church history, it denotes the theological concept of the church as the people of God. In modern contexts, the term appears in ecumenical discourse and scholarly writing, often contrasted with the more secular or architectural sense of “church.” While frequently used as a loanword in academic or religious language, the term emphasizes assembly, calling, and communal identity rather than a physical structure.