ἐκκλησία, -ας, ἡ (ἐκ-καλέω), [in LXX chiefly for קָהָל, otherwise for one of its cogn. forms ;] 1. prop., an assembly of citizens regularly convened (in Thuc., ii, 22, opposite to σύλλογος, a concourse): Dz 19,32.39.41. 2. In LXX of the assembly, congregation, community of Israel (Pwt 4,10; 23,2, al.): Dz 7,38, Hbr 2,12" (LXX) . 3. NT, esp. of an assembly or company of Christians, a (the) church; (a) of gatherings for worship: 1 Kor 11,18; 14,19.34.35; (b) of local communities: Dz 8,3, 1 Kor 4,17; with name added, Dz 8,1, Rz 16,1, 1 Tes 1,1, al.; pl., Dz 15,41, 1 Kor 7,17; τ. Χριστοῦ, Rz 16,16 τ. Ἀσίας, 1 Kor 16,19 τ. ἁγίων, 1 Kor 14,33 εἰπο]ν τ. ἐκκλησίᾳ, Mt 18,17 (but see Hort, Ecclesia, 10); of a house-congregation (DB, i, 431a), Rz 16,5, 1 Kor 16,19, Kol 4,15, Phm 2; (with) of the whole body of Christians: Mt 16,18, 1 Kor 12,28, Ef 1,22, Flp 3,6, al.; τ. θεοῦ, Dz 20,28 (Κυρίου, T, R, mg.), 1 Kor 15,9, Ga 1,13, 1 Tm 3,15; ἐ. προτοτόκων ἀπογεγραμμένων ἐν οὐρανοῖς, Hbr 12,23 SYN.: συναγωγή, which see (see Tr., Syn., §i; DB, i, 426; Hort, Ecclesia, esp. 4ff., 107ff.; Hamilton, People of God, ii, 37ff.; reff. s.vv. "Church," "Congregation," in DB and DCG; Cremer, 332). (AS)