Is the phrase ‘church of Christ’ proper?

Is the phrase ‘church of Christ’ proper to describe a local congregation?

An objection is made that since the 3 words ‘church of Christ’ cannot be found [per se] in any “book, chapter, or verse” of the Bible;  to refer to a single congregation by these words is NOT speaking as the oracles of God. 

This position sets forth that unless and without a passage ‘word-for-word’, such cannot be!  First of all, it denies that any inference may be made from statements, commands, and/or precedent setting examples, whereby authorization for the use of ‘church of Christ’ may be made from the Bible.  It is an admission of ignorance of the use of metonymy in the Bible.

Consider some parallels:

Parallel #1. The word Sunday…may we properly say that the Bible authorizes saints to assemble on Sunday?  Must we say ‘first day of the week’?  Have you ever used Sunday?  [so also for any other day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday).  Can we say ‘Saturday’ for Sabbath?  You don’t find Monday thru Saturday in the Bible, but is it implied by necessity?  What is the ‘name’ of the Sabbath Day? What is the name of the seventh day of the week?  Is it a failure to speak as the oracles of God to say the name of the Sabbath (or seventh) Day of the week is Saturday?  How may we properly use the word ‘Saturday’ or ‘Sunday’ for the first and seventh days?

It is by necessary implication! The Sabbath or the seventh day is by name Saturday. So likewise for the first day of the week; it’s name is Sunday.

Parallel #2. “Erroring Christian” – what about this phrase? Have you ever used it? Can you find it in the Bible? Can you produce book, chapter, and verse?  Is it ‘scriptural’ to use this phrase on the basis of such passages as 1 Tim. 1:19 – “concerning faith have made shipwreck”, 2 Tim. 2:18 – who concerning the truth have erred…” 2 Tim. 2:8 – “reprobates” and 2 Peter 2:20-2 - if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome…known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back…”

An ‘erroring’ Christian exists, by necessary implication, from the passages given above. I can be speaking by the oracles of God and use the phrase ‘erroring’ Christian, although no book, chapter, and verse can be produced.

Parallel #3. Child of God.  I cannot provide book, chapter, and verse for the phrase, Christian in/of Christ, saint in/of Christ, disciple(s) in/of Christ, yet if the relationship with Christ exists by virtue of the new birth, then that person may be called a child of God. I can provide book, chapter, and verse for the plural phrase, “children of God”; but I cannot produce book, chapter, and verse for ‘child’ (singular) of God.  Am I speaking as the oracles of God in referring to a single child of God? Yes, for I can read of a Christian.

As I can read of Christian and of Christians; of a disciple and of disciples; of saint and of saints, so likewise, I can, by necessary inference be accurate in saying that the individual Christian; the individual disciple; and the individual saint is an individual child of God, while not being able to produce book, chapter, and verse for the phrase “child of God”.  The singular is, of necessity, implied by the plural “children of God” as existing.

Matt. 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. – [one single peacemaker is a child of God]

 Luke 20:36 - Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

 John 11:52 -  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Rom.8:16, 21-  he Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God… Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Rom. 9:8 – That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Gal. 3:26 -  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

1 John 3:10 -  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

1 John 5:2 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

If ‘children’ (plural), are referred to in the Bible as “of God”, then the individual ‘child’, is, of necessity, also “of God”.

Necessary implication elsewhere used:

What about Lot?

In Gen. 13:1 we read,  “And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.”

We find that Abram ‘went up out of Egypt’ AND LOT WITH HIM.  Find book, chapter, and verse that so states that Lot went down into Egypt.  Can I teach that by necessary inference, Lot went down into Egypt prior to this?  I can by necessary inference from the facts found in other passages, yet I cannot produce book, chapter, and verse for it.

Thus, from the facts stated in Genesis 13:1, one can of necessity, infer correctly (and accurately teach that Lot went down into Egypt at some earlier time.

We have in Romans 16:16 - “…the churches of Christ salute you.”  Who is the apostle Paul meaning by this reference [in the plural] by the term ‘churches’? Additionally, what does he mean by the phrase “of Christ”?

These were referring to local congregations elsewhere who sent greetings to the brethren in the congregation there in Rome, to whom Paul penned his epistle. Those in Rome were the “you” in verse 16; they were the ones who were to greet the church in the house of Priscilla and Aquila (v. 5); and they were to salute ‘one another’ (v. 16).

If all of these congregations collectively were “of Christ”, then each single congregation, of necessity, would be “of Christ”.  The following texts provide other locations of the term ‘churches’, but is not meant to be an exhaustive list.

Churches (plural):

Rom. 16:4 – “all the churches of the Gentiles…” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in other localities) ~ these were churches of Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ.

1 Cor. 16:1 – “to the churches of Galatia…” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in the region of Galatia) ~ these were churches of Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ. [Bithynia, Paphlagonia, Cappadocia, and Lycaonia were in the region of Galatia]

2 Cor. 8:23 – “…our brethren…the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in other localities) these were churches of Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ.

Gal. 1:22 – “…unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ.” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in the region of Judaea) ~ these were churches of (in) Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ.

1 Thess. 2:14 – “for ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus…” (multiple collectives/congregations/assemblies in the region of Judaea) ~ these were churches of (in) Christ; one single congregation in this group can properly be called a church of Christ.

Likewise, we read of a single congregation of the church (singular)

Rom 16:1 – the church which is at Cenchrea – a single congregation; it can be called/referred to as the church of Christ located in Cenchrea.

Rom. 16:5 – Likewise [greet] the church that is in their (Priscilla and Aquila’s) house. It can be called/referred to as the church of Christ.

1 Cor. 1:2 – Unto the church of God  which is  at Corinth, to them that are sanctified  in  Christ Jesus, called  [to be] saints, with  all  that in  every  place  call upon  the name  of Jesus  Christ  our  Lord…

[it can be called/referred to as the church of Christ located in Corinth, for to be sanctified in Christ, by metonymy is to be ‘of’ Christ]

1 Cor. 4:17 – “…as I teach every where  in  every  church…” (i.e., in every congregation or local collective) they were “of Christ”; they were taught the same uniform teaching as others who were sanctified, and thus, “of Christ”.

2 Cor. 1:1 –“…unto the church  of God  which  is at Corinth, with  all  the saints  which  are  in  all Achaia…” – “of God”, meaning that they were in some way connected in spiritual fellowship with God thru the same uniform gospel message that was preached “everywhere and in every church”.

Phil. 1:1 – “…to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.” (this refers to a local congregation/assembly or church of Christ); by necessary implication, to be a saint, is to be “of” or “in” Christ; to be “of God” is equal to being “in God” – it has reference to relationship.

1 Thess. 1:1 – “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church (local congregation/assembly) of the Thessalonians [which is] in God the Father and  [in] the Lord Jesus  Christ…” It can be called/referred to as the church of Christ located in Thessalonica. By metonymy, “of Christ” is equal to being “in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. It has reference to relationship.

2 Thess. 1:1 – Paul, and Silvanus, and  Timotheus, unto the church  of the Thessalonians  in God our  Father  and the Lord Jesus Christ;  it can be called/referred to as the church of Christ located in Thessalonica. (same as in 1 Thess. above)

[“of” or “in”] Christ = meaning that a relationship exists with Christ. A single individual may be referred to or a plurality of people, depending upon the context. Thus, a church (local collective/assembly/congregation) may be said to sustain a relationship with Christ.  This may properly be expressed as saying that they are “in” or “of” Christ.

Church = ‘universal’ usage

Eph. 5:23 – For  the husband  is the head of the wife, even  as Christ  is the head of the church: and he  is the saviour of the body…

(see also, Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25, 27, 32).

Col. 1:24 – “…for his body's sake, which is the church…”

Universally or locally, whether referring to one singular congregation or a plurality of congregations, by virtue of the new birth, they are the church(es) of Christ.  To refer to them as such is speaking by the oracles of God.

RDB

copyright 2011