The purposes of this research are to argue that the Gospel of Matthew uses the term ekklēsia with spiritual and physical meanings and that this term is based on God’s invitation through Jesus to all people to come into this assembly. The implication is that this ekklēsia will be filled with all people with different ethnicities, nations, languages, sexes, level of piousness and educations. I will employ word studies, historical background studies, and the literary structure of Matthew as my methodology to reach these goals.
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Scbmidt, K. L.1964. “Ekklesia.”. Pp. 487–536 in Vol. 2 of Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, vol. 2, translated by W.Bromiley and edited by GerhardKittel & GrehardFriedrich. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans.
21.
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