The Greek Word ἐκκλησία
The Greek word ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) originally referred to a gathering of citizens in the ancient Greek city-states — a called assembly of people, summoned for a purpose, such as making decisions for the community. In the New Testament, the word was used for the assembly of believers, inheriting both the idea of a gathering and the sense of a people set apart.
William Tyndale, who translated the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures into English in the early sixteenth century, chose to use “congregation” for ekklesia. He believed that “church” had come to mean a building rather than a group of people. In his translations, he even used “church” for pagan temples in certain passages, which shows how the meaning of the word had shifted over time.
Tyndale’s Translation
Here are examples of Tyndale’s consistent use of “congregation” drawn directly from his translation:
“And I saye also vnto the yt thou arte Peter: and apon this rocke I wyll bylde my congregacion. And the gates of hell shall not prevayle ageynst it.” (Matthew 16:18)
“And great feare came on all the congregacion and on as many as hearde it.” (Acts 5:11)
“Saul had pleasure in his deeth. And at yt tyme there was a great persecucion agaynst the congregacion which was at Ierusalem and they were all scattered abroade thorowout the regions of Iury and Samaria except the Apostles.” (Acts 8:1)
“I commede vnto you Phebe oure sister (which is a minister of the congregacion of Chenchrea).” (Romans 16:1)
“Vnto the congregacion of God which is at Corinthum.” (1 Corinthians 1:1)
“and hath put all thynges vnder his fete and hath made him aboue all thynges ye heed of ye congregacion…” (Ephesians 1:22)
“Husbandes love youre wyves even as Christ loved the congregacion and gave him silfe for it.” (Ephesians 5:25)
“but and yf I tarie longe yt then thou mayst yet have knowledge how thou oughtest to behave thy silfe in the housse of God which is the congregacion of the livinge God the pillar and grounde of trueth.” (1 Timothy 3:15)
“Yf eny be defeated amonge you let him call for the elders of the congregacion and let the praye over him and anoynte him with oyle in the name of the lorde.” (James 5:14)
“I am Alpha and Omega the fyrst and the laste. That thou seist write in a boke and sende it vnto the congregacions which are in Asia vnto Ephesus and vnto Smyrna and vnto Pargamos and vnto Thiatira and vnto Sardis and vnto Philadelphia and vnto Laodicia.” (Revelation 1:11)
What Tyndale Was Actually Martyred For
It is true that Sir Thomas More strongly disagreed with Tyndale’s translation choice. Yet it is not true that Tyndale was executed for translating ekklesia as “congregation.” Tyndale was martyred for making the Bible accessible to English readers, which was forbidden by the authorities at the time. He prayed that the king’s eyes would be opened, and they were. His legacy endures: an estimated 83–93% of the King James Version derives from Tyndale’s own work.
Is the King James Bible Actually the William Tyndale Version?
The Range of Meaning in ἐκκλησία
The discussion over the best English word for ekklesia is genuinely complicated. The word carries a range of meanings — from an assembly called together for civic purposes, to the special community of God’s people. The standard Greek lexicon lists definitions including a legislative body, a casual gathering, and a community united by shared beliefs.
In the Old Testament, ekklesia appears in the Greek Septuagint translation and often refers to the assembly of Israel — the people gathered before God. The Hebrew term is qahal, which is also related to the title of Ecclesiastes, where Solomon is presented as the speaker to the assembly.
Where Did “Church” Come From?
The English word “church” comes from the Greek κυριακός (kuriakos), meaning “belonging to the Lord.” In the New Testament, this word appears in two key phrases:
“the Lord’s supper” — 1 Corinthians 11:20
“on the Lord’s day” — Revelation 1:10
Early Christians in places like Cappadocia used the phrase “the Lord’s house” (kyriakos oikos) to refer to their meeting places. This phrase entered the Gothic language as ciric, then Old English as circe or cyrice, which eventually became “church” in modern English and Kirche in German.
Such a connection to a people gathered in a place is emphasized in the New Testament itself:
“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” — 1 Timothy 3:15
“If therefore the whole church be come together into one place…” — 1 Corinthians 14:23
The local church, then, is the visible assembling of believers belonging to the Lord.
“Church” Long Predates King James
It is important to realize that “church” was not introduced by King James or his translators. John Wycliffe, working in the late fourteenth century, used “church” in his English Bible. In his 1385 translation he wrote:
“And Y seie to thee, that thou art Petre, and on this stoon Y schal bilde my chirche…”
Wycliffe’s Bible uses “chirche” and its variants over one hundred times in the New Testament.
The distinction in terms also carries theological weight: “congregation” or “assembly” is used mostly for the Old Testament, while “church” is reserved for the New Testament community of believers. In the New Testament, “assembly” appears only when referring to secular gatherings — for example, in Acts 19 — to avoid confusion with the Christian community.
Why Neither Word Is Fully Adequate
Neither “assembly” nor “congregation” fully captures the meaning of ekklesia. Both words come from Latin roots and focus on people gathering together, but the Greek sense is of a people called by God and belonging to Him. The word “church,” with its history rooted in kuriakos, adds this important layer of meaning.
While Tyndale did not use “church” in his 1526 New Testament as we do today, studies of his argumentative writings — such as An Answer to Sir Thomas More’s Dialogue (1531) — indicate that he did sometimes use “church” and “congregation” interchangeably. In these instances, he was defining “church” specifically as the congregation, the body of believers, rather than the established institution.
After Tyndale, translators such as Myles Coverdale and those working on the Great Bible switched between “congregation” and “church.” The Geneva Bible — created by English Protestant exiles who were often critical of royal power — was the first to use “church” for ekklesia consistently. Their choice was not about supporting the monarchy or state church, but about accurately reflecting the sense of belonging to Christ that the word conveys.
The Decision That Stands Today
The use of “church” in English Bibles long predates the King James Version. While it is true that one of Bancroft’s rules was the retention of ecclesiastical terms, it is clear that translators were not serving the desires of a king — they were working to be faithful to both the Greek text and the tradition of English translation. Their choice had to do with familiarity and clarity. At the time, “church” was already in wide translation use; it would not have made sense to revert to Tyndale’s choice.
That decision stands today. Nearly every major English translation since the Bishops’ Bible of 1568 has used “church” for ekklesia, with only a few lesser-known translations opting for “assembly” or “congregation.”
The story of the King James Bible is not one of conspiracy or power grabs, but of devoted scholars striving to bring God’s Word to His people with accuracy and clarity. When we hear the word “church,” we are reminded that we are not just any assembly, but a people called and belonging to the Lord.
“Church” is not only an acceptable translation — it is the most accurate translation.
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