Where did the Body of Christ begin ?

[Paidion]

Hi Paidion . I have to take issue with your understanding of Luke 17:21 .

1) The words in question are The kingdom of God is within you .

2) The Greek word is ENTOS , and means " in the midst ".

3) It was NOT within the Jesus rejecting Pharisees , SORRY .

4) It is saying Jesus is the Kingdom , and IS NOT within the Pharisees .

Please read my post again. It is not my understanding of Luke 17:21 with which you take issue. You seem to be taking issue with an imaginary person who thinks that the kingdom was within each of the Pharisees individually.

I clearly indicated that the King and His subjects, namely Christ and His disciples (who were in the midst of the Pharisees) comprised the Kingdom. Jesus Himself said so in response to the Pharisees' question as to when the Kingdom of God was coming. Jesus replied that the Kingdom was not coming with signs to be observed, but that the Kingdom was in their midst. Who else could that Kingdom in their midst be, if not Jesus and His disciples?

By the way, the Greek word "á¼ÂνÄοÂ" does not MEAN "in the midst". It means "within" as in English.
But there are two ways in which one kind of thing can be "within" another. Suppose you had a bunch of chocolate chips and a bunch of muffins. Now place the chocolate chips within the muffins. You could do that in either of the following ways:

1. Place one chocolate chip into each muffin so that it is lodged within that muffin.
2. Place the muffins on the table, and place a handful of chips within the group of muffins (that is, in the midst of the muffins).

I believe (and I think you believe) that the Kingdom of God was within the Pharisees in the second sense. For Christ and His disciples were in the midst of the Pharisees.

 

[awaken]

When was the Church created on the earth?

Notice what Jesus said concerning the Church:
"And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18)

Jesus said that He "will" build His Church, which indicates that there was no such thing as "the Church" when Jesus made this statement. The Church was going to be a new thing which would be created in the future.

Jesus used the Greek word ekklesia in the verse above, which means "assembly, church" (Strong's Greek Dictionary). There were other ekklesias ("assemblies") in the Bible, such as "the assembly in the desert" (Acts 7:38), and public assemblies of citizens (as in Acts 19:29-41), and so on. However, in Matthew 16:18 (above), Jesus described a unique form of ekklesia which would be directly related to Him ("my church").

Notice that this new Church had come into existence by the time of Acts 2:41-47, and new members were being added to it daily:

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church [ekklesia] daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:41-47, KJV)

Therefore, the Church was created sometime after Matthew 16:18 (above) and before Acts 2:41-47 (above). In fact, we can narrow it down even further by noticing that the Church was bought with the blood of Jesus:

"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)

Therefore, the Church was created sometime after the cross and before Acts 2:41-47 (above).