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    STUDIA THEOLOGIA%20REFORMATA%20TRANSYLVANICA - Issue no. 2 / 2012  
         
  Article:   THE ECCLESIOLOGY OF PAUL’S LETTERS (PART 1).

Authors:  LÉSZAI LEHEL.
 
       
         
  Abstract:   God established the church, God called them out (ejk-kalevw) from the crowd that became alienated from Him. God has chosen Israel from the multitude of nations after the creation and Babel, although Israel was smaller than all the nations, but God loved Israel and through them wanted to approach the other nations, too. God kept the Qehal-Yahweh safe despite all of its unfaithfulness and sins during many difficult experiences that have had a purpose of teaching and this continued in the New Testament. Jesus proclaimed to the Jews to repent because the kingdom of heaven is at hand, He chose disciples who had to preach the message to all those who were scattered to the end of the earth.Jesus compared the church to the building (temple), to the field, to the body and its members to the salt and light. He affirmed many times that His kingdom is not of this world and promised to His disciples the Comforter. The church is more an organism than an organization. In the New Testament first the Jews became its members but later the Gentiles also received the Holy Spirit and they were baptized, they became the members of the growing church, of the living body of Christ. Those touched by God’s Spirit are confessing their sins, they repent and start a new life. In the first community the tasks are divided thus some of them are busier with the preaching and the others with the manual work, the welfare work. The church members sell their properties and in this way they assist each other and the poor.A part of the church in Jerusalem flee from the growing prosecution and take with them the Gospel, thus the Word of God is spread more and more to the end of earth. Jesus, the head of the church takes care of the first congregation, He strengthens, nourishes, encourages it and advises, stimulates, comforts it with His Holy Spirit.

Keywords: Paul, ecclesiology, letters, church
 
         
     
         
         
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