READING • 1 TIMOTHY 3
One body in Christ
Baptism joins believers to Christ and to a worldwide family of disciples. The New Testament describes this community as one body, with the Lord Jesus Christ as its head and every member having a part to play.
What is an ecclesia?
The Greek word ekklesia is usually translated “church”, “assembly” or “congregation”. In the New Testament it refers primarily to a gathering or community of people, not to a religious building. Acts 19 even uses the same word for the civic assembly at Ephesus. The important question is therefore not “Where is the church building?” but “Who are the people who belong to Christ?”
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;”
1 Corinthians 12:12–13 • King James Version
Christadelphians use the word “ecclesia” for a local congregation because it keeps the emphasis on people gathered to worship God rather than on the building in which they meet.
Called to belong
The Gospel calls men and women out of an old way of life and into a new relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 8:12 shows people believing “the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ” and then being baptized. Baptism is therefore both personal and communal: a believer belongs to Christ and becomes part of his body.
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 • King James Version
Separation from the world does not mean isolation from other people or treating them with contempt. It means that loyalty to God, His truth and His standards comes first. Christadelphians therefore understand Christian fellowship as being based upon a shared Gospel, baptism and a common commitment to the teaching of Scripture.
Do not neglect meeting together
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:”
Hebrews 10:23–25 • King James Version
The ecclesia as one body
Paul repeatedly uses the human body as a picture of ecclesial life. A body has many different parts, but each part belongs to the whole. Diversity of ability is therefore not a weakness: the ecclesia needs different gifts, experiences and forms of service.
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
Romans 12:4–5 • King James Version
Bible picture
What it teaches us
One body
Believers belong together; Christianity is not intended to be lived in isolation.
Many members
Not everyone has the same ability or responsibility, but every faithful member matters.
Christ the head
No pope, priesthood or human leader replaces the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:15; 5:23).
Members one of another
What affects one member should matter to the others; fellowship includes practical care.
Growth together
Truth must be spoken in love so that the whole body becomes stronger (Ephesians 4:15–16).
Equal value before God
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:27–28 • King James Version
Race, nationality, social position and sex do not make one baptized believer more valuable to God than another. The New Testament nevertheless gives different responsibilities within family and ecclesial life. Equality of value does not mean that every member performs the same function.
A place for spiritual growth
An ecclesia should help disciples grow in knowledge, love and Christian character. This can only happen when members contribute rather than expecting a few people to do everything. Some teach; others encourage, organise, visit, welcome, give practical help, care for children, support the elderly, maintain correspondence, or quietly strengthen others by faithful example.
A healthy ecclesia asks
How can I help the body of Christ grow? — not merely, “What can the ecclesia do for me?”
Local ecclesias — one worldwide family
The New Testament speaks of “the church of God which is at Corinth” (2 Corinthians 1:1) and of other local congregations. Each local ecclesia has practical responsibility for its own affairs, but all faithful ecclesias belong to the one body of Christ.
Organising ecclesial life
The New Testament does not give a modern constitution or a parliamentary rule-book, but it does provide clear principles for orderly, fair and spiritually minded organisation. Acts 6 and Acts 15 are especially useful examples.
Acts 6 — sharing responsibility
When a complaint arose about the daily care of widows, the apostles did not ignore it. They recognised both the practical need and their own responsibility to continue in prayer and the ministry of the Word. The congregation chose suitable men, and the apostles appointed them to the work.
Principle
Lesson for an ecclesia
Problems should be faced.
Complaints should be heard fairly rather than hidden or dismissed.
Spiritual priorities matter.
Organisation should support prayer, teaching, pastoral care and preaching — not replace them.
Suitable people should serve.
Character and spiritual reputation matter more than status or ambition.
Responsibility can be shared.
No single person should try to control every aspect of ecclesial life.
Peace helps preaching.
Acts 6:7 follows the settlement by saying that the word of God increased.
Acts 15 — dealing with serious disagreement
Acts 15 records a difficult doctrinal dispute. The apostles and elders met to consider the matter; there was “much disputing”; evidence was heard; Scripture was considered; and a united conclusion was communicated to the ecclesias. The passage does not describe a modern majority vote, but it does show careful discussion, listening, Scripture-based reasoning and a determination to preserve unity in truth.
Meet and discuss difficult matters rather than allowing suspicion to grow.
Give serious attention to Scripture and to relevant evidence.
Allow strong views to be expressed without turning disagreement into personal hostility.
Once a sound decision has been reached, communicate it clearly and work together peaceably.
Keep the purpose of the ecclesia in view: worship, growth, pastoral care and preaching.
Service, not status
Christadelphian ecclesias have no paid priesthood standing between believers and God. Christ is the High Priest and head of the ecclesia. Practical offices exist because work needs to be done, not because some brothers are a higher spiritual class than others.
“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord;”
John 13:15–16 • King James Version
Elders and serving brethren
The first-century ecclesias had elders or overseers. Paul and Barnabas “ordained them elders in every church” (Acts 14:23), and Titus was instructed to “ordain elders in every city” (Titus 1:5). Their authority was to be exercised as service and example, never as domination.
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;”
1 Timothy 3:2–3 • King James Version
An elder should be…
What that means in practice
Grounded in Scripture
Able to teach sound doctrine and to use the Bible wisely.
Above reproach
His everyday conduct should support rather than contradict his teaching.
Self-controlled and gentle
Not violent, domineering, quick-tempered or quarrelsome.
Hospitable and caring
Approachable, ready to help and concerned for people.
Free from greed
Ecclesial responsibility must never be used for personal financial advantage.
Spiritually mature
Not a novice driven by pride, but a steady example to the flock.
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
1 Peter 5:2–3 • King James Version
Brothers and sisters in ecclesial life
Brothers and sisters are equally members of the one body in Christ. The New Testament also contains instructions about order in public worship. Traditional Christadelphian practice understands 1 Timothy 2:8–15 as assigning public teaching and leadership of the mixed congregation to suitably qualified brothers, while sisters make essential contributions through teaching children and other women, hospitality, pastoral care, practical service, music where appropriate, administration, encouragement and faithful example.
Christadelphians also traditionally understand 1 Corinthians 11 to teach that brothers pray with the head uncovered and sisters cover their heads during ecclesial prayer and worship. These practices should never be used to suggest that sisters are spiritually less valuable; Galatians 3:28 remains fundamental: all are one in Christ Jesus.
Leadership in Christ’s ecclesia
Biblical leadership is measured by faithfulness, character, teaching and service — not by power, personality, wealth or social standing.
The life of a healthy ecclesia
The source lesson rightly emphasises that an ecclesia should do more than hold a single weekly meeting. The aim is a community in which believers remember Christ, learn Scripture, preach the Gospel, care for one another and grow together towards the Kingdom.
Ecclesial activity
Purpose
Breaking of Bread
To remember the Lord Jesus in bread and wine and proclaim his death “till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Bible class / study
To move beyond first principles and grow in understanding of the whole counsel of God.
Gospel preaching
To share the hope of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ with others.
Pastoral care and organisation
To care for members and arrange the work of the ecclesia fairly and peaceably.
Children and families
To help the next generation know Scripture and see discipleship lived in practice.
A simple memorial service
The exact order can vary from place to place. A Christadelphian Breaking of Bread meeting commonly contains the following elements:
Hymn, opening prayer and Bible readings.
An exhortation based on Scripture.
Prayer and sharing of the bread in remembrance of Christ.
Prayer and sharing of the wine in remembrance of his shed blood.
Hymns, notices or collection as locally appropriate, and a closing prayer.
Growing together in love
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together… maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Ephesians 4:15–16 • King James Version
SUMMARY
1
The ecclesia is people, not a building. It is an assembly or congregation gathered around Christ.
2
Believers form one body. Christ is the head; every faithful member has a useful part to play.
3
Organisation should serve spiritual purposes. Acts 6 and Acts 15 place Scripture, fairness, service and peace at the centre.
4
Elders are servants and examples. Leadership is marked by sound teaching, maturity, gentleness and integrity.
Chapters to read
Acts 6 • Acts 15 • 1 Corinthians 12 • Ephesians 4 • 1 Timothy 3
LEARN BY HEART • 1 CORINTHIANS 12:27
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 1