The church is the people called by God, who are united by their faith in Christ and by their common life in him. Various descriptions and metaphors emphasise the continuity between the people of God in the OT and NT.
NT images of the church
The body of Christ
Romans 12:4–5 See also 1 Corinthians 12:12, 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 3:6, Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18, Colossians 1:24, Colossians 2:19, Colossians 3:15
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
God's building or temple
1 Corinthians 3:16–17 See also 1 Corinthians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21–22; Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 10:21; 1 Peter 2:5
Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
A plant or vine
John 15:1–8 See also Romans 11:17–24; 1 Corinthians 3:6–8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
Jesus Christ's flock
John 10:14–16 See also Matthew 25:33; Luke 12:32; Acts 20:28–29; 1 Peter 5:2–4
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
The bride of Christ
Revelation 21:2 See also Ephesians 5:25–27, Ephesians 5:31–32; Revelation 19:7, Revelation 22:17
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
God's household or family
Ephesians 2:19 See also John 8:35–36; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 3:15; 1 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 2:11; 1 Peter 2:17, 1 Peter 4:17
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
NT descriptions of the church
Emphasising continuity with the OT church
Abraham's offspring: Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:7, Galatians 3:29; Romans 9:25; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 13:12; 1 Peter 2:9–10; Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 3:12, Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:9–10; Galatians 6:16 the Israel of God
Emphasising God's call and authority in the church
Sons of God: Matthew 5:9; John 1:12; Romans 8:15–16; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5–6; 1 John 3:10; Matthew 24:22; Romans 11:7; 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 1:1; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29, Galatians 4:7; Titus 3:7; Hebrews 1:14, Hebrews 6:17; 1 Peter 1:4; 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 20:6
Descriptions applied to the church by outsiders
Followers of the Way: Acts 9:2, Acts 19:9, Acts 19:23, Acts 22:4, Acts 24:14; Acts 11:26 Christians; Acts 24:5 “the Nazarene sect” means people belonging to Jesus the “Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23)
Descriptions used by Christians
The believers. All these titles are seldom in the singular, emphasising the corporateness of Christian life: Acts 1:15, Acts 2:44, Acts 5:12; Galatians 6:10; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 2:17; Acts 6:1–2, Acts 9:19, Acts 11:26, Acts 14:22, Acts 20:1; Romans 1:7, Romans 15:25; 1 Corinthians 6:1, 1 Corinthians 14:33; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 4:21; Colossians 1:12; Jude 1:3
Other NT descriptions of the church
1 Timothy 3:15 the pillar and foundation of the truth; Hebrews 12:23 The church of the firstborn. “the firstborn” is plural, referring to Christians as those born again through their union with Christ, who is the firstborn.
The foundation of the church
Jesus Christ as the church's foundation-stone
1 Corinthians 3:11 See also Matthew 7:24–25, Matthew 21:42 parallels Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6; Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2:7; Psalm 118:22
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Apostles and prophets as founders of the church
Ephesians 2:19–20 See also Matthew 16:18–19; Revelation 21:14
Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
The church as God's people
A people chosen by God
1 Peter 2:9 See also John 15:16; Romans 8:33; Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; James 2:5; 1 Peter 1:2
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
A people called by God
Romans 1:6 See also Acts 2:39; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 1:9; Galatians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:9; Jude 1:1
And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
A people loved by God
1 Peter 2:10 See also Ephesians 2:1–5; Titus 3:4–7
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
God's covenant people
Hebrews 8:8–10 See also Romans 11:27; Isaiah 59:20–21; Hebrews 10:16; Jeremiah 31:31–33
But God found fault with the people and said: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide by My covenant, and I disregarded them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.