Bible Questions and Answers

What are the church/churches of God according to 2 Corinthians 1verse1? Is this the real name of Christianity?

‘Church’ is the translation of the Greek ‘ecclesia’ which means congregation.
Those who believed the Gospel were baptised into Jesus Christ by immersion in water.

• Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
• Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
  Those baptised into Christ become members of one body.
• 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
• Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
  To distinguish the movement from Judaism it was initially known as ‘the Way’.
• Acts 19:9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

Baptised believers were first called ‘Christians’ at Antioch.

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Paul writing to the church at Corinth uses the phrase ‘church of God’:

• 1 Corinthians 1:2  To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
• 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
• 1 Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
• 1 Corinthians 11:22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
• 1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
• 2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia

Paul speaking to the Elders at Ephesus (Acts 20:28) uses the phrase ‘church of God’:

Paul writing to the Galatians uses the phrase ‘church of God’:
Galatians 1:13  For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
Paul writing to the Thessalonians uses the phrase ‘churches of God’:
1 Thessalonians 2:14  For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,
2 Thessalonians 1:4  so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,
Paul writing to the Colossians uses the phrase ‘brethren in Christ’:
Colossians 1: 2  To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The writer to the Hebrews uses the phrase ‘church of the firstborn’:
Hebrews 12:23  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Paul writing to the Galatians uses the phrase ‘churches of Galatia’:
Galatians 1:2  and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Paul writing to the Corinthians uses the phrase ‘churches of Galatia’
1 Corinthians 16:1  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:
Paul writing to the Corinthians uses the phrase ‘churches of Asia’:
1 Corinthians 16:19   The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Paul writing to the Corinthians uses the phrase ‘churches of Macedonia’:
2 Corinthians 8:1   Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
Paul writing to the Galatians uses the phrase ‘churches of Judea’:
Galatians 1:22  And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.
Jesus, speaking to John in Revelation uses the phrases ‘church of Ephesus’, ‘church in Smyrna’, ‘church in Pergamos’, ‘church in Thyatira’, ‘church in Sardis’, ‘church in Philadelphia’, ‘church of the Laodiceans’
Revelation 2:1   "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
Revelation 2:8   "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:
Revelation 2:12   "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
Revelation 2:18   "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:
Revelation 3:1   "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Revelation 3:7   "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":
Revelation 3:14   "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
Paul writing to the Romans uses the phrase ‘churches of Christ’:
Romans 16:16  Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
Paul writing to the Corinthians uses the phrase ‘churches of the saints’:
1 Corinthians 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
From this we see that no official title is established in the New Testament other than ‘Christians’ to denote those baptised into Jesus Christ by immersion in water.
Due to the falling away of the Christian Church and the adoption of false doctrines it becomes necessary for congregations of believers to adopt different names to distinguish themselves from others who hold different doctrines.
The name ‘Christadelphian’ which means ‘brethren in Christ’ was coined by John Thomas to obtain exemption from military service in the American Civil War.
Clearly what believers believe and teach is more important than what they are called.
Paul’s warning is not about what believers are called, but what they believe:
Galatians 1: 8  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a popular adage from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn