Bible Dictionary
ASSEMBLY
An assembly is a gathering of people called together for a purpose, whether civic, social, or religious. In the New Testament it can also refer to the church, the congregation of those called to Christ.
Definition
An assembly is a gathering of people called together for a purpose. It may be civic, social, or religious, and the term can refer either to a general meeting or to a particular congregation.
Biblical Usage
The Bible uses assembly for gatherings of Israel and for solemn religious meetings. In the New Testament, it can denote the whole body of believers or a particular local church, the congregation of those called.
Historical Background
In classical Greek, ekklesia denoted the body of free citizens summoned by a herald. The term was applied to the Christian church as those called together.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-sem'-bli (qahal; ekklesia): The common term for a meeting of the people called together by a crier. It has reference therefore to any gathering of the people called for any purpose whatsoever (Ex 12:6; Ps 22:16 the King James Version; Ps 89:7 the King James Version; Ac 19:32,41). The solemn assemblies of the Jews were their feasts or religious gatherings of any kind (Isa 1:13). The word paneguris, "a general festal assembly" (Heb 12:23), is transferred from the congregation of the people of Israel to the Christian church of which the congregation of Israel was a figure. In the same passage, ekklesia has the sense of calling, summoning. In classical Greek ekklesia was the name for the body of free citizens summoned by a herald. In this sense the church calls all the world to become identified with it. It denotes the whole body of believers, all who are called. Or it may refer to a particular congregation or local church (sunagoge, "synagogue" Jas 2:2 the Revised Version, margin). See CALLING; CHURCH; CONGREGATION.</p><p>Jacob W. Kapp</p>