Die "Heiligheid" van die kerk teen die agtergrond van die breuk kerk-sinagoge

Abstract

It is shown that the binary reference to the έκ λησία as ἀγία καἱ ἅμωμος in Ephesians 5:27 has to be interpreted in terms of the words ΘλαϬίας καὶ άποκϵ - κομμἐυος in Deuteronomy 23:1, and that this antithetical articulation is the result of the preference of the early church for using the word έκκλησία instead of συναγωγή, accentuating thereby the inclusive Christian assembly rather than the exclusive cultic community. These conflicting beliefs about the presence of God within the community constitute one of the main features that produced the separation of Synagogue and Church. The thesis is explored by combining semantic information with the results of recent social-scientific studies the New Testa­ment. Theoretical and methodological issues, however, are not entered into.