What is the meaning and origin of the word church?

Answer  
  

The Greek word translated “church” in the New Testament is [*ekklesia*](definition-ekklesia.html). A literal translation of *ekklesia* would be “a called\-out assembly.” How we got our English word *church* is a different story, but that, too, is rooted in Greek.  
  

Etymologically speaking, the word *church* means “house of the Lord.” The modern word *church* is a direct descendant of the Old English word *cirice* or *circe*. The first recorded use of the Old English word is from the thirteenth century, and it could refer to either a [body of Christian believers](what-is-the-church.html) or to the place where they gathered.  
  

The early Quakers, as a matter of principle, refused to call the buildings where they met “churches,” since the biblical word *church* referred to people, not a building. The Quakers instead called a building designed for Christian worship a “steeplehouse.” That term is now archaic, as many church buildings no longer have a steeple.  
  

Going further back than Old English, the word *church* ultimately traces its origin to a Greek term, *kūrikón*, which was related to *kurios*, “lord.” The phrase *kūrikón oikía* meant “the Lord’s house.” In the Middle Ages, the Greek term for “house of worship” was shortened to *kūrkón*. And that’s the word that was loaned to West Germanic as *kirika* and eventually to Old English as *cirice*.  
  

Old Norse borrowed the Old English word *cirice* to form *kirkja*, and that’s where the Scottish word *kirk* came from. During the Middle English period, the word *kirk* was borrowed from the Scots, so now Modern English has both *church* and *kirk* as synonyms.  
  

Many English words, especially those related to Christianity, came from Greek and passed through early German dialects. The word *church* is one of those words. Other English ecclesiastical words that share a Greek origin include *Christ*, *angel*, *evangelism*, *baptize*, *episcopal*, *apostle*, *Presbyterian*, and *charismatic*.  
  

