THE CHURCH IS NOT THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
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RenewedStrength316
Member
You're absolutely right—ἐκκλησία (ekklesia) is grammatically feminine in Greek.
That’s not just a linguistic quirk—it carries theological weight, especially when we connect it to the imagery of the Church as the Bride of Christ.
Here’s the breakdown:
ἐκκλησία means “assembly” or “called-out ones.”
It is a feminine noun in Greek (as shown by its definite article ἡ, which is feminine).
This fits perfectly with how the New Testament describes the Church—not as a business, a brand, or a crowd, but as a bride, being made ready for her Bridegroom.
> “Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready.” — Revelation 19:7
> “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…” — Ephesians 5:25
The grammar aligns with the imagery: Christ the Bridegroom, and the ekklesia, feminine, as the Bride.
So when we say “Jesus isn’t coming back for a brand but a Bride,” we’re not just being poetic—we’re being biblically precise. And when we call the Church “she,” it’s not modern gender politics—it’s ancient biblical truth.
RenewedStrength316
Member
Sister, I appreciate the question and the desire to rightly divide the Word of truth. This isn’t just theological curiosity—it’s about understanding who we are in Christ, what He’s done, and what He’s preparing us for. So let’s not treat it lightly.
You asked if the Church, which is the Body of Christ, can also be considered the Bride of Christ. You referenced Ephesians 2:15, which speaks of the “one new man.” That’s good, and important—but we need the whole counsel of God to rightly understand this mystery.
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The Church Is Described in Multiple Ways
Scripture uses several metaphors to describe the Church. Each reveals something vital about our relationship with Christ:
Body – speaks of present union (Eph. 1:22–23)
Bride – speaks of future presentation (Rev. 19:7–9)
Temple – speaks of indwelling and worship (1 Cor. 3:16)
Family – speaks of adoption and inheritance (Rom. 8:15–17)
Army – speaks of spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10–18)
These aren't contradictions. They're layers of truth, revealing the depth of what God is doing with His people through Christ.
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The Church Is the Body of Christ – Now
Let’s start with what’s immediate and active:
> “Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:27
“We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.” – Ephesians 5:30
This is our current identity: spiritually united with Christ. When we were saved, we were baptized into one body by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). That means we’re no longer separate—we’re part of Him.
The phrase “one new man” in Ephesians 2:15 is not about gender—it’s about a new humanity. Jew and Gentile, once divided, are now reconciled in Christ as a new creation.
But here’s the key: just because we are His Body now doesn’t mean the imagery of the Bride is obsolete. Scripture makes room for both.
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The Church Is Also the Bride of Christ – In Fulfillment
> “Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready.” – Revelation 19:7
“I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 11:2
“This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:32
Paul, writing by the Spirit, compares Christian marriage to Christ and the Church—and says it’s a mystery that reveals the gospel.
The Church is described as:
Betrothed
Being made ready
Presented as a virgin
Clothed in white linen
Invited to the marriage supper
These aren’t just poetic metaphors. They are prophetic realities that point to what’s coming.
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How Can We Be Both Body and Bride?
This confuses some—but it shouldn’t. Jesus is called both:
Son of God and Son of Man
Lamb and Lion
High Priest and Sacrifice
Cornerstone and Bridegroom
These aren’t contradictions. They are facets of glory.
In the same way, the Church is:
His Body – in present spiritual union
His Bride – in future revealed glory
Think of it this way:
Now: We’re in Him—serving, suffering, laboring, growing.
Then: We’ll be with Him—glorified, perfected, presented.
The "body" language describes function and union. The "bride" language describes relationship and celebration. Same Church. Different emphasis depending on the context.
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Revelation 19–21 Seals the CaseSome claim the Bride is only Israel or that the Church isn’t seen in Revelation. That doesn’t hold up under Scripture.
> “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” – Revelation 21:9
“And he carried me away... and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God...” – Revelation 21:10–11
Yes, the city is called the Bride—but it’s not about buildings. It’s symbolic of a people. The Church is the inhabitants of the city. The city represents the corporate, glorified people of God, clothed in righteousness and prepared for eternal union.
This is the same Church Jesus died for, purified, and is coming back to claim (Eph. 5:25–27).
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Why This Matters
This isn’t just academic. It’s about your identity, your purity, and your calling.
If we’re the Body, we must walk in unity, submission, and growth under the Head.
If we’re the Bride, we must walk in purity, preparation, and expectation.
> “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” – 1 John 3:3
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Final WordSo sister, to answer plainly: Yes, the Body of Christ is the Bride of Christ.
We are joined to Him now as His Body.
We are being prepared for Him as His Bride.
We will be presented to Him in glory, clothed in righteousness, at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
This is not contradiction—it’s completion.
Let’s not argue over whether the Church is male or female in imagery. Let’s focus on this: Are we walking worthy of our calling? Are we making ourselves ready? Are we living as those who truly belong to Jesus—now and forever?
> “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’” – Revelation 22:17
That’s our role now: cry out for His return, and call others to join us—because He’s not coming back for a brand, a denomination, or a system. He’s coming back for a Bride who has made herself ready.
GracePeace
Well-Known Member
I think "the body" and "the bride" are two sides of the same coin : Eve was Adam's own body and was his bride, and Christ is the antitype to Adam (Ro 5)--His body being His bride would make perfect sense.
The Gospel of Christ
Well-Known Member
The Scofield Bible from Hell turned the Gospel upside down on its head. It's like watching the entire Star Wars trilogy and going - "Let me “rightly divide the word of truth” for you brother. You see, in our interpretation, Yoda failed in his mission to train Luke and Luke was evil all along anyway. The Emperor and Darth Vader were the good guys and the treasonous, evil Skywalker twins and the evil Yoda lost the war and the Emperor won in the end." I kid you not... That's how far off the mark they are but with the Bible. Evangelical Dispensationalism is literally from Hell; it's from the Dragon. Christian scholars could probably have an Oxford debate to decide if what they even follow is Christianity at all.. There's no way the Apostles or the early Church Fathers would say it is.. They're not even on the wide road, they went off roading and are somewhere out in the Mojave desert lost in a cave. None of this would be happening if not for 1909 and the release of the Bible from the Pit.
Repent.
Repent.
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I know, it is almost comical, if it was not so serious a threat to your spiritual health.
Figure of speech, yes. But if Peter was the most prominent or chiefest apostle of the 12, he might in a way also represent them all. But also there's no denying that Jesus called him by his new name, which means rock or stone.
I agree those verses are not enough to go on by themselves, just thought they showed how some men in the church including apostles could have more prominence than others, but there are at least a couple more verses that give that impression (Gal 2:2 and Acts 15:22). And in Gal 2:9 Paul said he perceived Peter, James and John were "pillars". (But not in such a way as to give them official status and titles because the early church under the apostles endeavoured to remain in the simplicity of Christ, following His example and ways...eg,"who would be greatest among you must be servant of all".)
But I think there's no denying Peter's leadership and prominence among the rest. Look at Acts 1:15 where Peter is the one who stood up among the other apostles to call for a new apostle to replace Judas. And in Acts 2:14 He stood up with them and is the one recorded as preaching to "Ye men of Judea...." after the Holy Spirit was given. Just read those accounts right through into Acts 3 and 4 as well. Peter is the one who is recorded as the main one preaching and evangelizing the people. Later, he is the one who rebuked Ananias and Saphira and when he did they fell down dead. Still later it was written how people were healed when Peter's shadow fell on them. Etc. It's very hard not to have the impression he had more prominence than the others (unofficially). The more I look into it, the more I tend to think Jesus was letting Peter know he would have grace to lead the early church, but in a sort of quiet and tactful way, not in a worldly way of giving him status and title or indicating official "succession" as the Catholics claim.
I just don't know how to emphasize strongly enough how vital it is to remain in the simplicity of Christ....to depart from it is death. God's ways are not man's ways....how important it is that we remain or return to the humble ways of the Spirit, and leave the ways of the world. We need to have our minds renewed to really grasp 2 Cor 11:3-4 and to see how Jesus walked according to that truth, as compared to how 'religion" does things. It's the difference between the institutionalized religiosity of man and the life-giving way of the Spirit. I have observed over the years how so many churches bring the life of the Spirit to death.....when I asked the Lord why this is so, He spoke one single word to me..."artificial"...artificial means man-made and has no life in it. Man-made religion. As opposed to the ways of the Spirit and God building His house/temple not made with the hands of man.
I dont' know much about Star Wars, lol, but agree with the rest. This is all leading to Jerusalem and a new temple there, and the cult like delusion that will emanate from there....I believe it is and will be spiritual warfare of the highest level so to speak. We all need to beware, sober and alert, and clinging closely to the Lord, looking to Him for strength and to keep us in the truth.....but believers who are most vulnerable will be Hebrew roots folks who are also looking for a saviour/messiah to usher in an earthly utopia.
The Gospel of Christ
Well-Known Member
And if you want to know and clearly understand exactly, how this 1909 deception from the Pit unfolded..
Don't worry, I've got you covered -- How the Scofield Bible Made us All Bow To The Dragon
Don't worry, I've got you covered -- How the Scofield Bible Made us All Bow To The Dragon
RenewedStrength316
Member
My apologies brother ChrisThanks brother Shane, you can call me brother Chris ♫↑
And look who sits in that temple, the devil's own.
2 Thess 2
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of [b]sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits [c]as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
This is an evil thing, and an evil time and place.
It is a false temple of God, God inhabits His temple which is us, not any building. This is very much the idea of a Jewish temple, like as the old testament with people calling it the temple of God. Devil wants to be worshipped as God.
And the devil is a liar, everything he speaks is a lie.
The devil lied to Christ as if he had the authority to give to Christ, when the earth is the Lord's, and all the fullness thereof, the people and them that dwell therein.
God says 'All souls are mine, the soul that sins shall die.
Luke 4
5 [d]Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
8 And Jesus answered and said to him, [e]“Get behind Me, Satan! [f]For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
The church the body of Christ isnt the bride
The church of God which is the believing remnant is
Peter and the disciples are the bride...........They arent in the body of Christ.....................the believing remnant are given the kingdom on earth not the body of Christ.......Peter and the disciples are given positions over the tribes in the kingdom........[Luk 22:29-30 KJV] 29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Actually so is the church in the wilderness composed of old testament saints
[Act 7:38 KJV] 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
[Mat 8:11-12 KJV] 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
GracePeace
Well-Known Member
RenewedStrength316
Member
The Bride of Christ is the Church—Jew and Gentile made one in Christ (Eph. 2:14–22, Eph. 5:25–32). There aren't multiple brides or divided bodies. Peter wasn’t part of a different church—he affirmed Paul and was filled with the same Spirit (Acts 2, 2 Peter 3:15–16). This kind of theology splits what Christ made one. I stand on the unity of the gospel.
GracePeace
Well-Known Member
Are you trying to resolve Acts 21 with this odd, deranged, interpretation of Scripture? I don't understand what problem you're trying to solve by (illegitimately) dividing the Church up like this. Or is this really just your straightforward reading of the texts? What problem are you trying to solve (if you are trying to solve a problem) with this strange interpretation?
Thanks
The church the believing remnant/ the little flock are given the kingdom on earth
[Luk 12:32 KJV] 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
[Mat 8:11-12 KJV] 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The children of the kingdom is Israel Acts 3:25
The body of Christ is not given the earthly kingdom we are given the heavenly places
[Eph 2:6 KJV] 6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
[Eph 3:10 KJV] 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
GracePeace
Well-Known Member
But Jesus said "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven", so God's Heavenly Kingdom is coming to earth, so there's no division between God's Kingdom on earth and God's Kingdom in heaven, so why are you saying these things? What are you doing? Why are you making such a mess of things?
I'm afraid this theology is rebuilding the partition between Jew and Gentile that Jesus tore down.
And anyone is much mistaken if they think His kingdom is of this world or ever will be. We truly need to get a hold of this truth that Jesus spoke...."My kingdom is not of this world that you may say lo here it is or there, but it is within/among you".........since there is so much riding on it. When He spoke those words He was correcting the prevailing Jewish thought that there would be an earthly utopia ruled by a flesh and blood king. This is one reason they rejected Jesus, because He was not after an earthly crown or an earthly kingdom. It tripped them up....and that wrong idea is tripping up many Jews as well as Christians today, unfortunately.
RenewedStrength316
Member
Brother, I can tell you're trying to rightly divide the Word. That’s a noble thing. But what you're describing sounds like the framework of hyperdispensationalism—and I need to speak plainly.
The idea that the Church (Christ’s Body) is not the Bride, not part of the Kingdom, and has a totally separate heavenly destiny from Israel is not what Scripture teaches. It's a man-made division that splits what Christ has united.
Jesus didn’t come to build two peoples. He came to break down the wall (Eph. 2:14), make both one (v.15), and create one new man in Himself. The Gospel isn't split between Peter and Paul, Earth and Heaven, Bride and Body.
> “There is one body, and one Spirit… one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” (Eph. 4:4–6)
Yes, Israel had promises. Yes, Jesus came to the lost sheep of Israel. But in Christ, every promise is fulfilled—and Gentiles who believe are grafted in (Rom. 11:17). Not into a separate olive tree. Into the same one.
> “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:29)
We don’t get a "heaven-only" inheritance. We reign with Him on the earth (Rev. 5:10). We are seated in heavenly places now (Eph. 2:6), but Jesus is returning to rule the nations—and we rule with Him (Rev. 20:6; Dan. 7:27).
To say Peter and the disciples aren’t part of the Body of Christ is to dismember the Gospel. They preached the same crucified, risen Lord. They were filled with the same Spirit. The foundation of the Church is built on the apostles and prophets, with Christ Himself the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20).
> There is no second covenant plan. No heavenly vs earthly divide in the Bride. No dismembered kingdom of God.
There is one Gospel, one Bride, one eternal Kingdom—and it’s all centered in the slain and risen Son of God. The “little flock” of Luke 12:32? That’s not a second people. That’s the first fruits. But we are one flock under one Shepherd (John 10:16).
Jesus didn’t come to create two families. He came to bring everything in heaven and on earth into one in Himself (Eph. 1:10).
Don’t divide what Christ died to unite.
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