Prepared by Jeff Asher (2015) 1 Did Christ Name the Church? Matthew 16:16–18

2 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 3 Did Christ Name the Church? Some Oppose “Church of Christ”― “If all local churches used ONLY the designation ‘Church of Christ,’ we could not claim to be the same church as the one described in the Bible” (Steve Rudd, “Total global uniformity of name world wide, is an indicator of denominationalism and violates the Bible pattern… is proof that some kind of central world government for the church exists” (ibid.).

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 4 Did Christ Name the Church? Some Oppose “Church of Christ”― “It may very well be that the few local churches that use different descriptors from the majority and put ‘Christians meet here’ or ‘assembly of Christ’ or ‘the way’ on their signs, are keeping the collective of local churches from straying from the Bible Pattern on a global basis” (ibid.). “The Bible pattern of variation in local churches is a trademark of the first century church” (ibid).

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 5 Did Christ Name the Church? Does Uniformity Imply Denominationalism? Paul expected global uniformity among the churches (I Corinthians 4:17). The Gospel provides the standard for uniformity of practice (Ephesians 3:4). Adherence to the Gospel establishes unity and peace (Ephesians 4:3–6). Abandonment of the Gospel results in sectarianism producing denominations (I Corinthians 1:10).

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 6 Did Christ Name the Church? If Uniformity Implies Denominationalism: Must some of us abandon immersion in order to be sound? But, Acts 15:24. Should some adopt the instrument to prove there is no worldwide government? But, I John 2:19. The premise is absurd. The question to be considered is whether or not Christ named the church which He built. What is the scriptural answer?

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 7 Did Christ Name the Church? What Is a Name? A word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known. A mere designation, as distinguished from fact: “He was a king in name only.” An appellation, title, or epithet, applied descriptively, in honor, abuse, etc.

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 8 Did Christ Name the Church? What Is a Proper Name? “A proper name [is] a word that answers the purpose of showing what thing it is that we are talking about…but not of telling anything about it” (John Stuart Mill, A System of Logic, 1. ii. 5), Jeffrey Stephen Asher is a proper name according to the above definition. However, name can signify reputation (Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1). All that a person or thing is signified by the name (Matthew 10:41–42).

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 9 Did Christ Name the Church? Did Jesus Assign a Proper Name? I know of no passage that reveals where Christ assigned a proper name to His people collectively. There is a passage in which Heaven revealed a proper name for the individual disciple (Acts 11:26; I Peter 4:16; Acts 26:28–29). Yet, there is definitely a name, a proper way in which to designate the church, which does tell us exactly what it is, to whom it belongs, and under whose authority it exists and works.

of Created by Jeff Asher 2008 My Church Church of God Church of the Living God Church In God…In Christ Matthew 16:18 Acts 20:28 Galatians 1:13 1 Timothy 3:15 Ephesians 5:23–24 I Thessalonians 1:1 10

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 11 Did Christ Name the Church? One More Consideration (Hebrews 12:23)― Does “church of the firstborn” refer to Christ or Christians? Its use in the NT signifies preeminence above order (cf. Hebrews 1:6; 11:28; 12:16; Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15, 18). The plural pronoun clearly implies “firstborn ones”. The OT concept of Israel as a nation of firstborn is certainly in harmony (Exodus 4:22).

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 12 Did Christ Name the Church? One More Consideration (Hebrews 12:23)― Yet, this does not lead to the conclusion the church is to be called the “Christian Church” (Mac Deaver). How do believers acquire their status as firstborn ones? They have no standing except as they are “of Christ” (Romans 8:17; Acts 26:18; Galatians 4:7). The “church of the firstborn” as much as any designation, when reduced to its simplest terms, is the church of Christ (I Corinthians 14:33).

Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005) 13 Did Christ Name the Church? The Churches of Christ Salute You― Paul had no problem in referring to all the churches in a region as “the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16). When he did so, there was no implication of a worldwide church government―a denomination. We Can Do What He Did― I make no apologies for it. I recommend the practice as scriptural and precise.