The formation of the Christian communities from Qahal to Ekklesia

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to research and analyze the formation of the Christian communities, the itinerary from qahal (Old Testament) to ekklesia (New Testament), and concluding with the communities in our contemporary time, the communities as pictured by Vatican Council II. This dissertation is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the dissertation and presents the layout of this study. Chapter 2, "Community in the Bible" gives us a description of the community (qahal) from the Hebrew Scriptures, that is the nation of Israel to the ekklesia in the New Testament which can refer to church congregations, even house churches. Chapter 3 defines "The different nuances of the term koinonia" which shows that where there is a community of people, koinonia is essential, because where koinonia is not present, love and unity are not possible. This type of koinonia was a significant phenomenon in Paul's communities. Chapter 4 focuses on "The idea of the communities of Paul and his letters". Through the two main sources, Paul's letters and the Acts of the Apostles, we capture the different communities which Paul has founded and also the communities which were already established. The composition and content of the letters determine the type of people in that particular community. That Paul was primarily a founder of Gentile Christian churches is very much significant. Moreover, Paul was very much concerned with the pastoral care of his communities. Chapter 5 concludes the dissertation by converging on the new image of the church today. What can believers do to help in the transformation of the church, to go back to the times of the first Christians, who were of one heart and one soul, and lived the church as both spiritual and material communion? Based on the model of the first Christian communities, they must relate to mutual self-giving and, furthermore, to the capability of joining the love of God with love of neighbour.