The Name of the Lord's Church - 2.0

The name Church of Christ reflects a biblical way of identifying the body of believers who belong to Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the church is described as belonging to Christ because He founded it and purchased it with His blood. In Bible, Acts 20:28 states, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock… to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” This shows that the church belongs to God through the sacrifice of Christ. The specific expression “churches of Christ” appears in Romans 16:16, where the apostle Paul wrote, “The churches of Christ salute you.” This phrase indicates congregations that belong to Christ and follow His teaching. The term emphasizes ownership and authority, pointing to Christ as the head of the church. Other passages reinforce this idea. Ephesians 1:22–23 teaches that God “gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body.” Likewise, Colossians 1:18 declares that Christ “is the head of the body, the church.” Therefore, the name Church of Christ is rooted in biblical language and highlights that the church belongs to Christ, follows His authority, and seeks to honor Him as its head. It reflects the New Testament pattern of identifying believers as the body that belongs to Jesus Christ.