Should the Lord’s church assemble in one place?
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1 with one accord -adverb from a compound of the base of <G3674> (homou) and <G2372> (thumos); unanimously :- with one accord (mind).— Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary. Note that “with one accord” comes from a base of unanimously and means with one mind. “Together” is used by Strong’s for “one place.” With one accord – The best texts substitute ὁμοῦ, together. — Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament. Note that they were together, not apart. in one place – We do not know what place this was; probably it was the same room where they had spent the week.—New Testament Commentaries, Acts, H. Leo Boles Note that Brother Boles supposes that they were in the same room. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; Acts 2:44 (KJV) It simply means that they “were together” in mind, in purpose, in faith, and in heart. It refers to the unity of spirit and mind and not so much to unity of organization. —New Testament Commentaries, Acts, H. Leo Boles Note that the commentator feels that they were together in mind, purpose, faith, and heart, and not just organization. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb 10:25 (KJV) from <G1996> (episunago); a complete collection; specially a Christian meeting (for worship):- assembling (gathering) together.—Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary Note that this is a complete collection of especially Christians meeting for worship – assembling (gathering) together. Complete means all. Includes: For first of all, when ye come together in the church, … 1 Cor 11:18 (KJV) When ye come together therefore into one place, 1 Cor 11:20 (KJV) Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 1 Cor 11:33 (KJV) Come together = convene. One place = together. –Strong’s Concordance And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, … Acts 14:27 (KJV) Together = to lead together In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, … Together = to lead together 1 Cor 5:4 (KJV) That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Eph 3:6 (KJV) Body = Of a joint body — Strong’s Note that there is one body (the church). We are to comfort ourselves together and edify one another. It would be difficult to comfort and edify one another if we assembled in more than one area. The church of the New Testament assembled or gathered together with one accord in one place. We are to exhort, comfort, and edify one another. In order to do this, we need a “complete collection” of the saints. If we do not assemble in one place, where does it all end? – children’s “church”, assemblies in homes, a fragmented congregation.
-by Roger Luttrell
Editor’s Note: Brother Roger Luttrell submitted this guest article and has done a good job of identifying an important aspect of the assembly of the church, namely that it involves a gathering together of the entire congregation. Sadly, some congregations have realized this important truth too late. After trying their “small groups” “split services” “Children’s Bible Hours” etc. during what once was the assembly, they have tried in vain to gather the brethren. But then they learned that they had become so fragmented it was impossible to pull them all together again. There is a place for children’s classes and small group studies, but it is not during the assembly. The assembly is a time when all parts of the body of Christ need to be together, “in one place.” We would do well to recognize the great value of the assembly, and then make every effort to be an active part thereof. We thank Roger for this good article. —RCV
