Images for the church | Christian Library

The Mission of a Mother

Looking at Galatians 4:26 and Psalm 87, this article draws the metaphor of the church as a mother. The author looks at this metaphor of motherhood in the context of church history, as well in relation to mission work.

The Mother of God's Children

The mother of God’s children, the bride of Christ, is the church. This church is also described as the new Jerusalem in Revelation.

Names For the Church or What's in a Name?

This article is about the naming of a church or church denomination. The author examines God's names for the church throughout the Old and New Testament.

The Way

This article is about Jesus Christ as the way of salvation, and the church as those who belong to The Way.

Disciple

This article is about the church as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Friends

What is real friendship? This article is about the church as friends of Jesus Christ.

Brothers and Sisters

This article is about the church as brothers and sisters, as children of God.

Saint - Are You a Saint?

This article is about the church as saints of Jesus Christ.

The Doctrine of the Church in Holy Scripture

This article is about the church as the assembly of covenant people, the church as the body of Christ, and the church as the temple of Holy Spirit.

Mother Church

This article is about what it means that the church is a mother: caring and loving. The author looks at Isaiah 66:7-11.

Crosses Are Images Too

Is using a cross as a symbol of Christianity something good or bad? Is the second commandment against the use of the cross symbol? This article invites you to think about these issues.

Seven Spiritual Realities of God's Church

What should church life be like? The Bible has different metaphors for how God sees the church. Here are seven of them that shape how we view the church.

What Is Biblical Theology? – The Church's Identity in the Story

Chapter 11 considers the identity of the church, the bride of Christ, in the bigger story of God’s dealings with man and creation. Hamilton takes a look at a few metaphors that Jesus and the apostles used to indicate the church’s identity.

Metaphors of Marriage as Expressions of Divine-Human Relations

One of people's favourite linguistic tools is figurative language (metaphors). A striking metaphor used in the Bible is that of marriage. The biblical authors use it as a metaphor to express God’s relation to his people.

Further Reflections on "Some Pauline Pictures of the Church"

This paper is on Paul's view on the church, which comes out in different images he uses.

Evangelicals, Catholics, and Orthodox together: Is the Church the Extension of the Incarnation?

What is the nature of the relationship between Christ and the church? What is the role of the church in salvation? In this article the author reflects on the significance of the image used for the church as the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:27 for our understanding of the functions of the church as prophet, priest, and king.

Acts 2 - The Descent of the Eschatological Temple in the Form of the Spirit at Pentecost Part 1: The Clearest Evidence

In this article Beale argues that some Old Testament and early Jewish references to a heavenly temple in the latter-days have contributed to the depiction of the Holy Spirit appearing as fire and other associated features in Acts 2.

Acts 2 - The Descent of the Eschatological Temple in the Form of the Spirit at Pentecost Part 2: Corroborating Evidence

This article continues the argument that certain Old Testament and early Jewish references to a temple form the background for the Holy Spirit appearing as of fire and associated features in Acts 2. It examines a number of Old Testament citations in Acts 2 in order to determine whether or not they relate to a temple theme.

1 Corinthians 12 - Paul's Use of the Analogy of the Body of Christ

This article takes a fresh look at the apostle Paul's reference to the church as the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 . He argues that this is just one of a number of images and analogies and that one should not press the analogy beyond the limits of Paul's intention.