What do you think?
Rate this book
The Church of Christ: A Biblical Ecclesiology for Today
The Church of Christ develops the affirmation that Christ is not complete without his people. It grounds ecclesiology in Christology and soteriology. Beginning with the Old Testament basis of the New Testament teaching about the church, the book gives a consistent correlation of Christ with the church's nature, membership, assemblies, ministry, and life.
This is not a historical study but a doctrinal study. The aim is to present a biblical theology of the church. A doctrinal approach, however, does not mean a doctrinal scheme is imposed on the text; rather, the effort is to let the doctrinal teaching arise out of the text itself.
The systematic treatment of the topics traditionally covered in studies of the doctrine of the church are here brought together in relationship to Christ, who is seen as providing the nature of the church and of its membership and as providing not only the example for the church but also a living continuation of himself in its worship, polity, and ethics.
The "Today" in the subtitle does not imply a tailoring of biblical ecclesiology to the interests of the present, but is meant to emphasize that biblical ecclesiology is viable today; it is also an acknowledgment that the questions addressed are in part shaped by contemporary as well as historical issues in ecclesiology. In light of these considerations, Ferguson unveils a comprehensive model of the church that is both biblically centered and relevant to today's world.
This is not a historical study but a doctrinal study. The aim is to present a biblical theology of the church. A doctrinal approach, however, does not mean a doctrinal scheme is imposed on the text; rather, the effort is to let the doctrinal teaching arise out of the text itself.
The systematic treatment of the topics traditionally covered in studies of the doctrine of the church are here brought together in relationship to Christ, who is seen as providing the nature of the church and of its membership and as providing not only the example for the church but also a living continuation of himself in its worship, polity, and ethics.
The "Today" in the subtitle does not imply a tailoring of biblical ecclesiology to the interests of the present, but is meant to emphasize that biblical ecclesiology is viable today; it is also an acknowledgment that the questions addressed are in part shaped by contemporary as well as historical issues in ecclesiology. In light of these considerations, Ferguson unveils a comprehensive model of the church that is both biblically centered and relevant to today's world.
463 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 1996
18 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 25, 2016
Some books you read because you are required to and some because you need to. I re-read the book because I was required to for a graduate class. I will be recommending the book going forward because people need to.
In some ways it serves as "reference" material and in some other ways as an extensive discussion of the church.
The book is well researched. Maybe, sometimes I had the feeling that the footnotes were larger than the text itself, but it well worth it. I highly respect well researched books. To me it seems like the author is saying, here is what I say, and this is why.
In some ways it serves as "reference" material and in some other ways as an extensive discussion of the church.
The book is well researched. Maybe, sometimes I had the feeling that the footnotes were larger than the text itself, but it well worth it. I highly respect well researched books. To me it seems like the author is saying, here is what I say, and this is why.
January 15, 2015
An abundantly full ecclesiology rooted in Scripture.
Yes, Ferguson is coming from the perspective of the Restoration Movement, but throughout the work he consistently cites scholars and theologians in greater "Christendom" who have come to similar conclusions based on Scripture.
Ferguson addresses the main aspects of the church: its nature, its organization, its assemblies, its constituents, its work, etc. But he does so in the context of and after great discussion regarding the nature of God, His work with covenant communities in the past, what He accomplished through Jesus the Messiah, and thus demonstrates powerfully how the church is exactly what God intended exactly as He intended it. Ferguson will come back to this frame frequently as he relates what the church is to be within the nature of God and His work.
This work has so many great discussions of the nature of the church and its constituents. It really is a great resource for anyone who wishes to understand how Scripture presents the community of the people of God in the New Testament.
Yes, Ferguson is coming from the perspective of the Restoration Movement, but throughout the work he consistently cites scholars and theologians in greater "Christendom" who have come to similar conclusions based on Scripture.
Ferguson addresses the main aspects of the church: its nature, its organization, its assemblies, its constituents, its work, etc. But he does so in the context of and after great discussion regarding the nature of God, His work with covenant communities in the past, what He accomplished through Jesus the Messiah, and thus demonstrates powerfully how the church is exactly what God intended exactly as He intended it. Ferguson will come back to this frame frequently as he relates what the church is to be within the nature of God and His work.
This work has so many great discussions of the nature of the church and its constituents. It really is a great resource for anyone who wishes to understand how Scripture presents the community of the people of God in the New Testament.
September 13, 2021
This was a great read. In contrast to a systematic approach, this book highlights a biblical ecclesiology as it unfolds throughout the Scriptures.
If I were to diagnose the church today, I would use the term “damaging.” Too often, people leave the church because they are not welcomed or chastised for their sins. Indeed, one colleague of mine once posted on social media, “I want to start a church for people damaged by the church.”
While many churches have good intentions, often their roadways are paved with judgment and hypocrisy. I can only pray that we, as a collective body of believers, continue to grow in maturity and unity until Christ returns (see Eph. 4:10-14).
Perhaps, Saint Augustine said it best:
"The church is not a hotel for saints, it is a hospital for sinners." - generally attributed to Saint Augustine.
If I were to diagnose the church today, I would use the term “damaging.” Too often, people leave the church because they are not welcomed or chastised for their sins. Indeed, one colleague of mine once posted on social media, “I want to start a church for people damaged by the church.”
While many churches have good intentions, often their roadways are paved with judgment and hypocrisy. I can only pray that we, as a collective body of believers, continue to grow in maturity and unity until Christ returns (see Eph. 4:10-14).
Perhaps, Saint Augustine said it best:
"The church is not a hotel for saints, it is a hospital for sinners." - generally attributed to Saint Augustine.
May 5, 2024
An excellent, thorough discussion of what is the Christian Church. In the opening introduction, Ferguson writes, "God gave a person, then a proclamation, then a people."
His subjects discussed are "The People and..."
– "the Messiah": discussing the Biblical history of the Church
– "Her Lord": discussing what is the Church
– "Her Savior": discussing salvation and membership
– "Her High Priest": discussing it's worship in community
– "Her Bishop": the ministry of the Church
– "Her Teacher": how the Church should live
His subjects discussed are "The People and..."
– "the Messiah": discussing the Biblical history of the Church
– "Her Lord": discussing what is the Church
– "Her Savior": discussing salvation and membership
– "Her High Priest": discussing it's worship in community
– "Her Bishop": the ministry of the Church
– "Her Teacher": how the Church should live
November 23, 2019
Fantastically written book on the ecclesiology of God’s church. I highly recommend reading this book.
July 24, 2011
READ NOV 2009
Very good treatment in six long chapters about the existence, meaning and purpose of the church.
Too many quotes to pick one. The following are timely given recent conversations; "Theological speculation seems never content to leave matters where the biblical texts leave them" (p. 160) and ""The interior conviction of the heart is manifested in the exterior concrete activity" (p. 172).
Very good treatment in six long chapters about the existence, meaning and purpose of the church.
Too many quotes to pick one. The following are timely given recent conversations; "Theological speculation seems never content to leave matters where the biblical texts leave them" (p. 160) and ""The interior conviction of the heart is manifested in the exterior concrete activity" (p. 172).
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews