Involving the Congregation in Choosing Relevant Biblical Examples
The concept of "congregation" in biblical contexts primarily refers to the Hebrew people as a holy community, bound by religious rather than political ties [1, 2]. This collective body included every circumcised Hebrew male aged twenty and older [2]. While sometimes used broadly to include foreign settlers, it more specifically denotes the Hebrew element of the population [1]. Even circumcised strangers residing in the land could be admitted to the privileges of citizenship and considered members of the congregation, with some exceptions [2].
In the Old Testament, the congregation was governed by the head of each family and tribe. Due to the large number of these representatives, Moses selected seventy individuals for more practical governance [1]. The congregation would be summoned by the sound of two silver trumpets and would gather at the door of the tabernacle [2]. The prophet Micah speaks of God gathering the whole house of Jacob, bringing together the remnant of Israel like a flock in a fold, bustling with a multitude of people [3].
In the New Testament, the idea of a gathered community continues, often emphasizing fellowship and shared purpose. Paul, for instance, appeals to the Corinthians' judgment regarding their participation in the Lord's Supper, which he links to fellowship with Christ, contrasting it with partaking in idol feasts that involve fellowship with evil spirits [8, 10]. The apostle Peter exhorts elders to be examples to their flocks [5, 6]. The early Christian church adopted the practice of public reading of Scripture, transferring it from the Jewish synagogue [9]. This communal engagement with scripture is part of the "fellowship of faith" that Philemon 1:6 describes as becoming effective in the knowledge of every good thing for Christ [4].
The Dead Sea Scrolls also illustrate a structured community, where members were inscribed in order according to their understanding and deeds, with yearly examinations to determine advancement or demotion based on their conduct [7]. This reflects an ancient understanding of communal accountability and shared spiritual growth.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Congregation — This describes the Hebrew people in its collective capacity under its peculiar aspect as a holy community, held together by religious rather than political bonds. Sometimes it is used in a broad sense as inclusive of foreign settlers, (Exodus 12:19) but more properly as exclusively appropriate to the Hebrew element of the population. (Numbers 15:15) The congregation was governed by the father or head of each family and tribe. The number of these representatives being inconveniently large for ordinary business, a further selection was made by Moses of 70”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Congregation — (Heb. kahal), the Hebrew people collectively as a holy community (Num. 15:15). Every circumcised Hebrew from twenty years old and upward was a member of the congregation. Strangers resident in the land, if circumcised, were, with certain exceptions (Ex. 12:19; Num. 9:14; Deut. 23:1-3), admitted to the privileges of citizenship, and spoken of as members of the congregation (Ex. 12:19; Num. 9:14; 15:15). The congregation were summonded together by the sound of two silver trumpets, and they met at the door of the tabernacle (Num. 10:3). These assemblies w”
- Micah “Congregatione congregabo, Jacob, totum te ; in unum conducam reliquias Israël : pariter ponam illum quasi gregem in ovili, quasi pecus in medio caularum : tumultuabuntur a multitudine hominum. -- Micah 2:12”
- Philemon “Philemon 1:6 (LEB) — I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ.”
- I Peter “I Peter 5:1 (Rotherham) — Elders, therefore, among you, I exhort—[I] who am their co-elder and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also, in the glory about to be revealed, have, a share;—”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Example — Of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21; John 13:15); of pastors to their flocks (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3); of the Jews as a warning (Heb. 4:11); of the prophets as suffering affliction (James 5:10).”
- Dead Sea Scrolls “Community Rule (Serekh ha-Yahad) (c. 100-75 BCE), section 9: of Israel who have freely pledged themselves in the Community to return His Covenant. 23. They shall inscribe them in order, one after another according to their understanding and their deeds, that every one may obey his companion, the man of lesser rank obeying his superior. And they 24. shall examine their spirit and deeds yearly, so that each man may be advanced in accordance with his understanding and perfection of way, or moved down in accordance with the offences committed by him. They shall rebuke 25. one another in truth, hum”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:15: Appeal to their own powers of judgment to weigh the force of the argument that follows: namely, that as the partaking of the Lord's Supper involves a partaking of the Lord Himself, and the partaking of the Jewish sacrificial meats involved a partaking of the altar of God, and, as the heathens sacrifice to devils, to partake of an idol feast is to have fellowship with devils. We cannot divest ourselves of the responsibility of "judging" for ourselves. The weakness of private judgment is not an argument against its use, but its abuse. We should t”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:13: Till I come--when Timothy's commission would be superseded for the time by the presence of the apostle himself (Ti1 1:3; Ti1 3:14). reading--especially in the public congregation. The practice of reading Scripture was transferred from the Jewish synagogue to the Christian Church (Luk 4:16-20; Act 13:15; Act 15:21; Co2 3:14). The New Testament Gospel and Epistles being recognized as inspired by those who had the gift of discerning spirits, were from the first, according as they were written, read along with the Old Testament in the Church (Th1 5:21”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 10:15: I speak as to wise men,.... That is, what he was now going to say concerning the Lord's supper, and the communion which believers have with Christ in it, which they as Christians must have knowledge of; and concerning the participation of the altar the Israelites had, who ate of the sacrifices of it, which many of them, being Jews, as such must know; and therefore being fully persuaded of the propriety and pertinency of the instances he was about to produce, and of the justness of his reasoning upon them, he appeals to the Corinthians, as men of wisdom and und”