Who is the church of Mt. 18:17?

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Who is the church of Mt. 18:17? Sorry this isn’t more compelling, but its my thought for the day.
 
The Greek word used here, ecclesia, simply means a body of people. However, Jesus must have been talking about a distinct, visible, *authoritative * body of people – of believers-- , or an appeal to any old body of believers, no matter how holy and sincere, would be fruitless. Thus that body must be stable and permanent, and recognizable as the Church that Christ founded. I believe that the evidence points to the fact that the only church that fits the bill is the Catholic Church.

Here is an article you may find helpful:
catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9302iron.asp
 
Russ 2073:
Who is the church of Mt. 18:17? Sorry this isn’t more compelling, but its my thought for the day.
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“ekklesia”: assembly of people, including those used for governments; in the Septuagint, the Jewish congregation; in the NT, the Christian church. Interestingly, Mt 16:18 and 18:17 hold the only appearances of this word in the Gospels (although it appears 113 other times in the NT, starting from Acts 2:47). With all due respect to the eminent Fidelis, I would suggest that it refers to the collective Body of Christ, which raises interesting implications for the text in question. It could be suggesting a judicial assembly of the Church, i.e., the idea that the Church should make decisions by council rather than allowing individuals to pass judgement.
 
As I read Mt 18:17 the “Church” Jesus is talking about is the leaders of the Local Church, that is, directly to the Apostles and indirectly to the Bishops.

I hold this for several reasons, one being I read it in the notes from the NAB. However, that wasn’t my only source and other sources seem to be in agreement.

First, the term Ekklesia, does mean a body or assembly. It was originally used to as the name of the citizen assembly of Athens.
In their form of pure democracy, those who had the right to vote would be called together to vote, thus exercising their authority
to govern.This assembly was not open to all citizens but a very select group. Thus, understanding the word Ekklesia in this context the Church Jesus is refering to is the group that had been selected to lead or govern.

Second, the words of Jesus are very similar to the powers Jesus confered to Peter in Matthew 16 to bind or loose.

Third, John 20, has Jesus giving the Apostle power to forgive sin.
(to bind or loose).

So given these three factors, I believe the Chutch Jesus is refering to is the leadred of the local Church.
 
I remember my brother in-law telling me that when he was an alter server they had to confess to the whole church. I think that what is meant by MT 18:17.
 
Hey this is good.

So is the church referenced in Mt is the same word as Ep 1:22 and Acts 11:22? One that Jesus is the head of and includes communities of believers reponding to the preaching of the Apostles?

In my Bible Acts 11:22 is “church” but Acts 12:1 is “Church”. Any reason why?
 
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