___________________________________________ Of course, not a verse of Scripture with this, as the concept of “catholic” (in the Vatican's sense) cannot be established with any short string of verses (circa AD 32), nor does any verse or string of verses (circa AD 32, which would be about the first several chapters of the Acts of the Apostles), place any expression of “Bride of Christ” with any church spoken of there.
The expression of “Body of Christ,” and “Bride of Christ” don't show up in Scripture until after the conversion of the Apostle Paul. The first inklings of the “Body of Christ” as a new entity don't appear until Paul's letters written AFTER Acts chapter 17.
The “church” that Jesus Christ mentioned in Matthew chapter sixteen IN NO WAY must be identical to the “church” found in Acts chapter 2, much less the “church” found in Ephesians chapters 1-3.
It is an absurdity to think that every time one reads the word “church” in the New Testament, that it must be talking about precisely the same entity. There can be more than one “church” referred to in the New Testament, and the New Testament itself proves it.
I argue against Landmarkism (Landmark Baptists) over the same issue. They think that every time one reads the word “church” in the NT, it must be the exact same entity every time — the visible local church — and guess who gets to define it ??? ONLY THEMSELVES!!
The Church of Christ (Campbellite) thinks the word “church” can only refer to them.
The LDS thinks that “church” can only refer to what THEY have restored.”
Everybody using Matthew 16:13-19 for their own organization building.
Well, it just ain't necessarily so for ANY of them.
The word “church” doesn't imply that you are looking at the same entity every time the word is used, any more than using the word “flower” indicates that you are always talking about a rose.”
The only people who think that “A church by any other name is still US & WE” are just people who have a system to protect at all costs; Truth be cut loose like a ripped sale.
What about the church ( ekklesia ) in Deuteronomy, Judges, Samuel , Kings, Nehemiah, Psalms, Joel, Lamentations ?shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
INDEED!
(Eph 1:22-23) “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, {23} Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
(Eph 5:25) “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
(Col 1:18) “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
(Gal 6:10) “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”