Church of God
In the German-speaking area there are various free churches with the name Gemeinde Gottes or Kirche Gottes , which is usually a translation of the English Church of God :
- Church of God Germany KdöR , Pentecostal
- Church Church of God of the World Mission Association (WMSCOG)
- Free church covenant of God's church
- Church of God on the seventh day
- Church of God (restoration)
- Worldwide Church of God
The term church of God comes from the Bible and describes the totality of those who believe in Christ or their local assembly. The Greek word ekklesia in the New Testament refers to the assembly called out from among the people and is translated in Catholic translations as church , in Luther and Zwingli as community and in the Elberfeld Bible as assembly or community . The English language uses Church indiscriminately for church and congregation .
As a name of a denomination was Church of God ( Church of God and Church of God ) in the 19th century in America used for various newly established denominations, for the first time by John Winnebrenner for General eldership of the Church of God in North America (later Church of God ( Anderson) ). Since these groups had different characteristics and backgrounds, they had to be given an addition to differentiate them. At the same time, the Church of Christ was often chosen as a denomination.