Biblical Images of the Church

Scriptural Images of the Church

1. Flock of Christ, the Good Shepherd,

who lays down his life for his sheep
2. Vineyard of God- “I am the Vine and
you are the branches” (Jn 15.5).
3. Temple of God, with Christ as the
Cornerstone
4. Our Mother, the spotless spouse of
the spotless lamb
NOTE: “since these images are drawn from specific concrete culture
and times of the biblical people, they have to be carefully
explained.”
Biblical Images of the Church by
Vatican II:

A. People of God
B. Body of Christ

C. Temple of the Holy

Spirit
D. Kingdom of God
A. PEOPLE OF GOD
 “God has willed to make men holy
and save them, not merely as
individuals without any mutual
bonds, but by making them into a
single people, a people which
acknowledge Him in truth and
serves him in holiness.” (LG 9)
 People of God is the most
celebrated image of the Church.
 A. PEOPLE OF GOD
 CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE OF GOD:
 Cause is GOD
 Head is Christ

 Members are “those who believe in Christ”

 Condition is that of the dignity and freedom of

the sons/daughters of God, in whose hearts the
HS dwells as in a temple
 Law is Christ’s new commandment of love

 Mission is to be the salt of the earth, light of the

world
 Destiny is the final kingdom of God
A. PEOPLE OF GOD
 The NEW TRIBE is going to establish
the NEW and FINAL PEOPLE OF
GOD.
 The NEW PEOPLE OF GOD is a
priestly, prophetic, and kingly
people” (PCP II 116-121).
B. BODY OF CHRIST
 “He who hears you, hears me. Ho
who rejects you, rejects me” (Lk
10:16).
 “I assure you, whatever you did for
one of these least brothers of mine,
you did for me” (Mt 25.40)
 Thus, the church is not just like a
body, but IS the Body of Christ,
really made one in him, in his
“mystical” Body.
B. BODY OF CHRIST
 Christ’s body can refer to:

a) PHYSICAL BODY of the Historical

Jesus
b) EUCHARISTIC BODY, making
sacramentally present to us the
Person of the Risen Christ
c) MYSTICAL BODY, the Church
B. BODY OF CHRIST
 Read Romans 3.29-30
 Read Romans 12.3-11
 Within Christ’s body, the church,
there is a great variety of members
and functions (PCP II 91-94)
C. TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
 St Paul wrote: “You are the temple,
and spirit of God dwells in you” (1
Cor. 3:16/ 1 Cor. 6.19-20)
 Traditional teaching of the Church
declares “As Christ is the Head of
the church, so is the Holy Spirit its
soul” (ND 852).
 C.TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
 The church is the creation of the Holy
Spirit.
 It is the action of the Holy Spirit that
creates the church.
 “Communio sanctorum… communio
peccatur” –community of saint,
community of sinner
D. KINGDOM OF GOD
 “The church is the initial BUDDING
FORTH OF THE KINGDOM”.
 The KOG is the presentist-futurist
reality.
 Itis already here but not yet in full
establishment.
 KOG is God’s ultimate rule which
demands new attitudes and change
of relationship.
D. KINGDOM OF GOD
 READ Mark 1.15
Scriptural Phrase Ask Question

a. Time is fulfilled WHEN

b. Kingdom of God WHAT

c. Kingdom of God WHOSE

d. Repent HOW 1

e. Believe HOW 2

f. Good News/Gospel Goal