PREFACE

INTRODUCTION                                          Page
                                                        1
	                                              
PART I THE PROBLEM OF THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH . . . .  

Chapter   
I  REPRESENTATIVE UNIVERSAL CHURCH VIEWPOINTS . . . .   8
Scofield - Everts - Weston - Strong - Hort - Boardman - 
 Dakin - Harvey

II  REPRESENTATIVE OPPOSING VIEWS . . . .              15
The Ideal Concept 
Glory Church View 
Persistent Local View 
Other Objections

III  ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH 
 THEORY . . . .                                        29
Apostolic Usage
Post-Apostolic Development
The Modern Emphasis
Re-Examination of the Apostle's Creed

PART II  INDUCTIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE NATURE OF THE 
 CHURCH

Chapter	                                             Page
I   THE FUNDAMENTAL IDEA . . . .	              39
Importance and Contribution of the Scientific Method 
 of Approach
Evidence Derived from Historical Usage
The Fundamental Idea of "Ecclesia" Misrepresented by 
 "Church"
Essential Elements of "Ecclesia"

II   OUTSTANDING MISUNDERSTOOD TEXTS . . . .	      59
Matthew 16:l8 - "I will build my Church"
Galatians  1:13 - "I persecuted the church of God"
I Timothy 3:15 — "The church of the living God, the 
 Pillar and ground of the truth" 
Heb. 12:23 - "The general assembly and church of the 
 first born"

III  ECCLESIA IN EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS . . . .    70
Preliminary Considerations 
Exegetical Examination

IV.  THE RELATION OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH THEORY TO 
OTHER DOCTRINES . . . .                              89
The Body of Christ
Union with Christ
Spirit Baptism
The Kingdom of God
The Founding of the Church

CONCLUSION . . . .                                  122
APPENDIX . . . .	                            135
BIBLOGRAPHY . . . .                                 139

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A Thesis for the Masters of Arts Degree from Baylor University, Texas, 1951. Used with permission of the author.

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