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What are the two meanings for our word "Church" as they have been derived from their Latin and Greek roots?

User Kvnam
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Final answer:

The word 'Church' has two meanings: the Latin root referring to the western institution led by the Pope using Latin, and the Greek root 'ecclesia' signifying a congregation or church meeting.

Step-by-step explanation:

The word "Church" as it is used today has two distinct meanings derived from Latin and Greek roots. The Latin root is associated with the institution of the Latin Church, which after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, played a pivotal role in uniting Western Europe and maintaining the legacy of Rome. This church was centered in Rome, with the Pope as its leader, and it used Latin for the Bible and liturgy. Conversely, the Greek root ties back to the term ecclesia, used in ancient Athens to denote a political assembly of citizens, which over time became associated with a congregation or a church meeting. Different branches of Christianity have interpreted 'church' to denote both the institution as well as the physical buildings where worshippers come together.

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