As one who has personally examined every usuage of ekklesia in Classical and Koine Greek literature including the inter testament usage and Septuagint I can say Bakers study is greatly flawed. For example, he never mentions the clear early usage of ekklesia as an abstract noun both in the Generic and in the institutional senses (Aristotle) which completely overthrows his views. He never mentions it’s religious use in addition to its secular use in early Classical Greek literature.
But were the early followers of Christ familiar with Aristotle? Perhaps Paul was, but I doubt that most of them were. They would have been most familiar with the Septuagint since for Greek-speaking Jewish believers, this was the holy Scripture that they had grown up hearing and reading.
As one who has personally examined every usuage of ekklesia in Classical and Koine Greek literature including the inter testament usage and Septuagint I can say Bakers study is greatly flawed. For example, he never mentions the clear early usage of ekklesia as an abstract noun both in the Generic and in the institutional senses (Aristotle) which completely overthrows his views. He never mentions it’s religious use in addition to its secular use in early Classical Greek literature.
But were the early followers of Christ familiar with Aristotle? Perhaps Paul was, but I doubt that most of them were. They would have been most familiar with the Septuagint since for Greek-speaking Jewish believers, this was the holy Scripture that they had grown up hearing and reading.