συναγωγή

The Greek term *synagōgē* literally means "a bringing together" or "an assembly." In the New Testament, it most commonly refers to a Jewish synagogue, functioning as both the community of gathered worshipers and the building in which they met. Synagogues served as vital centers for Jewish communal life, prayer, scripture reading, and teaching during the Second Temple period and beyond. It was in these settings that Jesus often taught and healed, and the early apostles frequently began their ministry by preaching in the local synagogues.

While the primary use of *synagōgē* in the New Testament is in reference to Jewish assemblies and their meeting places, the word’s broader semantic range also encompasses any gathering or congregation. This is evident in some contexts where it can denote a general assembly. The term highlights the importance of communal gathering for religious and instructional purposes within Jewish tradition, a practice that shaped early Christian worship as well.

The theological significance of *synagōgē* is tied to its role as a locus of divine revelation and community formation. For Jesus and his disciples, synagogues were initial platforms for proclaiming the kingdom of God. However, as the early church developed and faced increasing opposition from some Jewish leaders, the synagogue sometimes became a place of persecution for Christians. The term eventually takes on a metaphorical and even negative sense in Revelation, where "synagogue of Satan" refers to those who claim to be God's people but are opposed to Christ, highlighting the spiritual conflict present in the early church.