Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7300 Institutions and culture of OT  »  7456 synagogue

A word meaning literally “a gathering together”. In the NT it sometimes refers to a group of Jews meeting for worship but most often to the building in which they met.

Synagogue worship may have begun during the exile

Ezekiel 14:1 Unable to sacrifice in the temple, the community met together with spiritual leaders. See also Ezekiel 20:1

A synagogue might be established anywhere

Mark 1:21 See also Acts 6:9 in Jerusalem

Where there were too few male Jews for a synagogue there would sometimes be a place of prayer:

Acts 16:12-13,16 Acts 17:1,10; Acts 18:19

The role of the synagogue

It was a focus for prayer and the reading of Scripture

Acts 13:15 See also Nehemiah 8:2-8; Nehemiah 9:3; Luke 4:15-33

It was a centre for community affairs

Matthew 10:17; Mark 13:9; Luke 12:11

Exclusion from the synagogue was used as a punishment

John 9:22; John 12:42

The leading of synagogue worship

It was the responsibility of the synagogue ruler

Mark 5:22; Acts 18:8

Qualified laymen were allowed to teach

Luke 4:16 See also Acts 13:15

Attendance at the synagogue

It was the practice of Jesus Christ

Matthew 9:35 See also Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; John 6:59

It was the practice of Paul and other Jewish Christians

Acts 9:19-20 See also Acts 14:1-2; Acts 17:2; Acts 19:8

The first Christians continued to worship in the synagogues

Luke 24:53; Acts 19:8-9

See also

2363  Christ, preaching & teaching
5175  reading
5302  education
5509  rulers
7505  Jews, the
7793  teachers
8626  worship, places