Angels (Holy & Fallen)
The word angel means messenger. Angels are also called spirits. Jesus is above the angels. Angels were created before man. Man is lower than the...
Read More →2x2 Dictionary
A glossary of terms and phrases used in the Two by Two church, Friends & Workers fellowship
92
Definitions
8
Categories
A
Apostates - Enemy of the Truth - Those who Leave - Lost out
An Apostate has deliberately separated themselves from a religious belief. Synonyms: dissenter, defector, deserter, traitor, backslider, turncoat; nonconformist. Apostasy is also considered abandonment or defiance...
Read More →Apostolic Succession--NOT!
Apostolic Succession is the uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles through successive ministers to the present. A direct line of preachers continuously stretching...
Read More →B
Baptism, Ordinance of
An ordinance is an outward institution, a prescribed practice, appointed by Christ, to be observed by all his people to the end of the age,...
Read More →Bible - their Authority
The Bible is their Standard of Authority. The New Testament is their guide for living. They do not publish a doctrinal statement and say the...
Read More →Bitter
Bitter is an adjective frequently used to describe those who leave meetings who may have experienced disappointment, dishonesty, anger, hurt, grief or resentment due to...
Read More →Brother Workers, Servants, Preachers
Their male preachers are called: Brother Workers, Workers, Servants of God, Evangelists, Ministers, Missionaries, Preachers. All these terms refer to the same role/position. Acts 2:18...
Read More →C
Children of God
They believe they are, and refer to themselves as the Children of God, the Kingdom of God and the truth, but these terms are not...
Read More →Christian Conventions
A name they assumed in World War II was Christian Conventions Representing Assemblies of Christians Assuming this Name Only. Which means the conventions represent local...
Read More →Christian Symbols
Workers disapprove of the use of the cross as a display of faith anywhere; whether worn, artwork, tombstone, etc. Pictures of Christ are also not...
Read More →Christians
Some Friends and Workers refer to themselves as Christians, while others refrain from doing so. The term is not universally used in the church in...
Read More →Christmas
They do not celebrate Christmas or Easter as religious holidays. All 2x2s do not celebrate Christmas or Easter in the same manner. Some 2x2s claim...
Read More →Church in the Home vs. Church Buildings
They meet ONLY in homes for Fellowship Meetings on the first day of the Week, and are strongly opposed to church buildings, contending that Jesus...
Read More →Companion - Co-worker
Workers preach in same sex pairs. For many years they were called companions. Now they also refer to each other as an associate, or co-worker.
Read More →Conventions, Annual; Preparations (Preps)
In most free countries where there are members, the Annual Conventions are the highlight of their year. It is a time when they come together...
Read More →D
Death, After & End of World
They believe in the end of world, a final judgment, rewards, second coming, resurrection of the dead, rapture, heaven, hell. Second Coming: Mark 13:23-27 -...
Read More →Divided Home
A Divided home is a marriage where one spouse is not a member of the 2x2 church, which is considered being unequally yoked. 2 Corinthians...
Read More →E
Easter
They do not celebrate Easter (or Christmas) as religious holidays. Worker Quote: In the year 325 Constantine called the Nicene Council which added to the...
Read More →Education & Seminary
Higher education was strongly discouraged even up to the 1970's, and 2x2s who attended anyway were looked down upon. They are totally against attending a...
Read More →Elder - Bishop - Deacon - Pastor
In the 2x2 Church, the terms "Elder" and "Bishop" have been used interchangeably and have the same meaning. Note: The Greek word episkopos (Strong's #1985)...
Read More →Emblems-Lord's Supper-Communion-Eucharist-Breaking of Bread-Sacraments-Ordinance
The Ordinance of Communion was instituted by Jesus on last night of His life in a home (Luke 22:7-20). An Ordinance is an outward institution,...
Read More →Eternal Security of the Believer
The 2x2s do not believe in Eternal Security. They do not teach that believers may rejoice in the assurance of their salvation. They do not...
Read More →Evangelism - Great Commission - Honest Hearts
Evangelism is the role of the Workers, who sometimes call themselves Evangelists. Most of their evangelizing or recruitment is usually carried out in a particular...
Read More →Example - Light to the World - Be Different
Much stress is put on 2x2s to be different from the world and to not engage in "things of the world." Their idea of being...
Read More →Example, Jesus was our Pattern
The 2x2s believe Jesus came to show mankind how to live, to be the Example for all mankind, to be the Example preacher, and to...
Read More →Excommunication - dis-fellowshipped - expelled - put out
Excommunication is when a member is expelled, put out, or dis-fellowshipped (all these terms mean the same) from the 2x2 church, and they are no...
Read More →F
Faith Lines
Faith Lines is preaching without a fixed salary and without appealing for donations, using Matthew 10 as a guide and solely trusting God to meet...
Read More →False Churches - False Preachers/Prophets
The 2x2s believe their church is the only True Church of God, and consider any church other than the theirs (and especially the Roman Catholic Church)...
Read More →Fasting
Workers do not encourage fasting of foods. In the present New Covenant, they believe fasting means self-denial. Worker Quote: Fasting means starving the fleshly desires.
Read More →Fellowship, Family of God, Fold of God
The 2x2s claim they are not a sect or denomination, preferring instead to call their group a fellowship, a family or the fold. They are...
Read More →Fellowship/Testimony Meetings
The Fellowship Meeting, also called Sunday Meeting and Testimony Meeting, are held on the first day of the week (Sunday) in the same private home,...
Read More →Few There Be...
Few There Be - 2x2s sometimes use this passage to explain why their group is small in number: Matt 7:13-14 - Enter ye in at...
Read More →Fields
Fields are designated geographical areas to which the Head Worker of an area assigns a pair of same sex Workers under his supervision. One worker,...
Read More →Foot Washing - Ordinance
2x2s do not observe foot washing. Jesus washed his disciples feet and instructed them to do likewise in John 13:1-17. There are two Ordinances that...
Read More →Forgiveness
They believe that Jesus blood was shed for the remission of sins and that He gave Himself for the sins of man that He might...
Read More →Founder, Starter, Originator of 2x2 Church
The 2x2 Church was started by William Irvine (View Photos) in Ireland around the turn of the 20th century (1897-1901). Irvine was born in Kilsyth,...
Read More →Friends & Saints (Members)
The terms friends, saints, brothers and sisters refer to lay members, and all have the same meaning. These terms refer to those who have openly...
Read More →G
God - Father - Godhead - Triune God - Trinity
Generally, the majority of the 2x2s believe in God (who is the Father), His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They do NOT believe in...
Read More →God the Father
They believe the Father is God. God is the Father. They are the same entity. God and the Father are also called "Lord." God is not three...
Read More →Gospel, The
The Workers' Gospel can be summarized in three points: (1) The Homeless, Two and/by Two Ministry (2) The Church in the Home (3) The 2x2...
Read More →Government, Church
Church Government may be divided into seven significant elements in the administration of a church. For the 2x2 church: 1. Source of authority. The 2x2...
Read More →Grace, Works & Merit
Christians, including the 2x2s often use this definition for grace: God's unmerited favor or kindness to mankind. Generally, the 2x2s do not believe the shed...
Read More →H
Harvest Field - "the call to labor" - Laborers
The Harvest Field is all the people in the world who are not saved. The Workers hear the call to labor and volunteer to preach....
Read More →Healing and Miracles
Healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, casting out demons are viewed as divine signs used only in the first century. Jesus performed the miracle of healing,...
Read More →Hireling
Hirelings are any preachers who receive salaries or take up collections and 2x2s believe this is the meaning of John 10:12-13. Hireling preachers are viewed...
Read More →Holy Ghost - Holy Spirit
The 2x2s believe the terms Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost and Comforter all refer to the same entity. Jesus promised when he left the earth that...
Read More →J
Jesus Christ - Son of God - Word of God
The 2x2s believe Jesus was the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary. His natural Father was Joseph, a carpenter in Nazareth. He had...
Read More →Jesus, Elder Brother
Jesus is the 2x2s' Elder Brother. Jesus is the firstborn, which is the elder sibling in a family: Colossians 1:18 – And he is the...
Read More →Jesus' Death & Resurrection
They believe Jesus rose from the dead after he was crucified. His death atoned for, redeemed and ransomed man from his sins. They preach the...
Read More →Jesus' Return - Rapture - Tribulation
The 2x2s believe Jesus will return to earth a second time, which occurs in two separate events. First Jesus will come for His church in...
Read More →Judgment, Heaven, Hell & Life After Death
Eternity. In order to attain salvation (eternal life in heaven), they believe one must be a member and remain a faithful, true follower in the...
Read More →K
Kingdom of God/Heaven
The terms Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven occur over 100 times in the four Gospels. The 2x2s use these terms to refer to...
Read More →L
Laying on of Hands
The workers do not practice the laying on of hands. 1 Tim. 4:14 - Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given...
Read More →Legalism
The word legalism does not occur in the Bible. What is Legalism? Christians use the term to describe a doctrinal position emphasizing a system of...
Read More →Literature - Published Books/Documents
Their only published book is a hymnal titled Hymns Old and New. They also distribute among membbers printed internal lists of meetings, conventions, weekly Bible...
Read More →M
Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage, Fornication, Adultery
Marriage between professing individuals is expected. 2 Corinthians 6:14 - Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath right with unrighteousness?...
Read More →Meetings - Assemblies - Gatherings
Usually, the Fellowship Meeting is held on the first day of the week on Sunday mornings. These meetings are always held in a home and...
Read More →N
Name of Church - The No Name Church
They refuse to take a public or official name except for situations where they are required to do so by the government. Currently, the names...
Read More →Name of Church - The Truth
The Truth is a term used by the majority of the English speaking members to refer to their church. May have been taken from: Ephesians...
Read More →Name of Church - The Way of God
Some members refer to their 2x2 belief system as The Way, The Way of God, Jesus' Way, and/or The Truth. John 14:6 - I am...
Read More →Name of Church - Two by Two Church
The Two by Twos is not a newly coined nickname for this Church. This descriptive term is often shortened to 2x2s and has become a...
Read More →O
Organization - Headquarters - Church Order
2x2s claim they are not an organization and have no headquarters, no name, and no officers. Instead, they prefer to call themselves a worldwide family...
Read More →Outsiders, Unsaved, Unbelievers, Worldly Person
Outsiders, Unsaved, Unbelievers, Worldly Person are terms applied to those who are not professing members of the 2x2 church. The Unsaved includes those who fail...
Read More →Overseer
An Overseer is a Brother Worker who is responsible for and supervises the Head Workers assigned to a region (territory, state, province, country, etc.). Acts...
Read More →P
Prayer
They pray mainly made for spiritual--not material--things. They believe prayer is a mighty source of power. A common refrain in testimonies: I want to read...
Read More →Preachers, Go; Go Preachers
The early Workers were itinerant and constantly on the go. In the early 1900s, reporters frequently identified them as "Go Preachers" in newspaper articles. Workers...
Read More →Preachers/Prophets, False
See Hirelings. Matt 7:15: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Read More →Profess - Decide - Make your Choice - Test the Meeting
To openly accept the message of Workers as God's Only True ministers is to professing. This step is usually taken by standing to one's feet or...
Read More →R
Repentance
They believe to repent means to change one’s mind, and turn from sin. Repentance in relation to salvation is changing your mind from rejection of...
Read More →Revelation - Vision - Understanding
A professing member who believes that the method/way the Workers preach is God's only true way on earth has received the vision, the revelation and...
Read More →Rewards, Salvation & Works
Reward and Salvation practically mean the same thing and both are merited by self denial and good works while faithfully serving Christ in their church...
Read More →Rules - Regulations - Guidebook
Sometimes they claim they have no rules. However there are many verbal unwritten rules that have been passed down for generations that are expected to...
Read More →S
Sabbath, Sunday, Lord's Day
The 2x2s hold their worship meetings on the first day of the week, (Sunday) the day of Jesus' resurrection; not on the Sabbath or Saturday....
Read More →Salvation
For a person to have any hope of salvation or be allowed baptism into the 2x2 group, one must accept the workers and their Gospel...
Read More →Satan - Devil - Enemy - Tempter
They believe in a three-fold Enemy: World, Flesh and Devil/Satan. They see Satan as a fallen angel engaged in an age-long struggle to deceive and...
Read More →Separated & Peculiar People
Much importance is attached to being separate from the world...even to the point some parents do not allow their children to have worldly playmates, friends...
Read More →Sin - Iniquity - Transgression - Trespass
Sin: The authors of the Bible used different words to refer to sin in its many forms. The2x2s believe that sin means to miss the...
Read More →Speaking in Tongues
They believe that tongues in the scripture are the supernatural gift of speaking in another language without having learned that language, such as at Pentecost...
Read More →Submission - Obedience
They believe scripture instructs children to obey their parents, wives are admonished to submit to their husbands, husbands to submit to Christ, the younger to...
Read More →Suffering, Self Denial, Sacrifice
The 2x2s frequently use the following terms in their sermons and testimonies: "taking up or bearing your cross, suffering, sacrificing, being persecuted, denying self, dying...
Read More →T
Testimony - Participation in Meetings
Testimony is also called taking part or to speak in meetings. One must first profess to have the privilege of participating in the meetings in...
Read More →Tithing - Money – Giving – Finances - Collections
Tithing - Money – Giving – Finances - Collections The 2x2s do not believe in tithing 10% or any amount–that was part of the Old...
Read More →U
Unity, Uniformity & Harmony
Workers stress the importance of and take pride in the unity and harmony among the church. To have a functioning group, unity is essential. Uniformity...
Read More →W
Way, God's Only Right - God's Chosen People
The 2x2s believe they are God's Only Right/True Way. No one can get to heaven unless they come to Christ through their preachers. Their Workers...
Read More →Way, The Narrow
They believe the 2x2 church is the narrow way that leads to heaven and the broad and easy way leads to hell. Jesus said: Matt....
Read More →Way, The Perfect
Members sometimes refer to their 2x2 belief system as a Perfect Way or God's Perfect Way. A common phrase used is: God's Way is perfect,...
Read More →Way, The True - True Preachers - True Followers of God
They believe their method of ministry and fellowship/church is God's Only True Way, their preachers are God's Only True Preachers and the members are the...
Read More →Worker, Head
The Head Worker within each state/province is always a male. He person creates the Workers List for his state, assigns Workers under his responsibility to...
Read More →Workers - Preachers - Ministers - Servants - Evangelists - Laborers & the Work
They term most frequently use to refer to their ministers is Workers. They are also referred to as servants of the Lord, missionaries, ministers, evangelists,...
Read More →World, Worldly and Worldliness
The World is everyone apart from the 2x2s. This includes all other religions, Christian denominations, sects and churches. Everything the 2x2 group disapproves of; any...
Read More →Worship
The word worship is infrequently used. They believe their worship services (Fellowship Meetings) are only worship that God approves of. They have no worship services...
Read More →Worthy
A common refrain heard in meetings: I long to be more worthy in the coming days. Hymns Old & New No. 282: His way is...
Read More →