Systematic Bible Study
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A literal translation of the Greek text -
Eph 4:11 And ( καὶ ) he ( αὐτὸς, emphatic: the risen glorified victorious Christ) gave ( ἔδωκεν, aorist active indicative ) the indeed apostles ( τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους ); but also the prophets ( τοὺς δὲ προφήτας ); but also the evangelists ( τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς ); but also the pastors and teachers ( τοὺς δὲ ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους );
Eph 4:12 Towards ( πρὸς ) the complete furnishing ( τὸν καταρτισμὸν ) of the saints ( τῶν ἁγίων ), into work ( εἰς ἔργον ) of ministry ( διακονίας ), into edifying ( εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ) of the body ( τοῦ σώματος ) of Christ ( τοῦ Χριστοῦ ):
Eph 4:13 Till ( μέχρι ) we settle down instead ( καταντήσωμεν , aorist active subjunctive , from kata/down and anti/instead) the all ( οἱ πάντες ) into the unity ( εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα ) of the faith ( τῆς πίστεως ), and of the knowledge ( καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως ) of the Son ( τοῦ υἱοῦ ) of God ( τοῦ θεοῦ ), into a perfect man ( εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον ), into a measure ( εἰς μέτρον ) of stature ( ἡλικίας ) of the fulness ( τοῦ πληρώματος ) of Christ ( τοῦ Χριστοῦ ):
My paraphrase of the sense of the Greek text -
11 And He gives/gave the very apostles upon whom and also upon Christ, all churches are built, but also, from the midst of those churches , the prophets, as well as the evangelists, and also the pastor-teachers, 12 to assist toward the completely furnishing of the saints for the kind of work of service that builds up the body of Christ, 13 until as a community we should, in contrast to our present state, all settle down instead, at some point, into the unity of the faith of the Son of God, and the unity of the knowledge of the Son of God: into a perfect man, into the fulness of Christ's measure of stature.
1. "And He gives/gave the very apostles upon whom and also upon Christ, all churches have been planted" - The aorist form is not really a tense, but an aspect. It regards the action as being observed at a particular single point in time, like a photograph taken at a point in time. The photo could be of the past, present or future. The action photographed could be momentary, continuous or intermittent. Sometimes context gives some clue as to which of these options appertains, but not always. I would lean towards the aorists here being gnomic: whenever apostles are sent out by the Lord, it is the Lord giving them to the church for the purpose that Paul will give soon.
2. "but also, from the midst of those churches derived from the apostles, the prophets, as well as the evangelists, and also the pastor-teachers," - The apostles planted churches and from within those churches there also arose prophets, evangelists and pastor-teachers. Prophets speak forth a new timely word from God to the church and the world.
Evangelists present the gospel message to the unsaved that faith in Jesus Christ might arise in their hearts.
Pastors tend the flock of God, defending them, tending to wounds with compassion, leading by example. To do this competently, they must also be able to teach from God's word.
Teachers feed the flock of God, but should also have a broader pastoral concern for those they teach. Hence IMO Paul here links pastors and teachers together as one category: pastor-teachers.
3. "to assist toward the completely furnishing of the saints for the kind of work of service that builds up the body of Christ," - These ministries are given to the church by Christ for a specific purpose: to train others to serve in such a way as to grow the body of Christ in numbers and to build a more Christlike maturity in members' lives. If the church is not bringing in new converts, or the members are not becoming more Christ-like, then those of us with these gifts are not exercised them properly. We need to ask God for better understanding and study more intently how Jesus exercised our gift/s in His ministry.
4. "until as a community we should, in contrast to our present state, all settle down instead, at some point, into the unity of the faith of the Son of God," - The word " καταντήσωμεν , aorist active subjunctive " is a combination of kata (down) and anti (instead). It indicates going from one place to another place instead. It us used of leaving somewhere and arriving somewhere else. Churches at present are a mixture of mature and immature, doubting and confident, broken and healed, error and truth, sin and holiness, worldliness and self-control.... But the Holy Spirit is given, and His gifts are given to the church to move members on from immaturity, brokenness, sin and worldliness ... to a place and time to come when we will all have a deep abiding unshakeable faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
5. "and the unity of the knowledge of the Son of God" - There will also be a time to come when we will all know Christ as we are known by Him, seeing Him face to face, interacting with His physical presence on the earth, and all our disputes about what He is like and what He wants of us will be obsolete. In the meantime, these gifts need to be exercised to move the members of the church along a path of more confidence in Christ and an increasingly genuine experience of Him.
6. " into a perfect man, into the fulness of Christ's measure of stature." - One day, at the resurrection of the just, all our shortcomings in terms of character and behaviour, and all our theological and doctrinal disagreements will be brought into conformity to Christ's own character, behaviour and truth, so that we co-operate fully in performing God's will toward one another and the rest of creation.
Eph 4:11 And ( καὶ ) he ( αὐτὸς, emphatic: the risen glorified victorious Christ) gave ( ἔδωκεν, aorist active indicative ) the indeed apostles ( τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους ); but also the prophets ( τοὺς δὲ προφήτας ); but also the evangelists ( τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς ); but also the pastors and teachers ( τοὺς δὲ ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους );
Eph 4:12 Towards ( πρὸς ) the complete furnishing ( τὸν καταρτισμὸν ) of the saints ( τῶν ἁγίων ), into work ( εἰς ἔργον ) of ministry ( διακονίας ), into edifying ( εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ) of the body ( τοῦ σώματος ) of Christ ( τοῦ Χριστοῦ ):
Eph 4:13 Till ( μέχρι ) we settle down instead ( καταντήσωμεν , aorist active subjunctive , from kata/down and anti/instead) the all ( οἱ πάντες ) into the unity ( εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα ) of the faith ( τῆς πίστεως ), and of the knowledge ( καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως ) of the Son ( τοῦ υἱοῦ ) of God ( τοῦ θεοῦ ), into a perfect man ( εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον ), into a measure ( εἰς μέτρον ) of stature ( ἡλικίας ) of the fulness ( τοῦ πληρώματος ) of Christ ( τοῦ Χριστοῦ ):
My paraphrase of the sense of the Greek text -
11 And He gives/gave the very apostles upon whom and also upon Christ, all churches are built, but also, from the midst of those churches , the prophets, as well as the evangelists, and also the pastor-teachers, 12 to assist toward the completely furnishing of the saints for the kind of work of service that builds up the body of Christ, 13 until as a community we should, in contrast to our present state, all settle down instead, at some point, into the unity of the faith of the Son of God, and the unity of the knowledge of the Son of God: into a perfect man, into the fulness of Christ's measure of stature.
1. "And He gives/gave the very apostles upon whom and also upon Christ, all churches have been planted" - The aorist form is not really a tense, but an aspect. It regards the action as being observed at a particular single point in time, like a photograph taken at a point in time. The photo could be of the past, present or future. The action photographed could be momentary, continuous or intermittent. Sometimes context gives some clue as to which of these options appertains, but not always. I would lean towards the aorists here being gnomic: whenever apostles are sent out by the Lord, it is the Lord giving them to the church for the purpose that Paul will give soon.
2. "but also, from the midst of those churches derived from the apostles, the prophets, as well as the evangelists, and also the pastor-teachers," - The apostles planted churches and from within those churches there also arose prophets, evangelists and pastor-teachers. Prophets speak forth a new timely word from God to the church and the world.
Evangelists present the gospel message to the unsaved that faith in Jesus Christ might arise in their hearts.
Pastors tend the flock of God, defending them, tending to wounds with compassion, leading by example. To do this competently, they must also be able to teach from God's word.
Teachers feed the flock of God, but should also have a broader pastoral concern for those they teach. Hence IMO Paul here links pastors and teachers together as one category: pastor-teachers.
3. "to assist toward the completely furnishing of the saints for the kind of work of service that builds up the body of Christ," - These ministries are given to the church by Christ for a specific purpose: to train others to serve in such a way as to grow the body of Christ in numbers and to build a more Christlike maturity in members' lives. If the church is not bringing in new converts, or the members are not becoming more Christ-like, then those of us with these gifts are not exercised them properly. We need to ask God for better understanding and study more intently how Jesus exercised our gift/s in His ministry.
4. "until as a community we should, in contrast to our present state, all settle down instead, at some point, into the unity of the faith of the Son of God," - The word " καταντήσωμεν , aorist active subjunctive " is a combination of kata (down) and anti (instead). It indicates going from one place to another place instead. It us used of leaving somewhere and arriving somewhere else. Churches at present are a mixture of mature and immature, doubting and confident, broken and healed, error and truth, sin and holiness, worldliness and self-control.... But the Holy Spirit is given, and His gifts are given to the church to move members on from immaturity, brokenness, sin and worldliness ... to a place and time to come when we will all have a deep abiding unshakeable faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
5. "and the unity of the knowledge of the Son of God" - There will also be a time to come when we will all know Christ as we are known by Him, seeing Him face to face, interacting with His physical presence on the earth, and all our disputes about what He is like and what He wants of us will be obsolete. In the meantime, these gifts need to be exercised to move the members of the church along a path of more confidence in Christ and an increasingly genuine experience of Him.
6. " into a perfect man, into the fulness of Christ's measure of stature." - One day, at the resurrection of the just, all our shortcomings in terms of character and behaviour, and all our theological and doctrinal disagreements will be brought into conformity to Christ's own character, behaviour and truth, so that we co-operate fully in performing God's will toward one another and the rest of creation.
I was considering translating "capture at the point of a spear" as "menace into surrender", but I thought the face to face confrontation implied by at the point of a spear was important. Jesus did not just command from His throne in heaven and force satan to release those in Hades He wanted freed. In His glorified form He went down into Hades, said "I'm baaack!" and faced off with satan, demanding the release of those He wanted, in a metaphor, forcing satan and he demons back away from the imprisoned souls at spearpoint. and taking them before their very eyes, up to the earth's surface. Maybe some of those souls were allowed to visit loved ones on their way up into heaven, and perhaps they were the ones Matthew mentions. Bodies may not be physical bodies here. but rather heavenly bodies that saints have in heaven as they await the resurrection.
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Naw they aren’t the things from the law of Moses like this are what Paul’s talking about “ works of the law @
“And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
Exodus 21:23-25
“And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.”
Leviticus 24:19-20 KJV
That’s a Hindrance to the gospel of the lord
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Matthew 5:38-39 KJV
It went from the people repaying the sinner equally eye for eye tooth for tooth justice among them to “ don’t do that old thing you heard but instead be merciful to those who wrong you and you’ll receive mercy forgive those who offend you and you’ll be forgiven turn the other cheek rather than relatiating equally “
or marriage is another good example of how the law hinders the gospel
Moses said
“When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deuteronomy 24:1-2 KJV
“They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery:
and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
Matthew 19:7-9
moses had said the opposite in the law
“let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.”
they were Constantly asking him about the laws precepts and he was constantly telling them other , new and better things . “The works of the law “ has nothing to do with obedience to chi diet and his word that’s why it can’t save anyone can’t be saved by repaying evil with an equal amount evil that’s not Christianity
“For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
John 1:17 KJV
Our faith begins at Jesus not Moses to reject his word is insanity
“And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”
Exodus 21:23-25
“And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.”
Leviticus 24:19-20 KJV
That’s a Hindrance to the gospel of the lord
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Matthew 5:38-39 KJV
It went from the people repaying the sinner equally eye for eye tooth for tooth justice among them to “ don’t do that old thing you heard but instead be merciful to those who wrong you and you’ll receive mercy forgive those who offend you and you’ll be forgiven turn the other cheek rather than relatiating equally “
or marriage is another good example of how the law hinders the gospel
Moses said
“When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Deuteronomy 24:1-2 KJV
“They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery:
and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
Matthew 19:7-9
moses had said the opposite in the law
“let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.”
they were Constantly asking him about the laws precepts and he was constantly telling them other , new and better things . “The works of the law “ has nothing to do with obedience to chi diet and his word that’s why it can’t save anyone can’t be saved by repaying evil with an equal amount evil that’s not Christianity
“For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
John 1:17 KJV
Our faith begins at Jesus not Moses to reject his word is insanity
A literal translation of the Greek text of Eph 4:14-16
Eph 4:14
[13 He took captivity captive and gave gifts to men, in order that He might fill/fulfil all things], 14 In order that ( ἵνα ) no longer ( μηκέτι ) we might/should keep on being ( ὦμεν, present subjunctive ) children ( νήπιοι ), being tossed to and fro ( κλυδωνιζόμενοι , present passive participle ), and ( καὶ ) being carried about ( περιφερόμενοι , present passive participle ) by/with every wind ( παντὶ ἀνέμῳ ) of the doctrine ( τῆς διδασκαλίας ) in the dice/gamble ( ἐν τῇ κυβείᾳ ) of the men ( τῶν ἀνθρώπων ) in/by cunning skill ( ἐν πανουργίᾳ ), towards ( πρὸς ) the traveling/going along with ( τὴν μεθοδείαν ) of the deception ( τῆς πλάνης ).
Eph 4:15
But speaking the truth ( ἀληθεύοντες δὲ , present active participle ) in love ( ἐν ἀγάπῃ ), we might/should grow up ( αὐξήσωμεν , aorist active subjunctive) into him ( εἰς αὐτὸν ) the all things, ( τὰ πάντα ) which ( ὅς ) is ( ἐστιν ) the head ( ἡ κεφαλή ), the Christ ( ὁ Χριστός ):
Eph 4:16
out of whom (ἐξ οὗ ) all the body ( πᾶν τὸ σῶμα , nominative case ) being laid down and joined together ( συναρμολογούμενον , present passive participle, with + joint/s + laid down) and being made to be knit together ( καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον , present passive participle, with + forced ) through ( διὰ ) of every joint (πάσης ἁφῆς , genitive case) of the supply ( τῆς ἐπιχορηγίας , genitive case), according to efficiency/efficacy/effectiveness ( κατ᾽ ἐνέργειαν ) in/by means of a measure ( ἐν μέτρῳ ) of one's each's part (ἑνὸς ἑκάστου μέρους ), the increase ( τὴν αὔξησιν , accusative case ) of the body ( τοῦ σώματος , genitive case ) is making ( ποιεῖται , present indicative) into/for edification ( εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ) of itself ( ἑαυτοῦ ) in/by means of love ( ἐν ἀγάπῃ ).
My own paraphrase of my understanding of the sense of the Greek text -
[In a face to face confrontation Christ raided captives from their captors and gave the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts to men, 14 in order that he might fulfil all things written], in order that we should no longer remain as children, being tossed to and fro and being carried about by every wind of the doctrine that is as uncertain as the outcome in the dice thrown by those same men, who are dealing in cunning craftiness to get us to go along with their deception. 15 No, we should no longer be being tossed to and fro and carried away by every doctrinal theory that wafts our way, but by speaking the truth in love we should grow up into Him, "the all things" prophesied that were fulfilled, who is the head of the body , namely the Christ. 16 Out of [Christ], as it is being laid down and joined together and being made to be knit together through that supplied out of Christ through every joint, all the body (the head with the body) is producing out of Christ the growth of the body, to build up itself by means of love, according to the degree of each one's contribution's effectiveness.
Eph 4:14
[13 He took captivity captive and gave gifts to men, in order that He might fill/fulfil all things], 14 In order that ( ἵνα ) no longer ( μηκέτι ) we might/should keep on being ( ὦμεν, present subjunctive ) children ( νήπιοι ), being tossed to and fro ( κλυδωνιζόμενοι , present passive participle ), and ( καὶ ) being carried about ( περιφερόμενοι , present passive participle ) by/with every wind ( παντὶ ἀνέμῳ ) of the doctrine ( τῆς διδασκαλίας ) in the dice/gamble ( ἐν τῇ κυβείᾳ ) of the men ( τῶν ἀνθρώπων ) in/by cunning skill ( ἐν πανουργίᾳ ), towards ( πρὸς ) the traveling/going along with ( τὴν μεθοδείαν ) of the deception ( τῆς πλάνης ).
Eph 4:15
But speaking the truth ( ἀληθεύοντες δὲ , present active participle ) in love ( ἐν ἀγάπῃ ), we might/should grow up ( αὐξήσωμεν , aorist active subjunctive) into him ( εἰς αὐτὸν ) the all things, ( τὰ πάντα ) which ( ὅς ) is ( ἐστιν ) the head ( ἡ κεφαλή ), the Christ ( ὁ Χριστός ):
Eph 4:16
out of whom (ἐξ οὗ ) all the body ( πᾶν τὸ σῶμα , nominative case ) being laid down and joined together ( συναρμολογούμενον , present passive participle, with + joint/s + laid down) and being made to be knit together ( καὶ συμβιβαζόμενον , present passive participle, with + forced ) through ( διὰ ) of every joint (πάσης ἁφῆς , genitive case) of the supply ( τῆς ἐπιχορηγίας , genitive case), according to efficiency/efficacy/effectiveness ( κατ᾽ ἐνέργειαν ) in/by means of a measure ( ἐν μέτρῳ ) of one's each's part (ἑνὸς ἑκάστου μέρους ), the increase ( τὴν αὔξησιν , accusative case ) of the body ( τοῦ σώματος , genitive case ) is making ( ποιεῖται , present indicative) into/for edification ( εἰς οἰκοδομὴν ) of itself ( ἑαυτοῦ ) in/by means of love ( ἐν ἀγάπῃ ).
My own paraphrase of my understanding of the sense of the Greek text -
[In a face to face confrontation Christ raided captives from their captors and gave the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts to men, 14 in order that he might fulfil all things written], in order that we should no longer remain as children, being tossed to and fro and being carried about by every wind of the doctrine that is as uncertain as the outcome in the dice thrown by those same men, who are dealing in cunning craftiness to get us to go along with their deception. 15 No, we should no longer be being tossed to and fro and carried away by every doctrinal theory that wafts our way, but by speaking the truth in love we should grow up into Him, "the all things" prophesied that were fulfilled, who is the head of the body , namely the Christ. 16 Out of [Christ], as it is being laid down and joined together and being made to be knit together through that supplied out of Christ through every joint, all the body (the head with the body) is producing out of Christ the growth of the body, to build up itself by means of love, according to the degree of each one's contribution's effectiveness.
1. "[In a face to face confrontation Christ raided captives from their captors and gave the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts to men, 14 in order that he might fulfil all things written], in order that we should no longer remain as children... -
Before Christ came we were children under tutors, but Christ has given us the Spirit of adoption, and at the resurrection we will be adopted -
Gal. 4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Rom 8:23
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
The purpose of being given the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts is to move us toward maturity to a point where we can competently govern with Christ over the earth.
2. "being tossed to and fro and being carried about by every wind of the doctrine that is as uncertain as the outcome in the dice thrown by those same men, who are dealing in cunning craftiness to get us to go along with their deception." -
Children are credulous and gullible. They don't realise how easily others can deceive them. The Holy Spirit and the Bible give us discernment to compare what is being taught to us against an objective truthful standard: the received and preserved Hebrew, Chaldee and Greek texts of the Old and New Testaments. We are playing dice with our spiritual health when we naively follow teachers without prayerfully checking their doctrine against the scriptures. Many teachers are as honest in dealing with scripture as gamblers who using loaded dice are in taking wagers.
3. "15 {No, we should no longer be being tossed to and fro and carried away by every doctrinal theory that wafts our way, but by speaking the truth in love we should grow up into Him, "the all things" prophesied and fulfilled" -
We see here a subtle play on the words pneuma/breath and anemos/wind. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God directed under God's control, as our breath is under ours. But the wind blows where it wills, undisciplined and chaotic, going no one knows where. with no ultimate destination. Following God's Spirit is traveling along with life-giving breath into hope and a future. Following men's ideas is living by chance, hoping for the best without any guarantees.
By speaking the truth in love we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, and our words are healing and life to those who hear them. The more we speak the truth in love, the more we become like Christ who fulfilled all the prophesies about Himself. In speaking like Him we can expect the same result: to fulfil all the prophesies about God's people.
4. " who is the head of the body , namely the Christ."
The one who fulfilled all things prophesied of Him is the head of the church, and the head of a body directs it. Without communication from the head, a body is unable to function intelligently. To function harmoniously with the rest of the church I must acknowledge and submit to Christ's headship over me.
5. "16 Out of [Christ], as it [all the body] is being laid down and joined together and being made to be knit together through that supplied out of Christ through every joint,..." -
Every resource that each member of the body supplies to the rest of the body comes out of Christ. That is, all resources originate in Christ.
The body being assembled with its parts being added is likened to a building where more and more blocks are laid down, mortared and pushed together, but where that mortar is exuded from the blocks themselves, after being supplied to the blocks injected into them by the Builder, Christ.
5. "all the body (the head with the body) is producing out of Christ the growth of the body,..." -
The growth of the body is a joint venture between the head and the body. Christ the head gifts resources to the body parts and the faithful ministry of those body parts draws others into faith in Christ and membership within the body.
6. "to build up itself by means of love, according to the degree of each one's contribution's effectiveness." -
Love is the fundamental mortar that holds all the members of the body together and matures them, and attracts outsiders to add themselves to the body of Christ. And the more effectiveness each one's ministry to the body and toward those outside is, the more people will be added to the body, and the more mature members become within the body.
Before Christ came we were children under tutors, but Christ has given us the Spirit of adoption, and at the resurrection we will be adopted -
Gal. 4 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Rom 8:23
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
The purpose of being given the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts is to move us toward maturity to a point where we can competently govern with Christ over the earth.
2. "being tossed to and fro and being carried about by every wind of the doctrine that is as uncertain as the outcome in the dice thrown by those same men, who are dealing in cunning craftiness to get us to go along with their deception." -
Children are credulous and gullible. They don't realise how easily others can deceive them. The Holy Spirit and the Bible give us discernment to compare what is being taught to us against an objective truthful standard: the received and preserved Hebrew, Chaldee and Greek texts of the Old and New Testaments. We are playing dice with our spiritual health when we naively follow teachers without prayerfully checking their doctrine against the scriptures. Many teachers are as honest in dealing with scripture as gamblers who using loaded dice are in taking wagers.
3. "15 {No, we should no longer be being tossed to and fro and carried away by every doctrinal theory that wafts our way, but by speaking the truth in love we should grow up into Him, "the all things" prophesied and fulfilled" -
We see here a subtle play on the words pneuma/breath and anemos/wind. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God directed under God's control, as our breath is under ours. But the wind blows where it wills, undisciplined and chaotic, going no one knows where. with no ultimate destination. Following God's Spirit is traveling along with life-giving breath into hope and a future. Following men's ideas is living by chance, hoping for the best without any guarantees.
By speaking the truth in love we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, and our words are healing and life to those who hear them. The more we speak the truth in love, the more we become like Christ who fulfilled all the prophesies about Himself. In speaking like Him we can expect the same result: to fulfil all the prophesies about God's people.
4. " who is the head of the body , namely the Christ."
The one who fulfilled all things prophesied of Him is the head of the church, and the head of a body directs it. Without communication from the head, a body is unable to function intelligently. To function harmoniously with the rest of the church I must acknowledge and submit to Christ's headship over me.
5. "16 Out of [Christ], as it [all the body] is being laid down and joined together and being made to be knit together through that supplied out of Christ through every joint,..." -
Every resource that each member of the body supplies to the rest of the body comes out of Christ. That is, all resources originate in Christ.
The body being assembled with its parts being added is likened to a building where more and more blocks are laid down, mortared and pushed together, but where that mortar is exuded from the blocks themselves, after being supplied to the blocks injected into them by the Builder, Christ.
5. "all the body (the head with the body) is producing out of Christ the growth of the body,..." -
The growth of the body is a joint venture between the head and the body. Christ the head gifts resources to the body parts and the faithful ministry of those body parts draws others into faith in Christ and membership within the body.
6. "to build up itself by means of love, according to the degree of each one's contribution's effectiveness." -
Love is the fundamental mortar that holds all the members of the body together and matures them, and attracts outsiders to add themselves to the body of Christ. And the more effectiveness each one's ministry to the body and toward those outside is, the more people will be added to the body, and the more mature members become within the body.
Thanks PT. I notice that "waves" is not in your translation, and it makes more sense to connect being tossed with being blown by the various doctrinal "winds", which we see evidenced on CC threads such as the one about whether we can have free will. And applied to that thread, this passage indicates that believers gain MFW as they LGW, especially the doctrine "Speak the truth in love." The context I have in mind includes Galatians 5:18 & 23, Romans 7:6 & 13:8-10.
Re the body metaphor, it is apt, especially as elaborated in 1Cor. 11:12-27, but I imagine Paul would have also compared it to a
symphony orchestra if he had lived during the classical period of music. (I played second violin by reading notes, but my grandpa wished I could play the fiddle by ear :^)
Re the body metaphor, it is apt, especially as elaborated in 1Cor. 11:12-27, but I imagine Paul would have also compared it to a
symphony orchestra if he had lived during the classical period of music. (I played second violin by reading notes, but my grandpa wished I could play the fiddle by ear :^)