Last Day's Essentials-12

Unity in the Body of Christ

Eph. 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Gifted people are to minister till all the church attains (reach translates katantēsōmen, used in Acts of travelers arriving at their destinations) the three goals, each introduced by the Greek preposition (eis, “unto”): literally, (1) “unto the unity of the faith (cf. Eph. 4:5) and full knowledge (epignōseōs; cf. Eph. 1:17) of the Son of God,” (2) “unto a mature man,” and (3) “unto the measure (metron; cf. Eph. 4:7, 4:16) of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” As each believer functions in accord with the gift(s) Christ has given him (Eph. 4:7) the body as a whole enjoys unity (cf. Eph. 4:3-6) and becomes more spiritually mature (cf. Eph. 4:15), more like Jesus Christ in all His fullness (cf. Eph. 1:23; 3:19).

Till...

μέχρι, μεχρίς

mechri mechris

mekh'-ree, mekh-ris'

From length; as far as, that is, up to a certain point (as preposition of extent [denoting the terminus, whereas a terminus; of time refers especially to the space of time or place intervening] or conjugation): - till, (un-) to, until.

we all...

πᾶς

pas

pas

Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole: - all (manner of, means) alway (-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no (-thing), X throughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.

come...

καταντάω

katantaō

kat-an-tah'-o

From down, in place or time and a derivative of that is, because or instead of; to meet against, that is, arrive at (literally or figuratively): - attain, come.

in...

εἰς

eis

ice

A primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases.: - [abundant-] ly, against, among, as, at, [back-] ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for [intent, purpose], fore, + forth, in (among, at unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-) on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore (-unto), throughout, till, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-) until (-to), . . . ward, [where-] fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion literally or figuratively.

the...

ὁ, ἡ, τό

ho hē to

ho, hay, to

The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom): - the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

unity...

ἑνότης

henotēs

hen-ot'-ace

From a primary numeral; one; oneness, that is, (figuratively) unanimity: - unity.

of the... see the above.

faith,...

πίστις

pistis

pis'-tis

From to convince by argument; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

and...

καί

kai

kahee

Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.

of the... see the above.

knowledge...

ἐπίγνωσις

epignōsis

ip-ig'-no-sis

From to know upon some mark; recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgment: - (ac-) knowledge (-ing, -ment).

of the... see the above.

Son (Christ Jesus)...

υἱός

uihos

hwee-os'

Apparently a primary word; a “son” (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figurative kinship: - child, foal, son.

of God (Father)...

θεός

theos

theh'-os

Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with the) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: - X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].

unto... see in above.

a perfect...

τέλειος

teleios

tel'-i-os

From to set out for a definite point or goal; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with the) completeness: - of full age, man, perfect.

man,...

ἀνήρ

anēr

an'-ayr

A primary word (compare manfaced that is, a human being); a man (properly as an individual male): - fellow, husband, man, sir.

unto... see in above.

the measure...

μέτρον

metron

met'-ron

An apparently primary word; a measure (“metre”), literally or figuratively; by implication a limited portion (degree): - measure.

of the stature...

ἡλικία

hēlikia

hay-lik-ee'-ah

From the same as a comrade that is, one of the same age; maturity (in years or size): - age, stature.

of the... see the above.

fullness...

πλήρωμα

plērōma

play'-ro-mah

From to make replete; repletion or completion, that is, (subjectively) what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), or (objectively) what is filled (as container, performance, period): - which is put in to fill up, piece that filled up, fulfilling, full, fulness.

of Christ (Son of God)...

Χριστός

Christos

khris-tos'

From to smear or rub with oil; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.

I had a whole new philosophy for the purpose of the church. It isn’t the evangelization of the world, but it is the building up of the body of Christ. And so, I then began to focus my ministry on building up the body of Christ, loving the body of Christ, ministering to the body of Christ, strengthening the body of Christ, teaching the body of Christ the Word of God, feeding the body of Christ. As the result, as they began to mature and come into this maturity in Christ, their lives became a witness to the world around them and others came to know and came to find out what was going on. And evangelism was the byproduct of a healthy body.