Last Day's Essentials-14

Eph. 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

That is how the truth should be taught and spoken, in love. Not pounding the truth into people, not ranting and raving, but speaking the truth in love.

That we may grow up into him in all things, [that grow, through the truth of God,] which is the head, even Christ:

But...

δέ

de

deh

A primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.: - also, and, but, moreover, now [often unexpressed in English].

The truth recommended by Paul is the whole gospel which centers around Christ and builds the church into a working unit to throw off all error or waste so as to sustain itself like the human body.

speaking the truth...

ἀληθεύω

alētheuō

al-ayth-yoo'-o

From true as not concealing; to be true (in doctrine and profession): - speak (tell) the truth.

in...

ἐν

en

en

A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between to or into and denoting orgin); “in”, at, (up-) on, by, etc.: - about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-) by (+ all means), for (. . . sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-) in (-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-) on, [open-] ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, [speedi-] ly, X that, X there (-in, -on), through (-out), (un-) to(-ward), under, when, where (-with), while, with (-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) prep.

love,...

ἀγάπη

agapē

ag-ah'-pay

From to love in a social or moral sense; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.

may grow up...

αὐξάνω

auxanō

owx-an'-o

A prolonged form of a primary verb; to grow (“wax”), that is, enlarge (literally or figuratively, actively or passively): - grow (up), (give the) increase.

into...

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.

him...

αὐτός

autos

ow-tos'

From the particle αὖ au (perhaps akin to the base of to breathe unconsciously, that is, respire, to blow through the idea of a baffling wind; backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the compound of him) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons: - her, it (-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, ([self-], the) same, ([him-, my-, thy-]) self, [your-] selves, she, that, their (-s), them ([-selves]), there [-at, -by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with], they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

in all things,...

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.

which...

ὅς, ἥ, ὅ

hos hē ho

hos, hay, ho

Probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article definite article the); the relative (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that: - one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who (-m, -se), etc.

is...

ἐστί

esti

es-tee'

Third person singular present indicative of I exist; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are: - are, be (-long), call, X can [-not], come, consisteth, X dure for awhile, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.

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.

head,...

κεφαλή

kephalē

kef-al-ay'

Probably from the primary word κάπτω kaptō (in the sense of seizing); the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively: - head.

even Christ:...

Χριστός

Christos

khris-tos'

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

Paul stated positively that by speaking the truth in love (lit., “truthing in love,” which has the idea of maintaining truth in love in both speech and life) believers may grow up into Him with reference to all things. Christ, then, is the Source of a believer’s growth and also the Aim and Goal of his growth (cf. Eph. 4:13). From the Head (cf. Eph. 1:22; 5:23; Col. 1:18) the body derives its whole capacity for growth and activity (Eph. 4:16). Each member of the body is joined (Eph. 2:21) by being carefully fitted together, and each member is held or brought together by means of every supporting ligament (cf. Col. 2:19) according to the standard (kata, with the accusative) of the measured working (metrō, from metron) of each individual. This causes the body of Christ to grow (cf. Eph. 4:15) and build itself up (cf. Eph. 4:12) in love. The phrase “in love” occurs three times (Eph. 4:2, 4:15-16), thus pointing to the way unity is maintained.