Edification 2

Reminder of this definition of "edification": the process of building up, strengthening, or improving, particularly in a moral, spiritual, or intellectual sense. In a biblical context, edification is the act of promoting spiritual growth and development within the body of Christ, the Church, and individual believers... used in the New Testament to describe the nurturing and strengthening of faith.

Let's break the following passage down:

Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

1. "He [Jesus] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers" (verse 11): This list differs slightly from church leadership that is running operations of the church and tending of the flock. (See these links for the other aspects of church operations Acts 6:1-7 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and 1 Timothy 5:17-22 and Titus 1:5-9. ) The Ephesians 4: 11 list is not progressive in sequence of time. This is not referring to apostles and prophets of old. We still have evangelists, pastors, and teachers; after all. In Scripture the word "apostle" is used for more than the original twelve apostles: Barnabas and Paul in Acts 14:14. Silvanus and Timothy in 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 1 Thessalonians 2:6. The Greek word used is: ἀπόστολος (apostolos) "one who is sent." Because this must differ from an evangelist, I lean towards modern day apostles more as church planters and missionaries that build (I do think some missionaries are more in the role of evangelist). To be clear, I have not received a direct word from The Lord on the topic of modern day apostles.

   I also want to touch on this: is every evangelist, for example, operating to prepare the saints for the work of ministry? No. Most are evangelizing. But some are training the saints in evangelism and working with the other leaders to prepare the culture of the church, to prepare opportunities for the saints to engage in evangelism, etc.

2. "to equip the saints for the work of ministry" (12): It is the saints - the congregation, The Body - that are being equipped. For what? For the work of ministry. The Lord Empowers each saint with the ability to do ministry. It may be more formal, as in starting a nonprofit. It may be a ministry, like the prophetic ministry The Lord has Given me. It may be serving at church. Volunteering in the community, to God's Glory. Witnessing at work, to family, the community. The work of ministry is broad for the saints. It is the role of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers to cultivate a church culture that fosters ministry work for the saints, to train the saints, to offer a safe environment for practice, etc.

   Scripture links pertaining to the saints doing ministry work: 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Peter 4:10-11 and 1 Peter 2:4-5 and Matthew 28:19-20 .

3. "for building up the body of Christ" (12): Circling back to edification. Edification is not "makes me feel good." Though encouragement is certainly vital. Next we see what we're encouraging towards, what we're building towards...

4. "unity in the faith / knowledge of Jesus / maturity / fullness of Christ" (13): Part 3 will address this topic more in depth, as the scope is too sweeping to adequately explore here.

5. "speaking truth in love / grow into the Head, Christ" (15):

   1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

   James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

   Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

   Isaiah 11:2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him [Jesus], the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

   Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

   1 Corinthians 13:1-3 The Way of Love 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

6. "whole body joined together / working properly / every joint equipped / the body grows (16): Unto THIS, saints. Unto this.

The 3rd and final post in this series will address the role of spiritual milk and spiritual meat in maturing The Body into the fullness of Christ.

In Jesus's name,

Christy Hale