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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Ephesians 4:12 - 4:12
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
12. πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων εἰς ἔργον διακονίας. ‘With a view to the equipment of the saints for ministerial duty.’ This whole clause must be taken together, the saints, i.e. all the members of the Church, are to be fitted to render their appropriate service, cf. Eph 2:10. It is however not clear whether it defines the activity of the pastors and teachers, or whether it is connected directly with ἔδωκεν and defines the purpose which lay behind the special endowments granted to particular individuals. The weight of the clause and its close connexion with the main thought of the sentence are strongly in favour of connecting it closely with the main verb.
διακονία. The most inclusive word covering the whole range of ministration from the highest to the lowest. The Christian use of it would seem to rest upon the word of the Lord in Mar 10:45.
εἰς οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ χριστοῦ. ‘To result in building up the body of the Christ,’ cf. Eph 4:16. Here again the connexion of the clause is not quite certain. It may be connected, as the preceding clause, with ἔδωκεν, and describe the ultimate goal contemplated in the gift. It is, however, probably better, seeing that the building up of the body is in Eph 4:16 so directly dependent on the activity of each several part, to regard it as co-ordinate with ἔργον διακονίας, i.e. as the result of the κατ. τ. ἁγ. The ‘building up’ has two sides. It consists partly in the drawing in of fresh members into the body, and partly in the perfecting of those who are already members. Cf. Eph 2:20; Eph 2:22; and Act 20:32; 1Th 5:11; 1Co 14:5. The goal is described in the next clause.