Ephesians 4:12
New International Version
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

New Living Translation
Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

English Standard Version
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Berean Standard Bible
to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,

Berean Literal Bible
toward the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,

King James Bible
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

New King James Version
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

New American Standard Bible
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ;

NASB 1995
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

NASB 1977
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Legacy Standard Bible
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ,

Amplified Bible
[and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];

Christian Standard Bible
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

American Standard Version
for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For the perfecting of The Holy Ones, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of The Messiah,

Contemporary English Version
so his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

English Revised Version
for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Their purpose is to prepare God's people to serve and to build up the body of Christ.

Good News Translation
He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.

International Standard Version
to equip the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body of the Messiah

Literal Standard Version
to the perfecting of the holy ones, for a work of ministry, for a building up of the body of the Christ,

Majority Standard Bible
to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,

New American Bible
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

NET Bible
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ,

New Revised Standard Version
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

New Heart English Bible
for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Webster's Bible Translation
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Weymouth New Testament
in order fully to equip His people for the work of serving--for the building up of Christ's body--

World English Bible
for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ,

Young's Literal Translation
unto the perfecting of the saints, for a work of ministration, for a building up of the body of the Christ,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Unity in the Body
11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.…

Cross References
Romans 12:5
so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.

Romans 14:19
So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Romans 15:2
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

1 Corinthians 12:7
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.

2 Corinthians 13:9
In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.


Treasury of Scripture

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

perfection.

Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

John 21:15-17
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs…

Acts 9:31
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

the work.

Acts 1:17,25
For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry…

Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Romans 12:7
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

the edifying.

Ephesians 4:16,29
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love…

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Romans 15:2
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

the body.

Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Ephesians 1:23
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

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Ephesians 4
1. He exhorts to unity;
7. and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men;
11. that his church might be edified,
16. and grow up in Christ.
18. He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles;
24. to put on the new man;
25. to cast off lying;
29. and corrupt communication.














(12) For the perfecting . . .--The parallelism of the three clauses of our version of this verse does not exactly correspond to the original, though we notice that Chrysostom supports it, and therefore evidently saw nothing in the Greek to contradict it. The preposition (eis) used in the two latter clauses (which should be unto work of ministration, unto edification of the body of Christ) properly signifies "contact with a thing," and the preposition (pros) used in the first clause, "direction towards a thing." The two are often apparently interchanged; but in close juxtaposition here can hardly be intended to be identical or exactly parallel; and, if distinction is to be drawn, the former must signify immediate consequence, and the other the remoter object to which such immediate consequence is designed to minister. The construction would be greatly simplified, if inversion of the first two clauses could be allowed. For it would then run, "unto work of ministration with a view to perfecting of saints, unto building up of the body of Christ;" and so would plainly represent the two-fold operation of the ministry: first, its work in its various offices for the perfecting of individual souls; and next, its general direction to the building up of the whole body. But whether this construction be grammatically possible or not, this appears to be in any case the general sense of the passage.

The perfecting of the saints.--The word rendered "perfecting" (akin to the "perfection" of 2Corinthians 13:9) is derived from a root which signifies either to "mend" what is broken (as in Matthew 4:21), or to "complete" what is unfinished (as in Luke 6:40; Romans 9:22); and hence is used spiritually for to "restore" the fallen (Galatians 6:1), or to "perfect" the imperfect Christian (Hebrews 13:21; 1Thessalonians 3:10). Both processes are necessarily implied in that perfection of the individual saints here spoken of, and more fully described in the next verses. . . .

Verse 12. - In order to the perfecting of the saints. The ultimate end for which the gifts bestowed (comp. Hebrews 12:1). A work of completion is in hand, which must be fulfilled (see ver. 13): the saints, now compassed about with infirmity, have to be freed from all stain (Ephesians 5:26, 27), and as instruments towards this end, the ministers of the Church are given by Christ; they are not mere promoters of civilization, men of culture planted among the rude, but instruments for advancing men to complete holiness. For the work of the ministry. The preposition is changed from πρὸς to εἰς πρὸς denoting the ultimate end, εἰς the immediate object (comp. Romans 15:2); the office of the Church officers is not lords, but διακονοί, servants, as Christ himself was (Matthew 20:28). For the building up of the body of Christ. Bringing bone to its bone and sinew to its sinew, increasing the number of believers, and promoting the spiritual life of each; carrying on all their work as Christ's servants and with a definite eye to the promotion of the great work which he undertook when he came to seek and to save the lost.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
to equip
καταρτισμὸν (katartismon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2677: A bringing to a condition of fitness, perfecting. From katartizo; complete furnishing.

the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

saints
ἁγίων (hagiōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

for
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

works
ἔργον (ergon)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.

of ministry,
διακονίας (diakonias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1248: Waiting at table; in a wider sense: service, ministration. From diakonos; attendance; figuratively aid, service.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

build up
οἰκοδομὴν (oikodomēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3619: Feminine of a compound of oikos and the base of doma; architecture, i.e. a structure; figuratively, confirmation.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

body
σώματος (sōmatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.

of Christ,
Χριστοῦ (Christou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
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