Eph 4:13-16 | JFB | STEP | 13. come in-- rather, "attain unto." Alford expresses the Greek order, "Until we arrive all of us at the unity," &c. faith and ... knowledge-- Full unity of faith is then found, when all alike thoroughly know Christ, the object of faith, and that in His highest dignity as "the Son of God" [De Wette] ( , ; ). Not even Paul counted himself to have fully "attained" ( ). Amidst the variety of the gifts and the multitude of the Church's members, its "faith" is to be ONE: as contrasted with the state of "children carried about with EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE." ( ). perfect man-- unto the full-grown man ( ; ; ); the maturity of an adult; contrasted with children ( ). Not "perfect men"; for the many members constitute but one Church joined to the one Christ. stature, &c.-- The standard of spiritual "stature" is "the fulness of Christ," that is, which Christ has ( ; ; compare ); that the body should be worthy of the Head, the perfect Christ.

‏ Ephesians 4:13-16

13. come in--rather, "attain unto." Alford expresses the Greek order, "Until we arrive all of us at the unity," &c.

faith and ... knowledge--Full unity of faith is then found, when all alike thoroughly know Christ, the object of faith, and that in His highest dignity as "the Son of God" [De Wette] (Ep 3:17, 19; 2Pe 1:5). Not even Paul counted himself to have fully "attained" (Php 3:12-14). Amidst the variety of the gifts and the multitude of the Church's members, its "faith" is to be ONE: as contrasted with the state of "children carried about with EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE." (Ep 4:14).

perfect man--unto the full-grown man (1Co 2:6; Php 3:15; He 5:14); the maturity of an adult; contrasted with children (Ep 4:14). Not "perfect men"; for the many members constitute but one Church joined to the one Christ.

stature, &c.--The standard of spiritual "stature" is "the fulness of Christ," that is, which Christ has (Ep 1:23; 3:19; compare Ga 4:19); that the body should be worthy of the Head, the perfect Christ.

14. Translate, "To the end that"; the aim of the bestowal of gifts stated negatively, as in Ep 4:13 it is stated positively.

tossed to and fro--inwardly, even without wind; like billows of the sea. So the Greek. Compare Jas 1:6.

carried about--with every wind from without.

doctrine--"teaching." The various teachings are the "winds" which keep them tossed on a sea of doubts (He 13:9; compare Mt 11:7).

by--Greek, "in"; expressing "the evil atmosphere in which the varying currents of doctrine exert their force" [Ellicott].

sleight--literally, "dice playing." The player frames his throws of the dice so that the numbers may turn up which best suit his purpose.

of men--contrasted with Christ (Ep 4:13).

and--Greek, "in."

cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive--Translate as Greek, "craftiness tending to the methodized system of deceit" ("the schemes of error") [Alford]. Bengel takes "deceit," or "error," to stand for "the parent of error," Satan (compare Ep 6:11); referring to his concealed mode of acting.

15. speaking the truth--Translate, "holding the truth"; "following the truth"; opposed to "error" or "deceit" (Ep 4:14).

in love--"Truth" is never to be sacrificed to so-called "charity"; yet it is to be maintained in charity. Truth in word and act, love in manner and spirit, are the Christian's rule (compare Ep 4:21, 24).

grow up--from the state of "children" to that of "full-grown men." There is growth only in the spiritually alive, not in the dead.

into him--so as to be more and more incorporated with Him, and become one with Him.

the head--(Ep 1:22).

16. (Col 2:19).

fitly joined together--"being fitly framed together," as in Ep 2:21; all the parts being in their proper position, and in mutual relation.

compacted--implying firm consolidation.

by that which every joint supplieth--Greek, "by means of every joint of the supply"; joined with "maketh increase of the body," not with "compacted." "By every ministering (supplying) joint." The joints are the points of union where the supply passes to the different members, furnishing the body with the materials of its growth.

effectual working--(Ep 1:19; 3:7). According to the effectual working of grace in each member (or else, rather, "according to each several member's working"), proportioned to the measure of its need of supply.

every part--Greek, "each one part"; each individual part.

maketh increase--Translate, as the Greek is the same as Ep 4:15, "maketh (carrieth on) the growth of the body."