Ephesians 4:12

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];

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Christ gave these gifts to prepare God's holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.

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

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
yt the sainctes might have all thinges necessarie to worke and minister with all to the edifyinge of the body of christ

Hebrew Names Version
for the perfecting of the holy ones, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Messiah;

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

New Century Version
Christ gave those gifts to prepare God's holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.

Update Bible Version
for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of service, 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:

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

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

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, to the edifying the body of Christ;

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

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
to the ful endyng of seyntis, in to the werk of mynystrie, in to edificacioun of Cristis bodi,

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

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

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

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

Bible in Basic English
For the training of the saints as servants in the church, for the building up of the body of Christ:

Complete Jewish Bible
Their task is to equip God's people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah,

Darby Translation
for the perfecting of the saints; with a view to [the] work of [the] ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ;

International Standard Version
to perfectequip">[fn] the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body of Christ1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:26; Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 1:24;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the (church of the) Meshiha,

Murdock Translation
for perfecting the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of the Messiah;

King James Version (1611)
For the perfecting of the Saints, for the worke of the ministerie, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

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

New Life Bible
These gifts help His people work well for Him. And then the church which is the body of Christ will be made strong.

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

Geneva Bible (1587)
For the repairing of the Saintes, for the woorke of the ministerie, and for the edification of the bodie of Christ,

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

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
With a view to the fitting of the saints for the work of ministering, for an upbuilding of the body of the Christ;

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

Bishop's Bible (1568)
To the gatheryng together of the saintes, into the worke of ministration, into the edifiyng of the body of Christe:

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.

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

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

Lexham English Bible
for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Literal Translation
with a view to the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for 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,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
wherby the sayntes mighte be coupled together thorow comen seruyce to the edifienge of ye body of Christ,

Mace New Testament (1729)
thus fitly qualifying his servants for their respective offices, in order to build up the body of Christ:

New English Translation
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up 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,

Simplified Cowboy Version
Their jobs are to make top hands in all the outfits, which is the body of Christ.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
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,

Contextual Overview

²with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love. ³Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]. ⁴There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]— ⁵one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶one God and Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and [working] through all and [living] in all. ⁷Yet grace [God's undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ's [rich and abundant] gift. ⁸Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND HE BESTOWED GIFTS ON MEN." ⁹(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]). ¹¹And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct],

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

perfecting: Luke 22:32, John 21:15-17, Acts 9:31, Acts 11:23, Acts 14:22, Acts 14:23, Acts 20:28, Romans 15:14, Romans 15:29, 1 Corinthians 12:7, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Philippians 1:25, Philippians 1:26, Philippians 3:12-18, Colossians 1:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14, Hebrews 6:1, Hebrews 13:17

the work: Acts 1:17, Acts 1:25, Acts 20:24, Romans 12:7, 1 Corinthians 4:1, 1 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 3:8, 2 Corinthians 4:1, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 2 Corinthians 6:3, Colossians 4:17, 1 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:11

the edifying: Ephesians 4:16, Ephesians 4:29, Romans 14:19, Romans 15:2, 1 Corinthians 14:4, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 1 Corinthians 14:12, 1 Corinthians 14:14, 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Corinthians 12:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:11

the body: Ephesians 4:4, Ephesians 1:23, Colossians 1:24

Reciprocal: Exodus 40:8 - the court Isaiah 61:6 - named Isaiah 62:6 - set watchmen Jeremiah 1:5 - and I ordained Jeremiah 3:15 - And I Matthew 13:27 - the servants Luke 1:2 - and John 17:8 - I have John 17:23 - made Acts 15:32 - confirmed Acts 20:32 - to build Romans 10:15 - And how 1 Corinthians 3:22 - Paul 1 Corinthians 6:15 - your 1 Corinthians 10:17 - we being 1 Corinthians 12:5 - administrations 1 Corinthians 12:12 - as 1 Corinthians 12:27 - General 1 Corinthians 14:3 - edification 1 Corinthians 14:31 - all may learn 2 Corinthians 3:6 - hath Ephesians 2:20 - built Ephesians 3:5 - as it Ephesians 4:13 - unto a Philippians 1:6 - will 1 Thessalonians 5:20 - General 1 Timothy 1:4 - godly 1 Timothy 3:1 - desireth

Cross-References

Genesis 4:3
And in the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground.

Genesis 4:4
But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the LORD had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering;

Genesis 4:14
"Behold, You have driven me out this day from the face of the land; and from Your face (presence) I will be hidden, and I will be a fugitive and an [aimless] vagabond on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."

Genesis 4:17
Cain knew his wife [one of Adam's descendants] and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch; and Cain built a city and named it Enoch, after the name of his son.

Genesis 4:18
Now to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael became the father of Methushael, and Methushael became the father of Lamech.

Genesis 4:23
Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; You wives of Lamech, Listen to what I say; For I have killed a man [merely] for wounding me, And a boy [only] for striking (bruising) me.

Genesis 4:24
"If Cain is avenged sevenfold [as the LORD said he would be], Then Lamech [will be avenged] seventy-sevenfold."

Leviticus 26:20
'Your strength will be spent uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce and the trees of the land will not yield their fruit.

Leviticus 26:36
'As for those who are left of you, I will bring despair (lack of courage, weakness) into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a scattered leaf will put them to flight, and they will flee as if [running] from the sword, and will fall even when no one is chasing them.

Psalms 109:10
Let his children wander and beg; Let them seek their food and be driven far from their ruined homes.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For the perfecting of the saints, c,] The chosen ones, whom God has sanctified or set apart for himself in eternal election: the ministry of the word is designed for the completing the number of these in the effectual calling and for the perfecting of the whole body of the church, by gathering in all that belong to it, and of every particular saint, who is regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit of God: for the best of saints are imperfect; for though there is a perfection in them, as that designs sincerity, in opposition to hypocrisy, and as it may be taken comparatively with respect to what others are, or they themselves were; and though there is a perfection of parts of the new man in them, yet not of degrees; and though there is a complete perfection in Christ, yet not in themselves, their sanctification is imperfect, as their faith, knowledge, love, c. sin is in them, and committed by them, and they continually want supplies of grace and the best of them are sensible of their imperfection, and own it: now the ministration of the word is a means of carrying on the work of grace in them unto perfection, or "for the restoring or joining in of the saints"; the elect of God were disjointed in Adam's fall, and scattered abroad, who were representatively gathered together in one head, even in Christ, in redemption; and the word is the means of the visible and open jointing of them into Christ, and into his churches, and also of restoring them after backslidings:

for the work of the ministry; gifts are given unto men by Christ to qualify them for it: the preaching of the Gospel is a work, and a laborious one, and what no man is sufficient for of himself; it requires faithfulness, and is a good work, and when well performed, those concerned in it are worthy of respect, esteem, and honour; and it is a ministering work, a service and not dominion:

for the edifying the body of Christ; not his natural body the Father prepared for him; nor his sacramental body in the supper; but his mystical body the church; and gifts are bestowed to fit them for the preaching of the Gospel, that hereby the church, which is compared to an edifice, might be built up; and that the several societies of Christians and particular believers might have spiritual edification, and walk in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and their numbers be increased, and their graces be in lively exercise.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For the perfecting of the saints - On the meaning of the word rendered here as “perfecting” - καταρτισμὸν katartismon - see the notes on 2 Corinthians 13:9. It properly refers to “the restoring of anything to its place;” then putting in order, making complete, etc. Here it means that these various officers were appointed in order that everything in the church might be well arranged, or put into its proper place; or that the church might be “complete.” It is that Christians may have every possible advantage for becoming complete in love, and knowledge, and order.

For the work of the ministry - All these are engaged in the work of the ministry, though in different departments. Together they constituted the “ministry” by which Christ meant to establish and edify the church. All these offices had an existence at that time, and all were proper; though it is clear that they were not all designed to be permanent. The apostolic office was of course to cease with the death of those who were “the witnesses” of the life and doctrines of Jesus (compare notes on 1 Corinthians 9:1); the office of “prophets” was to cease with the cessation of inspiration; and in like manner it is possible that the office of teacher or evangelist might be suspended, as circumstances might demand. But is it not clear from this that Christ did not appoint “merely” three orders of clergy to be permanent in the church? Here are “five” orders enumerated, and in 1 Corinthians 12:28, there are “eight” mentioned; and how can it be demonstrated that the Saviour intended that there should be “three” only, and that they should be permanent? The presumption is rather that he meant that there should be but one permanent order of ministers, though the departments of their labor might be varied according to circumstances, and though there might be helpers, as occasion should demand. In founding churches among the pagan, and in instructing and governing them there, there is need of reviving nearly all the offices of teacher, helper, evangelist, etc., which Paul has enumerated as actually existing in his time.

For the edifying - For building it up; that is, in the knowledge of the truth and in piety; see the notes on Romans 14:19.

The body of Christ - The Church; see the notes on Ephesians 1:23.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 12. For the perfecting of the saints — For the complete instruction, purification, and union of all who have believed in Christ Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles. For the meaning of καταρτισμος, perfecting, 2 Corinthians 13:9.

For the work of the ministry — All these various officers, and the gifts and graces conferred upon them, were judged necessary, by the great Head of the Church, for its full instruction in the important doctrines of Christianity. The same officers and gifts are still necessary, and God gives them; but they do not know their places. In most Christian Churches there appears to be but one office, that of preacher; and one gift, that by which he professes to preach. The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, are all compounded in the class preachers; and many, to whom God has given nothing but the gift of exhortation, take texts to explain them; and thus lose their time, and mar their ministry.

Edifying of the body — The body of Christ is his Church, see Ephesians 2:20, c. and its edification consists in its thorough instruction in Divine things, and its being filled with faith and holiness.