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Thursday, September 26th, 2024
the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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Read the Bible

Revised Standard Version

Ephesians 4:13

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 fulness of Christ;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Faith;   Perfection;   Righteous;   Sanctification;   Wisdom;   Thompson Chain Reference - Deterioration-Development;   Emptiness-Fulness;   Fulness;   Maturity, Spiritual;   Perfection;   Perfection-Imperfection;   Unity;   Unity-Strife;   The Topic Concordance - Body;   Disciples/apostles;   Evangelism;   Giving and Gifts;   Prophecy and Prophets;   Shepherds/pastors;   Teaching;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Christ Is God;   Edification;   Life, Spiritual;   Measures;   Perfection;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Apostle;   Church;   Education;   Interpretation;   Mission;   Pastor;   Paul;   Teacher;   Work;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Body;   Build up;   Church, the;   Ethics;   Holy Spirit;   Holy Spirit, Gifts of;   Image of God;   Nahum, Theology of;   Spirituality;   Union with Christ;   Worship;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Christianity;   Ordinances of the Gospel;   Quakers;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Church;   Deborah;   Elijah;   Hebrews, the Epistle to the;   Pentecost;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Baptism of the Holy Spirit;   Body of Christ;   Church;   Edification;   Ephesians, Book of;   Humanity;   Pastor;   Paul;   Perfect;   Preaching in the Bible;   Saints;   Spirit;   Stature;   Unity;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Church;   Ephesians, Epistle to;   Love, Lover, Lovely, Beloved;   Peter, First Epistle of;   Pleroma;   Presbytery;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Age;   Age (2);   Anger;   Annunciation, the ;   Church (2);   Ephesians Epistle to the;   Example;   Fellowship (2);   Fulness;   Fulness ;   Gospel;   Growth Increase ;   Ideal;   Mediation Mediator;   Oneness;   Perfect Perfection;   Pre-Eminence ;   Temperance;   Unity;   Unity (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Apostle;   Ascension;   Edification;   Perfect;   48 To Know, Perceive, Understand;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Breast;   Perfect;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom or Church of Christ, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Age;   Children of God;   Church;   Come;   Ephesians, Epistle to the;   Fullness;   Grace;   Know;   Perfect;   Sanctification;   Stature;   Unity;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for April 24;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 1;   Every Day Light - Devotion for October 11;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for July 12;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Legacy Standard Bible
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ,
Simplified Cowboy Version
We will all work hard until we reach top hand status in Christ's eyes, not our own.
Bible in Basic English
Till we all come to the harmony of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full growth, to the full measure of Christ:
Darby Translation
until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at [the] full-grown man, at [the] measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ;
Christian Standard Bible®
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ's fullness.
World English Bible
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Till we all come to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Weymouth's New Testament
till we all of us arrive at oneness in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and at mature manhood and the stature of full-grown men in Christ.
King James Version (1611)
Till we all come in the vnitie of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God, vnto a perfect man, vnto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ:
Literal Translation
until we all may come to the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
tyll we all come vnto one maner of faith and knowlege of the sonne of God, and become a perfecte man in to the measure of the perfecte age of Christ
Mace New Testament (1729)
till being united in a perfect belief, and acknowledgment of the son of God, we grow up to that full state of maturity required by Christ:
Amplified Bible
until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].
American Standard Version
till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
tyll we every one (in the vnitie of fayth and knowledge of the sonne of god) growe vp vnto a parfayte man after ye measure of age of the fulnes of Christ.
Update Bible Version
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Webster's Bible Translation
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Young's Literal Translation
till we may all come to the unity of the faith and of the recognition of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to a measure of stature of the fulness of the Christ,
New Century Version
This work must continue until we are all joined together in the same faith and in the same knowledge of the Son of God. We must become like a mature person, growing until we become like Christ and have his perfection.
New English Translation
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ's full stature.
Berean Standard Bible
until 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.
Contemporary English Version
This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.
Complete Jewish Bible
until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah's perfection.
English Standard Version
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,
Geneva Bible (1587)
Till we all meete together (in the vnitie of faith and that acknowledging of the Sonne of God) vnto a perfite man, and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ,
George Lamsa Translation
Until we all become one in faith, and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and become a perfect man according to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Hebrew Names Version
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah;
International Standard Version
until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God's Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in Christ.1 Corinthians 14:20; Colossians 1:28; 2:2;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
until we be all one in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of Aloha, and one man perfect in the measure of the stature of his completeness;
Murdock Translation
until we all become one and the same, in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and one complete man according to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah:
New King James Version
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
New Living Translation
This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
New Life Bible
All of us are to be as one in the faith and in knowing the Son of God. We are to be full-grown Christians standing as high and complete as Christ is Himself.
English Revised Version
till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
New Revised Standard
until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Until we all advance - into the oneness of the faith, and the personal knowledge of the Son of God, into a man of full-growth, into the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Until we all meet into the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ:
King James Version
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Lexham English Bible
until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Tyll we all meete together into the vnitie of fayth, and knowledge of the sonne of God, vnto a perfect man, vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christe:
Easy-to-Read Version
This work must continue until we are all joined together in what we believe and in what we know about the Son of God. Our goal is to become like a full-grown man—to look just like Christ and have all his perfection.
New American Standard Bible
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Good News Translation
And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
til we rennen alle, in to vnyte of feith and of knowyng of Goddis sone, in to a parfit man, aftir the mesure of age of the plente of Crist;

Contextual Overview

2 with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." 9 (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we all: Ephesians 4:3, Ephesians 4:5, Jeremiah 32:38, Jeremiah 32:39, Ezekiel 37:21, Ezekiel 37:22, Zephaniah 3:9, Zechariah 14:9, John 17:21, Acts 4:32, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2:1-3

in the unity: or, into the unity

the knowledge: Isaiah 53:11, Matthew 11:27, John 16:3, John 17:3, John 17:25, John 17:26, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Philippians 3:8, Colossians 2:2, 2 Peter 1:1-3, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 John 5:20

unto a: Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 2:15, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Colossians 1:28

stature: or, age

fulness: Ephesians 1:23

Reciprocal: Proverbs 11:9 - through Song of Solomon 7:7 - thy stature Acts 15:32 - confirmed Acts 16:5 - so Romans 12:3 - according Romans 15:29 - General 1 Corinthians 2:15 - judgeth 1 Corinthians 3:1 - babes 1 Corinthians 10:17 - we being 2 Corinthians 7:1 - perfecting 2 Corinthians 13:9 - even Ephesians 2:21 - all Colossians 1:10 - increasing Hebrews 5:14 - of full age

Cross-References

Job 15:22
He does not believe that he will return out of darkness, and he is destined for the sword.
Revelation 16:9
men were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.
Revelation 16:11
and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores, and did not repent of their deeds.
Revelation 16:21
and great hailstones, heavy as a hundred-weight, dropped on men from heaven, till men cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was that plague.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Till we all come in the unity of the faith,.... These words regard the continuance of the Gospel ministry in the church, until all the elect of God come in: or "to the unity of the faith"; by which is meant, not the union between the saints, the cement of which is love; nor that which is between Christ and his people, of which his love, and not their faith, is the bond; but the same with the "one faith", Ephesians 4:5 and designs either the doctrine of faith, which is uniform, and all of a piece; and the sense is, that the ministration of the Gospel will continue until the saints entirely unite in their sentiments about it, and both watchmen and churches see eye to eye: or else the grace of faith, which as to its nature, object, author, spring, and cause, is the same; and it usually comes by hearing; and all God's elect shall have it; and the work and office of the ministry will remain until they are all brought to believe in Christ;

and of the knowledge of the Son of God; which is but another phrase for faith in Christ, for faith is a spiritual knowledge of Christ; it is that grace by which a soul beholds his glory and fulness, approves of him, trusts in him, and appropriates him to itself; and such an approbatory, fiducial, appropriating, practical, and experimental knowledge of Christ, is here intended; and which is imperfect in those that have it, and is not yet in many who will have it; and inasmuch as the Gospel ministry is the means of it, this will be continued until every elect soul partakes of it, and arrives to a greater perfection in it: for it follows,

unto a perfect man; meaning either Christ, who is in every sense a perfect man; his human nature is the greater and more perfect tabernacle, and he is perfectly free from sin, and has been made perfect through sufferings in it; and coming to him may be understood either of coming to him now by faith, which the Gospel ministry is the means of, and encourages to; or of coming to him hereafter, for the saints will meet him, and be ever with him, and till that time the Gospel will be preached: or else the church, being a complete body with all its members, is designed; for when all the elect of God are gathered in and joined together, they will be as one man; or it may respect every individual believer, who though he is comparatively perfect, and with regard to parts, but not degrees, and as in Christ Jesus, yet is in himself imperfect in holiness and knowledge, though hereafter he will be perfect in both; when he comes

unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: not of Christ's natural body, but of his mystical body the church, which will be his fulness when all the elect are gathered in; and when they are filled with his gifts and graces, and are grown up to their proportion in it, they will be come to the measure and stature of it: or it may be understood of every particular believer, who has Christ formed in him; who when the work of grace is finished in him, will be a perfect man in Christ, and all this will be true of him; till which time, and during this imperfect state, the Gospel ministry will be maintained: the phrase is taken from the Jews, who among the forms and degrees of prophecy which the prophets arrived to, and had in them the vision of God and angels, make שעור קומה, "the measure of the stature" z, a principal one; and is here used for the perfection of the heavenly state in the vision, and enjoyment of God and Christ.

z Maimon. in Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 11. sect. 1. Cosri, par. 4. sect. 3. p. 213. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Till we all come - Until all Christians arrive at a state of complete unity, and to entire perfection.

In the unity of the faith - Margin, into. The meaning is, until we all hold the same truths, and have the same confidence in the Son of God; see the notes on John 17:21-23.

And of the knowledge of the Son of God - That they might attain to the satire practical acquaintance with the Son of God, and might thus come to the maturity of Christian piety; see the notes on Ephesians 3:19.

Unto a perfect man - Unto a complete man. This figure is obvious. The apostle compares their condition then to a state of childhood. The perfect man here refers to the man “grown up,” the man of mature life. He says that Christ had appointed pastors and teachers that the infant church might be conducted to “maturity;” or become strong - like a man. He does not refer to the doctrine of “sinless perfection” - but to the state of manhood as compared with that of childhood - a state of strength, vigor, wisdom, when the full growth should be attained; see 1 Corinthians 14:20.

Unto the measure of the stature - Margin, or age. The word “stature” expresses the idea. It refers to the growth of a man. The stature to be attained to was that of Christ. He was the standard - not in size, not in age - but in moral character. The measure to be reached was Christ; or we are to grow until we become like him.

Of the fulness of Christ - see the notes on Ephesians 1:23. The phrase “the measure of the fulness,” means, probably, the “full measure” - by a form of construction that is common in the Hebrew writings, where two nouns are so used that one is to be rendered as an adjective - “as trees of greatness” - meaning great trees. Here it means, that they should so advance in piety and knowledge as to become wholly like him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. In the unity of the faith — Jews and Gentiles being all converted according to the doctrines laid down in the faith-the Christian system.

The knowledge of the Son of God — A trite understanding of the mystery of the incarnation; why God was manifest in the flesh, and why this was necessary in order to human salvation.

Unto a perfect man — εις ανδρα τελειον. One thoroughly instructed; the whole body of the Church being fully taught, justified, sanctified, and sealed.

Measure of the stature — The full measure of knowledge, love, and holiness, which the Gospel of Christ requires. Many preachers, and multitudes of professing people, are studious to find out how many imperfections and infidelities, and how much inward sinfulness, is consistent with a safe state in religion but how few, very few, are bringing out the fair Gospel standard to try the height of the members of the Church; whether they be fit for the heavenly army; whether their stature be such as qualifies them for the ranks of the Church militant! The measure of the stature of the fulness is seldom seen; the measure of the stature of littleness, dwarfishness, and emptiness, is often exhibited.


 
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