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NASB | Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:12 [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]; |
Subject: How do you share Jesus with others? |
Bible Note: If I may...again, Jesus is speaking to the eleven disciples. This cannot be used to apply to EVERYONE in the body of Christ as the grammar in this verse reveals Jesus is emphatic in addressing the eleven. There are other verses that address the calling, command, and instruction to the various servants and ministries in the body of Christ, such as 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. In Acts 1:8 Jesus is speaking to the eleven disciples, and only to them: Acts 1:4-8 (KJV) 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. It would seem that it is only Jesus and the "eleven from Galilee: Acts 1:11 (KJV) 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. The ministry of apostle is not to establish churches. Being commissioned [apostle-ized] can include many different descriptions and services to the Lord. And a review of these ministries described in Ephesians 4:11-12 reveals that these ministries, gifts and callings are not to the world, but to the Church: Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: It doesn't say, "for the perfecting of the world, for the work of the world, for the edification of the world," and I could not in good conscience teach that these instructions and commands of the Holy Spirit is written in stone and be strict and dogmatic about these callings and ministries, for Paul was called to be apostle and his specific command and instruction was "to go far unto the Gentiles" |