Ephesians 4:13 kjv
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:
Ephesians 4:13 nkjv
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;
Ephesians 4:13 niv
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13 esv
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,
Ephesians 4:13 nlt
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.
Ephesians 4 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eph 4:12 | equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, | Equipping for Service |
| Col 1:28 | Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. | Goal of Ministry |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. | Unity in Christ |
| Phil 3:14 | I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. | Pressing Towards Maturity |
| Heb 12:23 | to the assembled throngs, the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, | Heavenly Perfection |
| 1 Peter 5:10 | And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. | Stability in Faith |
| 2 Peter 3:18 | But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. | Growth in Grace and Knowledge |
| 1 John 4:17 | By this is love made perfect among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. | Love Made Perfect |
| Gen 1:26 | Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” | Image of God |
| Rom 8:29 | For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. | Conformed to Christ's Image |
| Gal 4:19 | my little children, for whom I am again in anguish until Christ is formed in you— | Christ Formed Within |
| Eph 3:19 | and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. | Fullness of God |
| Eph 5:27 | so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. | Spotless Church |
| 1 Cor 13:10 | but when the proper time comes, what is perfect will come, and what is partial will be done away. | Perfection Arrives |
| Col 2:10 | and you are complete in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. | Complete in Him |
| Matt 5:48 | You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. | Be Perfect as Father |
| Heb 6:1 | Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, | Going on to Maturity |
| Col 2:9 | For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, | Fullness of Deity in Christ |
| Eph 4:1 | I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, | Worthy Walk |
| Eph 4:2 | with all humility, gentleness, long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, | Unity of Spirit |
| Eph 4:3 | eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Bond of Peace |
Ephesians 4 verses
Ephesians 4 13 Meaning
The ultimate goal of spiritual growth for believers is to attain the full maturity of Christ. This signifies a state of completeness, lacking nothing, and being perfectly formed in faith, knowledge, and character, reflecting the image of Christ in all aspects.
Ephesians 4 13 Context
This verse is situated within Ephesians chapter 4, a pivotal section focusing on unity and spiritual maturity within the Church. Paul begins by urging believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling (Eph 4:1-3), emphasizing the "one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all" (Eph 4:4-6) that unites them. He then discusses the gifts God has given to the church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—for the purpose of equipping the saints for ministry and building up the body of Christ (Eph 4:11-12). Verse 13 directly follows this, outlining the intended outcome of these gifted ministries: leading believers to spiritual maturity. The historical context is the church in Ephesus, a diverse community grappling with maintaining unity amidst varying spiritual gifts and the challenges of living out their faith in a pagan world. The polemic, though subtle here, is against spiritual immaturity and disunity that could hinder the church's effectiveness and testimony.
Ephesians 4 13 Word Analysis
- hina (ἵνα) - "in order that," "so that." This introduces a purpose clause, indicating the intended result of the previous equipping work.
- katantēsōmen (καταντήσωμεν) - from katantao (καταντάω), meaning "to arrive at," "reach," "attain." It signifies a final destination or achievement.
- eis (εἰς) - "unto," "to," "into." A preposition indicating movement towards a goal or destination.
- hēlikian (ἡλικίαν) - from hēlikia (ἡλικία), meaning "age," "stature," "growth," or "maturity." It refers to a developed state of spiritual growth.
- tou (τοῦ) - genitive article, indicating possession or relation.
- plēroumos (πληρώματος) - from plērōma (πλήρωμα), meaning "fullness," "completeness." It suggests a state of being complete and lacking nothing.
- tou (τοῦ) - genitive article.
- Christou (Χριστοῦ) - "of Christ." Possessive genitive, indicating that the maturity and fullness belong to Christ and are found in union with Him.
Group of words: "hina katantēsōmen eis hēlikian tou plēroumos tou Christou" - The core idea is "so that we may reach the measure of the fullness of Christ." This highlights the ultimate objective: arriving at a state of complete conformity to Christ, reflecting His fullness.
Ephesians 4 13 Bonus Section
The concept of plērōma (fullness) is significant throughout Paul's writings, especially in Ephesians, often referring to Christ Himself as the embodiment of God's fullness (Col 2:9). Therefore, reaching the plērōma tou Christou implies not just personal spiritual maturity but also the full realization of Christ's presence and purpose within the church. It suggests a collective arrival at the complete stature designed by God for His people, making them a true reflection of Christ on earth. This verse therefore links individual growth with the corporate edification of the Body of Christ, underscoring that the goal is a mature, unified body that fully represents its Head.
Ephesians 4 13 Commentary
The purpose of spiritual gifting and ministry is to mature the believers. This maturity is not about outgrowing faith but about deepening it, becoming fully developed in Christ. It’s a journey toward a state of spiritual completeness, mirroring Christ’s character and purpose. This fullness is not earned but attained by abiding in Christ, who is the source of all completeness.
- Practical Usage:
- Churches should focus on equipping members for ministry to foster spiritual growth.
- Believers should actively seek knowledge and apply biblical truth to mature their faith.
- Fellowship and mutual encouragement are vital for achieving this corporate maturity.