Perfecting the Church For the perfecting of the saintsWord Study - Perfecting the Church The Five-fold ministry is called to equip and train

For the perfecting of the saints...

One of the words we study today is the word "perfecting" that comes from Ephesians 4:11,12,13 where we read;

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

The Greek is "katartismos" (Strongs #2677 from #2675) meaning, complete furnishing, to equip or complete thoroughly. To repair or adjust, to mend or restore, to prepare or make perfect. To make something complete, or make a complete adjustment. To equip completely.

Latin: "perfectus" from past participle "perficere" meaning to complete or do thoroughly. It also means completed, excellent.

It is also used in a Medical way

This word is also used in a medical way, where it has the implication of putting a bone that is out of socket back into place.

Collier's Dictionary defines "perfect" as the following: Free from any defect or imperfection; to have all the proper or essential qualities or characteristics; fully developed or formed. It means to correspond exactly to the original; accurate or correct. It means to be highly trained, skilled, accomplished, to be an expert in something.

In 2 Timothy 2:21 we read, "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

The word "prepared" is the Greek word "hetoimazo" (Strongs #2090, 2092, 2680). It means an internal preparedness and equipping, and it basically has the same meanings as "katartismos" above.

Equip according to Collier's means to "provide or prepare with whatever is necessary for an event or undertaking. According to Old French and Old Norse, it means to build something, or to put a crew in their proper places onboard their ship.

How does it apply to you and I as Christians today?

The Five-fold ministry is called to equip and train believers for the work of the ministry in such a way that they will not give up, burn out, or fail in whatever endeavour they may embark upon for God.

The Five-fold ministry is also called to put believers back into their "socket" in the Church of Jesus Christ. In other words leadership need to put the Body of Christ back into "joint" as we read in Ephesians 4:16;

"From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Let us help others in the Body find their place as we find ours.

Yours in His Love and Anointing

Jan van Rooyen

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And he gave some, apostles If a man therefore purge himself...

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