"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." - Ephesians 4:13 (NASB)
Paul had already underscored the responsibility of church leaders in steering the corporate body of Christ towards its health and growth. In this passage he paints a touching picture of the ultimate development of the church as God intended it to be.
The phrase “until we all attain” is an Aorist Active Subjunctive, which conveys a sense of urgency, indicating the action of arriving at a destination. The inclusion of “all” emphasizes the collective responsibility of the community. This reflects the interconnected nature of spiritual maturity, highlighting the importance of unity in faith, the knowledge of the Son of God, and ultimately, reaching a Christlike maturity. Importantly, the goal articulated is not the maturation of a select few, but the spiritual growth and maturity of all believers, underscoring the communal aspect of spiritual development.
“to the unity of the faith” speaks to the idea of all believers holding the same fundamental truths, and the same unwavering trust and confidence in Christ even amid diversity. This idea echoes Christ’s prayer for the unity of all believers in John 17:20-23.
“The knowledge…” – This compound Greek term (epiginōskō) denotes a comprehensive experiential understanding. This may allude to the Hebrew notion of “knowing” as a personal relationship (cf. Gen. 4:1; Jer. 1:5; Phil. 3:8,10) in contrast to the Greek understanding of knowing as cognitive information. Both aspects are essential for the development of a mature Christian faith. I believe this serves as Paul’s clear rebuttal to the emphasis placed by the Gnostic false teachers1 who purported to possess esoteric knowledge accessible only to a select few. Instead, the Christian leadership’s mandate, as outlined in his letter, is to nurture and guide the entire congregation towards spiritual completeness in Jesus Christ.
The term “mature man” is used in contrast to the “children” mentioned in verse 14. The Greek root (telos) signifies “complete” and “fully equipped,” The apostle tells us that as believers, our journey is like growing up from being kids to adults. This means becoming spiritually mature, strong, and wise. This comparison encourages us to aim for completeness, not to be perfectly sinless, but to become fully developed adults in our faith. In this regard, the responsibility of the church’s leaders is paramount, as they are instrumental in steering the collective journey towards spiritual fulfillment and maturity.
“to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” – Just as a child matures into an adult, we are called to grow in moral character and emulate the character of Christ. The journey of transformation leads us towards the fullness of Christ, symbolizing a state of spiritual completeness and wisdom. Like mighty trees reaching for the sky, we are encouraged to advance in holiness and knowledge until we embody the essence of His teachings, becoming a reflection of His grace and love. In other words, the goal of Christianity is Christlikeness!2
- https://www.facebook.com/lorenzo.palon/posts/pfbid0heS1ywvGDkRdr41UpuJEXdhnpFLUZYNU1FyCQJyw6DgQqMiKFpQnr57yVAmrReuHl ↩︎
- Jesus imparts the maturity and fulfillment that the Mosaic Covenant was unable to achieve.” ↩︎
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