Efesios 4:12

12 Ellos tienen la responsabilidad de preparar al pueblo de Dios para que lleve a cabo la obra de Dios y edifique la iglesia, es decir, el cuerpo de Cristo.

Efesios 4:12 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints,
&c,] The chosen ones, whom God has sanctified or set apart for himself in eternal election: the ministry of the word is designed for the completing the number of these in the effectual calling; and for the perfecting of the whole body of the church, by gathering in all that belong to it, and of every particular saint, who is regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit of God: for the best of saints are imperfect; for though there is a perfection in them, as that designs sincerity, in opposition to hypocrisy, and as it may be taken comparatively with respect to what others are, or they themselves were; and though there is a perfection of parts of the new man in them, yet not of degrees; and though there is a complete perfection in Christ, yet not in themselves, their sanctification is imperfect, as their faith, knowledge, love sin is in them, and committed by them, and they continually want supplies of grace; and the best of them are sensible of their imperfection, and own it: now the ministration of the word is a means of carrying on the work of grace in them unto perfection, or "for the restoring or joining in of the saints"; the elect of God were disjointed in Adam's fall, and scattered abroad, who were representatively gathered together in one head, even in Christ, in redemption; and the word is the means of the visible and open jointing of them into Christ, and into his churches, and also of restoring them after backslidings:

for the work of the ministry;
gifts are given unto men by Christ to qualify them for it: the preaching of the Gospel is a work, and a laborious one, and what no man is sufficient for of himself; it requires faithfulness, and is a good work, and when well performed, those concerned in it are worthy of respect, esteem, and honour; and it is a ministering work, a service and not dominion:

for the edifying the body of Christ;
not his natural body the Father prepared for him; nor his sacramental body in the supper; but his mystical body the church; and gifts are bestowed to fit them for the preaching of the Gospel, that hereby the church, which is compared to an edifice, might be built up; and that the several societies of Christians and particular believers might have spiritual edification, and walk in the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and their numbers be increased, and their graces be in lively exercise.

Efesios 4:12 In-Context

10 Y el que descendió es el mismo que ascendió por encima de todos los cielos, a fin de llenar la totalidad del universo con su presencia.

11 Ahora bien, Cristo dio los siguientes dones a la iglesia: los apóstoles, los profetas, los evangelistas, y los pastores y maestros.

12 Ellos tienen la responsabilidad de preparar al pueblo de Dios para que lleve a cabo la obra de Dios y edifique la iglesia, es decir, el cuerpo de Cristo.

13 Ese proceso continuará hasta que todos alcancemos tal unidad en nuestra fe y conocimiento del Hijo de Dios que seamos maduros en el Señor, es decir, hasta que lleguemos a la plena y completa medida de Cristo.

14 Entonces ya no seremos inmaduros como los niños. No seremos arrastrados de un lado a otro ni empujados por cualquier corriente de nuevas enseñanzas. No nos dejaremos llevar por personas que intenten engañarnos con mentiras tan hábiles que parezcan la verdad.