Ephesians 4:16

from whom He is the vital Source to which the whole complex organism now to be described wholly owes alike its existenceand its action.

fitly joined together The Gr. participle is present, and indicates a process going on. The Body, vitalized from and by the Head, is evermore acquiringa deeper and truer contact of part with part, a more harmonious (" fitly") inner union and action. See above on Ephesians 2:21, where the same Gr. word occurs.

compacted Again a present participle. (The same word recurs Colossians 2:19.) The idea of growth in harmony of structure (see last note) here merges into that of growth in solidity and strength.

by that which every joint supplieth Lit., by or through every joint of the supply. It is possible to render "by every contactof the supply"; i.e., as explained by St Chrysostom here, "as the Spirit touches, in order to supply grace, each limb of the Body"; or, perhaps, as each limb, each believer, touches (by faith) the source of supply. But the parallel passage Colossians 2:19 is decisive for the explanation "joint." So the Latin Versions, junctura. The thought is of "supply" passing to the limbs through the nexusof each with the source of life. Each such nexusis thus a "joint ofsupply," "a junction designed for, made for, conveyance" of life and power; as we speak of "a bond ofunion." The metaphor must not be elaborately pressed. The essential idea is mutual coherence and common growth of the limbs through individual connexion with the Head (1 Corinthians 6:17), not through connexion with other limbs. The "joint" thus represents the man's spiritual union with Christ, not union with church-organization, which is a thing, however sacred, of another order. The life-flow from the Head to each spiritual Limb is individual and direct. The product of this, not the cause or means of it, is the life of the Body.

according to the effectual working Better, simply, [the] working. The process in view takes place "according to," in the manner and on the scale of, the life-power of the Head acting in the Limb. The original noun (whence our "energy" is derived) occurs in N. T. only in St Paul; Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 3:7 (where see note), and here; Philippians 3:21; Colossians 1:29; Col 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:9 (of the working of the Evil Power). The article is omitted before the word here, perhaps because the power referred to is unmistakable. Alford renders "according to vital working."

in the measure of every part Each limb has its own conditions of larger or smaller capacity; age, circumstances, training, and the like occasion very various "measures" in the allotments of the Divine life-power which adjusts itself to each real need, while it can always fully meet that need.

maketh The form of the Gr. verb (middle) indicates fulness and intensity of action.

increase Lit., the increase, thegrowth contemplated as taking place.

unto the edifying of itself For illustration, see Ephesians 2:21, and notes.

in love The inmost condition of the whole process. All takes place "in," under the power and after the action of, "love"; for the Source of the life-energy is "the Son of the Father's love" (Colossians 1:13, Gr.), and the recipients are "rooted and grounded in the love" of the Father in Him (see above on Ephesians 3:17); from which "no created thing shall separate them" (Romans 8:39).