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Building Up the Body of Christ in the New Testament

The concept of "building up the body of Christ" in the New Testament refers to the growth and maturation of the Church, understood as the collective assembly of believers united with Jesus Christ as their head [1, 4, 5]. This imagery emphasizes the organic, interconnected nature of the Christian community and its development towards spiritual completeness. The phrase itself appears in Ephesians 4:12, where the purpose of spiritual gifts and ministries is "to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ" [1].

The foundation of this "body" is Jesus Christ himself, who is described as the cornerstone upon which the apostles and prophets are built [2, 5]. The Church is not merely an organization but a living entity, with Christ as its head [5]. This intimate connection is further highlighted by the idea that believers are "members of His body, being of His flesh and of His bones," drawing a parallel to the creation of Eve from Adam's side, which is seen as an emblem of the Church's birth through Christ's death [11].

The metaphor of the Church as the "body of Christ" is central to Pauline theology, particularly in Ephesians and 1 Corinthians [4, 5]. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul elaborates on this concept by explaining that just as a physical body has many parts, each with a distinct function, so too does the Church comprise diverse members, each essential for its proper functioning [13]. No single part can claim superiority or inferiority, as God has placed each member where he desires [13]. This diversity of gifts and ministries—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—is given for the purpose of equipping the saints and building up the body [1].

The process of "building up" (Greek: oikodomē) implies growth, strengthening, and edification. It is a continuous process aimed at bringing believers to spiritual maturity, often described as "the fullness of the stature of the new man in Christ" [12]. This growth is not merely individual but communal, as members contribute to one another's spiritual well-being. John Gill, commenting on Ephesians 4:16, notes that the "whole body fitly joined together" derives its being, form, and blessings—such as life, light, righteousness, holiness, grace, and strength—from Christ as its head [10]. The church, in this sense, is dependent on Christ and united to him, as well as its members to one another [10].

The resurrection of Christ is foundational to the concept of the body of Christ. God's mighty power, demonstrated in raising Christ from the dead and seating him at his right hand, is the same power that works in believers [7, 8]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown explain that Christ's resurrection is an "earnest of our bodies being hereafter raised" and has a "spiritual power in it involving... the resurrection, spiritually of the believer's soul now, and, consequently, of his body hereafter" [7]. Believers are "raised up together" and "made to sit together" with Christ in the heavenly realms, indicating a spiritual union that has present and future implications [8].

The unity of the body of Christ is a recurring theme. John Chrysostom, in his homilies on 1 and 2 Corinthians, emphasizes that those who partake in the Eucharist become "the Body of Christ: not many bodies, but one body" [9]. He illustrates this with the analogy of bread, which, though made of many grains, becomes one loaf, signifying the profound conjunction of believers with each other and with Christ [9]. This unity is not merely symbolic but reflects a deep spiritual reality where individual differences are subsumed into a greater whole [9].

The concept of the Church as the body of Christ also highlights its relationship to God. The Church "belongs to God" and is "loved by Christ" [5]. It was "purchased by the blood of Christ" and is "sanctified and cleansed by Christ" [5]. Furthermore, the Church is the "object of the grace of God," displays "the wisdom of God," and shows forth "the praises of God" [5]. This indicates that the building up of the body of Christ is not only for the benefit of believers but also for the glory of God.

While the primary focus of "building up the body of Christ" is on spiritual growth and communal edification, it also carries implications for the Church's mission in the world. The equipping of saints for "works of ministry" [1] suggests an outward orientation, where the strengthened and unified body engages in service and witness. The term "Bunni," meaning "building me," and "Joakim," meaning "rising or establishing of the Lord," found in Hitchcock's Bible Names, reflect the underlying sense of construction and establishment inherent in the concept of building [3, 6].

The imagery of the Church as the body of Christ is distinct from other biblical metaphors for the Church, such as the "assembly of the saints," "bride of Christ," "flock of God," or "family in heaven and earth" [4]. While these metaphors each convey different aspects of the Church's identity and relationship with God, the "body of Christ" uniquely emphasizes organic unity, interdependence, and the active participation of each member in the Church's growth and function under Christ's headship [13]. This understanding underscores the vital role of every believer in the ongoing work of God's kingdom.

Sources

  1. Ephesians “Ephesians 4:12 (BSB) — to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,”
  2. Ephesians “Ephesians 2:20 (LITV) — being built up on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the cornerstone,”
  3. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Bunni — building me”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Titles and Names of the Church — Assembly of the saints -- Ps 89:7. Assembly of the upright -- Ps 111:1. Body of Christ -- Eph 1:22,23; Col 1:24. Branch of God's planting -- Isa 60:21. Bride of Christ -- Re 21:9. Church of God -- Ac 20:28. Church of the Living God -- 1Ti 3:15. Church of the first-born -- Heb 12:23. City of the Living God -- Heb 12:22. Congregation of saints -- Ps 149:1. Congregation of the Lord's poor -- Ps 74:19. Dove -- Song 2:14; 5:2. Family in heaven and earth -- Eph 3:15. Flock of God -- Eze 34:15; 1Pe 5:2. Fold of Christ -- Joh 10:16. General a”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Church, The — Belongs to God -- 1Ti 3:15. The body of Christ -- Eph 1:23; Col 1:24. Christ, the foundation-stone of -- 1Co 3:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:4,5. Christ, the head of -- Eph 1:22; 5:23. Loved by Christ -- Song 7:10; Eph 5:25. Purchased by the blood of Christ -- Ac 20:28; Eph 5:25; Heb 9:12. Sanctified and cleansed by Christ -- 1Co 6:11; Eph 5:26,27. Subject to Christ -- Ro 7:4; Eph 5:24. The object of the grace of God -- Isa 27:3; 2Co 8:1. Displays the wisdom of God -- Eph 3:10. Shows forth the praises of God -- Isa 60:6. God defends -- Ps 89:18; Isa 4:5; 49:25; M”
  6. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Joakim — rising or establishing of the Lord”
  7. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:20: in Christ--as our "first-fruits" of the resurrection, and Head, in virtue of God's mighty working in whom His power to us-ward is made possible and actual [ALFORD]. when he raised him--"in that He raised Him." The raising of Christ is not only an earnest of our bodies being hereafter raised, but has a spiritual power in it involving (by virtue of our living union with Him, as members with the Head) the resurrection, spiritually of the believer's soul now, and, consequently, of his body hereafter (Rom 6:8-11; Rom 8:11). The Son, too, as God (though”
  8. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 2:6: raised us up together--with Christ. The "raising up" presupposes previous quickening of Jesus in the tomb, and of us in the grave of our sins. made us sit together--with Christ, namely, in His ascension. Believers are bodily in heaven in point of right, and virtually so in spirit, and have each their own place assigned there, which in due time they shall take possession of (Phi 3:20-21). He does not say, "on the right hand of God"; a prerogative reserved to Christ peculiarly; though they shall share His throne (Rev 3:21). in Christ Jesus--Our uni”
  9. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: Body of Christ. And what do they become who partake of it? The Body of Christ: not many bodies, but one body. For as the bread consisting of many grains is made one, so that the grains no where appear; they exist indeed, but their difference is not seen by reason of their conjunction; so are we conjoined both with each other and with Christ: there not being one body for thee, and another for thy neighbor to be nourished by, but the very same for all. Wherefore also he adds, “For we all partake of the one bread.” Now if we are all nourished of the”
  10. Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:16: From whom the whole body fitly joined gether,.... By which is meant, the church; see Eph 1:23 sometimes it designs all the elect of God in heaven and in earth, but here the church militant, which only can admit of an increase; this body is from Christ, as an head, and the phrase denotes the rise and origin of the church from Christ, her dependence upon him, and union to him, and of its members one to another; she has her being and form, from him, and all her blessings, as her life and light, righteousness and holiness, her grace and strength, her joy, peace, and co”
  11. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:30: For--Greek, "Because" (Co1 6:15). Christ nourisheth and cherisheth the Church as being of one flesh with Him. Translate, "Because we are members of His body (His literal body), being OF His flesh and of His bones" [ALFORD] (Gen 2:23-24). The Greek expresses, "Being formed out of" or "of the substance of His flesh." Adam's deep sleep, wherein Eve was formed from out of his opened side, is an emblem of Christ's death, which was the birth of the Spouse, the Church. Joh 12:24; Joh 19:34-35, to which Eph 5:25-27 allude, as implying atonement by His blood”
  12. Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 6:1: We have here the apostle's advice to the Hebrews - that they would grow up from a state of childhood to the fullness of the stature of the new man in Christ. He declares his readiness to assist them all he could in their spiritual progress; and, for their greater encouragement, he puts himself with them: Let us go on. Here observe, In order to their growth, Christians must leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ. How must they leave them? They must not lose them, they must not despise them, they must not forget them. They must lay them up in their hearts, a”
  13. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:14: 12:14-21 These verses move from the image of a physical body to the image of the church as a spiritual body. Every part of the body is important and essential to its proper functioning. Believers should neither boast of their spiritual ministry nor belittle it in comparison to the ministries of other believers. God, who made the body, has put each part just where he wants it (12:18).”
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