Blog
“Seeking Maturity (v)”
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
- Paul in Ephesians 4:11-16 (with emphasis added)
Ephesians 4:13 is the next passage in the NT that utilizes the word “mature,” or once again, in the original language, TELEIOS. In this important passage, the apostle talks about some of the major gifts the Lord has given the church, and their intended effects on the church. Jesus gave the church such roles as apostles, evangelists, and teachers, among others. These positions were gifts to the church intended to help the church toward maturity and unity and strength.
“Mature manhood” is part of the goal. It is paralleled with, positively, the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Maturity, in the context of the church, is being like Jesus, in all His strength and completeness. Negatively, mature manhood is contrasted with no longer being children, which is further described as being unduly influenced by every strange and new doctrine that comes along.
As Paul continues, he says that such maturity involves speaking truth in a lovely way, and growing up into Jesus. The end result of all this, again in the context of the church, is that the church (body) grows as it is united, and that it constantly builds itself up in love.
Spiritual maturity includes being a part of Christ’s church, being like the Lord, speaking truth and not being swayed by falsehood, loving the brethren, and as a result of it all, growing. Take the opposite of all those traits, and one will see those things that demonstrate immaturity: not being a part of the church, being unlike Jesus, speaking and being influenced by false doctrine, not loving the brethren, and spiritual illness leading to death.
