First Corinthians MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Macarthur New Testament Commentary Serie) by John F MacArthur

Author:John F MacArthur [MacArthur, John F]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 1984-11-07T16:00:00+00:00

The basic meaning of edify (oikodomeō) is “to build a house,” and, by extension, the term refers to the literal or figurative building of anything. It is often used in the New Testament to describe the spiritual growth, or upbuilding, of believers. Whatever contributes to spiritual growth constitutes what is profitable, or beneficial, helpful, advantageous, or useful. Only things that are profitable are able to edify. Those two present active indicative verbs basically convey the same truth.

There are many ways in which we are built up, in which we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18), but there are four basic tools to help us grow in Him. First is His Word. In his counsel to the Ephesian elders who had come to Miletus to see him for the last time, Paul said, “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). God’s Word is His supreme means of building us up (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17). Second is preaching and teaching. Later in this letter to the Corinthians Paul tells them that, rather than being so concerned about speaking in tongues, they should focus on prophesying, or preaching, which “speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.” The “one who prophesies edifies the church” (1 Cor. 14:3-4). Third is love. Knowledge tends to make us proud and arrogant, whereas “love edifies” (1 Cor. 8:1). Fourth is obedient service. The purpose of the Christian ministry is to equip “the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12).

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