See in Reader
834 B
834 B
He gave these offices
The one to whom Christ gave the gifts can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "Christ gave these offices to the church" or "He gave people with these responsibilities to the church (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)
to equip the saints
"to prepare the people he has set apart" or "to provide the believers with what they need"
for the work of service
"so they can serve others"
for the building up of the body of Christ
Paul is speaking of people who grow spiritually as if they were doing exercises to increase the strength of their physical bodies. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom)
building up
"improvement"
body of Christ
The "body of Christ" refers to all of the individual members of Christ's Church.