Ephesians 4:16 often gets rephrased as saying that the Church is, "joined and knit together by what every member supplies." But.. that's not what the verse says.
In nearly every translation, and even in the original Greek, the word Paul uses is "joint."
Maybe this doesn't seem like a big deal but "joints" and "members" are fundamentally different elements to a physical body and the same hold true for the Spiritual body. In fact, to misunderstand this verse is to potentially cause great harm to a Church.
To misunderstand this verse can (and does) often lead to pride, self-esteem issues, and wrong judgment of others because it elevates the INDIVIDUAL instead of elevating RELATIONSHIPS.
The reality is, our strengths, gifts, and efforts are only worth ANYTHING in the context of one another. If I have a gift for speaking but I have no connection to my Church - my gift is wasted. If I have a gift of hospitality but I have harmed my connection points to the Church - my gift is wasted.
No matter WHAT we have to offer the body, if we have undervalued connection TO the body, that gift lies stagnant.
Hopefully, over the course of this episode, we'll reexamine the connection points in the Church - our relationships with others - and esteem them as the pivotal building blocks to the Church that they are.
Email: truthbetoldbiblepodcast@gmail.com
Logo: Matt Hernandez
Music: Acoustic Indie Folk Years By MarkJuly
Popular Podcasts
Cold Case Files: Miami
Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides. Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.