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When the purpose of God in His church is viewed from the Godward standpoint the
"Temple" is said to grow "in the Lord". Further, it does not say that the Temple builds
up itself in love, but that it is built up together in spirit. In chapter 4: the theme is
practical. The unity of the Spirit is there for us "to keep". The work of the Spirit is
through human channels, apostles, prophets, etc. The building up of the Body of Christ,
first wrought by these gifts of the ascended Lord, is followed, after the unity of the faith
is reached, by the harmonious working of every member of the Body building itself up in
love. A parallel passage is Col. 2: 19:--
"Out of Whom all the Body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and
ligaments, groweth with the growth of God."
The first point to notice is that all grows "out of" Christ, the Head. The next thing is
that "growth" depends upon "supply", and "supply" upon "unity among the members".
We might place the reference to the compactness of the Body and its several members
into parenthesis and read:--
"Out of Whom, origin, (all the body being fitly framed and knit together) through that
which every joint supplieth, channel, (according to the working in measure of every part)
the growth of the Body, is making unto the building up of itself in love, goal."
The two parenthetical clauses, as it were, are assumed as facts:--
"Taking it for granted that there is no dislocation either of limb, nerve, organ or
circulation", and "taking it for granted that each one part is working proportionately",
then "the growth of the body will take place".
What a deal is "taken for granted"! Let us note these features carefully.
"ALL THE BODY . . . . . MAKES FOR GROWTH."--This is equivalent to saying,
"According to the measure of each one part makes for growth." All the body is
concerned with the growth. It is impossible for one member to merely feed itself and
further its own growth without wrecking the health if not risking the reason and the life of
the Body.
"FITLY FRAMED AND KNIT TOGETHER."--The word translated "fitly framed
together" in 2: 21 and "fitly joined together" in 4: 16 is sunarmologeo. This word is
composed of "together", "adapt", and "collect" and Dr. Bullinger in his Lexicon well
expresses this by saying that it "joins together parts fitted to each other".
A very slight acquaintance with anatomy or physiology will impress the mind with the
perfect adaptation of the various parts of the body. There are no "square pegs in round
holes" when the unity is the unity of the Spirit; there are, alas, too many such when the
unity is of the flesh. Unity is fullest when it is unobtrusive. We are not conscious of the
many perfectly-fitted and lubricated joints of our bodies until rheumatism spoils their
perfect fitness and brings the fact of joints to mind. The healthy man is not conscious of
the organs of his body. This is the unity that we desire, but the man-made thing is a
source of irritation and trouble all the time. "Leagues", "unions", "societies" are well