SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:16
del cual, todo el cuerpo compuesto y bien ligado entre sí por el alimento que cada vínculo suministre, que recibe segn la operacin de cada miembro conforme a su medida, toma aumento de cuerpo edificndose en caridad.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 4:16
Verse 16. From whom the whole body] Dr. Macknight has a just view of this passage, and I cannot express my own in more suitable terms: "The apostle's meaning is, that, as the human body is formed by the union of all the members to each other, under the head, and by the fitness of each member for its own office and place in the body, so the Church is formed by the union of its members under Christ, the head. Farther, as the human body increases till it arrives at maturity by the energy of every part in performing its proper function, and by the sympathy of every part with the whole, so the body or Church of Christ grows to maturity by the proper exercise of the gifts and graces of individuals for the benefit of the whole." This verse is another proof of the wisdom and learning of the apostle. Not only the general ideas here are anatomical, but the whole phraseology is the same. The articulation of the bones, the composition and action of the muscles, the circulation of the fluids, carrying nourishment to every part, and depositing some in every place, the energy of the system in keeping up all the functions, being particularly introduced, and the whole terminating in the general process of nutrition, increasing the body, and supplying all the waste that had taken place in consequence of labour, &c. Let any medical man, who understands the apostle's language, take up this verse, and he will be convinced that the apostle had all these things in view. I am surprised that some of those who have looked for the discoveries of the moderns among the ancients, have not brought in the apostle's word epicorhgia, supply, from epicorhgew, to lead up, lead along, minister, supply, &c., as some proof that the circulation of the blood was not unknown to St. Paul!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. From whom the whole body fitly joined gether , &c.] By which is meant, the church; (see Ephesians 1:23) sometimes it designs all the elect of God in heaven and in earth, but here the church militant, which only can admit of an increase; this body is from Christ, as an head, and the phrase denotes the rise and origin of the church from Christ, her dependence upon him, and union to him, and of its members one to another; she has her being and form, from him, and all her blessings, as her life and light, righteousness and holiness, her grace and strength, her joy, peace, and comfort, her fruitfulness and final perseverance; and her dependence is upon him for subsistence, sustenance, protection and safety, and for grace and glory; and her union to him is very near, strict and close, and indissoluble; and the union between the several members is also very close, and both are very beautiful: and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part . The Alexandrian copy reads, of every member; and so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; the author of the union of the members of Christ's body to one another is the Spirit of God, by him they are baptized into one body; the cement or bond of this union is the grace of love wrought in their souls by him; and the means are the word and ordinances, and these convey a supply from Christ the head to every member, suitable to the part it bears in the body, according to the energy of the Spirit, who makes all effectual: and so maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love ; the increase of the body the church, is either in numbers, when persons are converted and added to it; or in the exercise of grace, under the influence of the Spirit, through the ministration of the word and ordinances; and both these tend to the edifying or building of it up; and nothing is of a more edifying nature to the church than love, which bears the infirmities of the weak, and seeks for, and follows after those things which make for peace and godly edification, ( 1 Corinthians 8:1).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-16 - Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gift and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere hea knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but suc as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and measure of that fulness given in the counsel of God to every believer but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God' children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man find himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart. (Eph 4:17-24)
Greek Textus Receptus
εξ 1537 ου 3739 παν 3956 το 3588 σωμα 4983 συναρμολογουμενον 4883 5746 και 2532 συμβιβαζομενον 4822 5746 δια 1223 πασης 3956 αφης 860 της 3588 επιχορηγιας 2024 κατ 2596 ενεργειαν 1753 εν 1722 μετρω 3358 ενος 1520 εκαστου 1538 μερους 3313 την 3588 αυξησιν 838 του 3588 σωματος 4983 ποιειται 4160 5731 εις 1519 οικοδομην 3619 εαυτου 1438 εν 1722 αγαπη 26
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Fitly joined - compacted (sunarmologoumenon - sumbibazomenon). The present participles denote present, continuous progress. The two participles represent respectively the ideas of harmony or adaptation and compactness or solidity. See on Acts ix. 22, and Col. ii. 2.
By that which every joint supplieth (dia pashv afhv thv epicorhgiav). Lit., through every joint of the supply. For joint, see on Col. ii. 19; for supply, see on 2 Pet. i. 5. The supply specifies it as peculiarly Christ's. The phrase joint of the supply signifies joint whose office or purpose it is to supply. Construe with the two participles, as Col. ii. 19.
According to the working. Construe with maketh increase.
In the measure of every part. According as each part works in its own proper measure.
Maketh. Notice the peculiar phrase; the whole body maketh increase of the body. It is a living organism, and its growth is produced by vital power within itself.
In love. As the element in which the upbuilding takes place. Compare ch. iii. 17-19.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:16 {From which} (ex hou). Out of which as the source of energy and direction. {Fitly framed} (sunarmologoumenon). See #2:21 for this verb. {Through that which every joint supplieth} (dia pases hafes tes epicoregias). Literally, "through every joint of the supply." See #Col 2:19 for hafe and #Php 1:19 for the late word epicoregia (only two examples in N.T.) from epicoregew, to supply (#Col 2:19). {In due measure} (en metrwi). Just "in measure" in the Greek, but the assumption is that each part of the body functions properly in its own sphere. {Unto the building up of itself} (eis oikodomen heautou). Modern knowledge of cell life in the human body greatly strengthens the force of Paul's metaphor. this is the way the body grows by cooperation under the control of the head and all "in love" (en agapei).
