|
EDIFICATION.
The Gr. noun oikodomeµ, "edifice," "building up," "edifying,"
"edification," denotes the temple buildings in Mt 24:1; Mk 13:1–2, and
appears metaphorically a dozen or more times in Paul’s epistles. Believers
as living stones (I Pet 2:5) are being built into the Church as a great
"building" joined together and growing into a holy temple in union with the
Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 2:21).
Each individual
believer must be built up or edified for this ultimate purpose, strengthened
and united with all other believers. The ascended Christ has given to His
Church men with special ministries to equip the saints for this work of
"building up" the body of Christ (Eph 4:12). This was the purpose of Paul’s
God-given authority, and his goal at all times (II Cor 10:8; 12:19; 13:10).
Hence each Christian is to act unselfishly in order to edify his fellow
believers in an attitude of love (Eph 4:15–16; Rom 14:19; 15:2; I Cor 8:1).
His words should always be spoken to edify (Eph 4:29),especially in meetings
of the local church (I Cor 14:26). Charismatic manifestations of the Spirit
should always be controlled so that the hearers are edified. Prophesying
best serves this purpose, although two or at the most three persons speaking
in tongues, if followed by an interpretation in each case, may also edify
the congregation (I Cor 14:3–13, 27–33).
Bibliography. Otto Michel, "Oikodomeoµ," TDNT, V, 136–144. |
