Tim
Puritan Board Graduate
What are the consequences of the comma in Ephesians 4:12?
There are those in my congregation who are fond of using the phrase, "equipping the saints for the work of the ministry." I am not sure this is proper. What difference would a comma make make in the life of the congregation, if we all agreed on a single position? Would it shift the locale of the ministry of the Word?
Here are the options:
Feel free to correct how I have parsed and labeled the two options.
There are those in my congregation who are fond of using the phrase, "equipping the saints for the work of the ministry." I am not sure this is proper. What difference would a comma make make in the life of the congregation, if we all agreed on a single position? Would it shift the locale of the ministry of the Word?
Here are the options:
COMMA (KJV) | NO COMMA (NKJV) | ||
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; | And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, | ||
function (1) | For the perfecting of the saints, | function (1) | for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, |
function (2) | for the work of the ministry, | function (2) | for the edifying of the body of Christ, |
function (3) | for the edifying of the body of Christ: |
Feel free to correct how I have parsed and labeled the two options.