Note: On the translation/interpretation of Ephesians 4:12

From X post:

Believe it or not, I only rarely ever address issues related to text or translation of the Bible from the pulpit in my regular Lord’s Day preaching (given our church’s uniformity of practice), but yesterday I did briefly address the translation/interpretation of Ephesians 4:12 (listen to the sermon here). My notes:

There is a major question about how to translate Ephesians 4:12, and a big part of that involves a single comma.

The older Protestant translations, like the AV, generally list three things that the pastor-teachers are supposed to do:

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

First, they are to labor at the “perfecting [maturing] of the saints.” Christ said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). In Colossians 1:28 Paul said the goal of his ministry was, “that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Second, they are to do the work of ministry. What is the work of ministry? We get an idea of this from Acts 6:4 when the apostles said they wanted to give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

Third, they labor “for the edifying of the body of Christ.” They want to see the spiritual health, safety, and spiritual growth of God’s people.

In the 20^th century some translations removed the first comma and said Paul was saying the task of ministers was to equip all the saints for the work of ministry. Compare:

NIV: “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”

ESV: “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that I think the older translation is best. I think so for two reasons:

First, it reflects the grammar of the original Greek construction better. There are three distinct prepositional phrases (προς… εις… εις…).

Second, theologically and functionally it fits better the description elsewhere given of the special roles given to ministers.

The new translations reflect a modern egalitarian view. I remember growing up in SBC churches where the theme in many of those churches was “every member a minister.” To a certain degree that is true. All Christians are called to ministry. But not all are called to be pastors and teachers. See James 3:1: “My brethren, be not many master [teachers]….” And it is this special role that Paul is describing here.

JTR