Ephesians 4 · Verse 13

Ephesians 4:13

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Ephesians 4:13, King James Version

Ephesians 4:13 in other translations

BSB	until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.
WEB	until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
ASV	till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
YLT	till we may all come to the unity of the faith and of the recognition of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to a measure of stature of the fulness of the Christ,
DARBY	until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at the full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ;
BBE	Till we all come to the harmony of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full growth, to the full measure of Christ:
Webster	Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

What does Ephesians 4:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

13. come in--rather, "attain unto." Alford expresses the Greek order, "Until we arrive all of us at the unity," &c. faith and ... knowledge--Full unity of faith is then found, when all alike thoroughly know Christ, the object of faith, and that in His highest dignity as "the Son of God" [De Wette] (Ep 3:17, 19; 2Pe 1:5). Not even Paul counted himself to have fully "attained" (Php 3:12-14). Amidst the variety of the gifts and the multitude of the Church's members, its "faith" is to be ONE: as contrasted with the state of "children carried about with EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE." (Ep 4:14). perfect man--unto the full-grown man (1Co 2:6; Php 3:15; He 5:14); the maturity of an adult; contrasted with children (Ep 4:14). Not "perfect men"; for the many members constitute but one Church joined to the one Christ. stature, &c.--The standard of spiritual "stature" is "the fulness of Christ," that is, which Christ has (Ep 1:23; 3:19; compare Ga 4:19); that the body should be worthy of the Head, the perfect Christ.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 13. Till we all come. Till all Christians arrive at a state of complete unity, and to entire perfection.

In the unity of the faith, marg. into. The meaning is, till we all hold the same truths, and the same confidence in the Son of God. Jn 17:21-23.

And of the knowledge of the Son of God. That they might attain to the same practical acquaintance with the Son of God, and might thus come to the maturity of Christian piety. Eph 3:19.

Unto a perfect man. Unto a complete man. This figure is obvious. The apostle compares their condition then to a state of childhood. The perfect man here refers to the man grown up--the man of mature life. He says that Christ had appointed pastors and teachers that the infant church might be conducted to maturity, or become strong--like a man. He does not refer to the doctrine of sinless perfection, but to the state of manhood as compared with that of childhood---a state of strength, vigour, wisdom, when the full growth should be attained. See 1Cor 14:20.

Unto the measure of the stature. Marg., or, age. The word stature expresses the idea. It refers to the growth of a man. The stature to be attained to was that of Christ. He was the standard--not in size, not in age, but in moral character. The measure to be reached was Christ; or we are to grow till we become like him.

Of the fulness of Christ. Eph 1:23. The phrase, "the measure of the fulness," means, probably, the "full measure "--by a form of construction that is common in the Hebrew writings, where two nouns are so used that one is to be rendered as an adjective-- as trees of greatness--meaning great trees. Here it means, that they should so advance in piety and knowledge as to become wholly like him.

(1) "in the unity" "into" (a) "of the faith" Col 2:2 (b) "perfect man" Jas 1:6 (2) "stature" "age" (+) "Christ" "Full stature of Christ"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 In the unity of the faith - Jews and Gentiles being all converted according to the doctrines laid down in the faith - the Christian system. The knowledge of the Son of God - A trite understanding of the mystery of the incarnation; why God was manifest in the flesh, and why this was necessary in order to human salvation. Unto a perfect man - Εις ανδρα τελειον· One thoroughly instructed; the whole body of the Church being fully taught, justified, sanctified, and sealed. Measure of the stature - The full measure of knowledge, love, and holiness, which the Gospel of Christ requires. Many preachers, and multitudes of professing people, are studious to find out how many imperfections and infidelities, and how much inward sinfulness, is consistent with a safe state in religion but how few, very few, are bringing out the fair Gospel standard to try the height of the members of the Church; whether they be fit for the heavenly army; whether their stature be such as qualifies them for the ranks of the Church militant! The measure of the stature of the fullness is seldom seen; the measure of the stature of littleness, dwarfishness, and emptiness, is often exhibited.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 4:7-16

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 gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 4:7-16 →

Ephesians 4:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

μέχριmechriuntilG3360

καταντήσωμενkatantēsōmenwe may attainG2658

οἱhoi<the>G3588

πάντεςpantesallG3956

εἰςeistoG1519

τὴνtēntheG3588

ἑνότηταhenotētaunityG1775

τῆςtēsof theG3588

πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102

καὶkaiandG2532

τῆςtēsof theG3588

ἐπιγνώσεωςepignōseōsknowledgeG1922

τοῦtouof theG3588

υἱοῦhuiouSonG5207

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦ,theouof God,G2316

εἰςeisuntoG1519

ἄνδραandraa manG435

τέλειον,teleiona complete,G5046

εἰςeistoG1519

μέτρονmetron[the] measureG3358

ἡλικίαςhēlikiasof [the] statureG2244

τοῦtouof theG3588

πληρώματοςplērōmatosfullnessG4138

τοῦtou<the>G3588

Χριστοῦ·Christouof Christ;G5547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 4:13

Colossians 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
John 17:21
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Ephesians 4:3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:5
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Jeremiah 32:38-39
And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Hebrews 5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Zechariah 14:9
And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.
Colossians 2:2
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Ephesians 1:23
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

we all.
3,5; Jer 32:38,39; Eze 37:21,22; Zep 3:9; Zec 14:9; Joh 17:21
Ac 4:32; 1Co 1:10; Php 2:1-3
in the unity. or, into the unity. the knowledge.
Isa 53:11; Mt 11:27; Joh 16:3; 17:3,25,26; 2Co 4:6; Php 3:8; Col 2:2
2Pe 1:1-3; 3:18; 1Jo 5:20
unto a.
12; 2:15; 1Co 14:20; Col 1:28
stature. or, age. fulness.
1:23

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Ephesians 4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Ephesians 4:14
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Read all of Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Hasta que todos lleguemos á la unidad de la fe y del conocimiento del Hijo de Dios, á un varón perfecto, á la medida de la edad de la plenitud de Cristo:
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	jusqu’à ce que nous parvenions tous à l’unité de la foi et de la connaissance du Fils de Dieu, à l’état d’homme fait, à la mesure de la stature de la plénitude du Christ:
German Elberfelder 1871	bis wir alle hingelangen zu der Einheit des Glaubens und zur Erkenntnis des Sohnes Gottes, zu dem erwachsenen Manne, zu dem Maße des vollen Wuchses der Fülle des Christus;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	donec occurramus omnes in unitatem fidei, et agnitionis Filii Dei, in virum perfectum, in mensuram ætatis plenitudinis Christi: