Ephesians 4:12 (GNV)

Passage

For the repairing of the Saintes, for the woorke of the ministerie, and for the edification of the bodie of Christ,

Nearby Context

Ephesians 4:10 Hee that descended, is euen the same that ascended, farre aboue all heauens, that hee might fill all things)

Ephesians 4:11 Hee therefore gaue some to be Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Euangelists, and some Pastours, and Teachers,

Ephesians 4:12 For the repairing of the Saintes, for the woorke of the ministerie, and for the edification of the bodie of Christ,

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all meete together (in the vnitie of faith and that acknowledging of the Sonne of God) vnto a perfite man, and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ,

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, wauering and caried about with euery winde of doctrine, by the deceit of men, and with craftines, whereby they lay in wait to deceiue.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "repairing", "saintes", "woorke", "ministerie", "edification", "bodie", and "christ". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "repairing" and "saintes", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "Hee therefore gaue some to be Apostles..." into verse 13's "Till we all meete together in the...", so "repairing" and "saintes" belong inside that flow. In Ephesians context, the local focus is grace, union with Christ, the church, and new creation.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "repairing" and "saintes" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.