Library Home
>
Concise Bible Dictionary
>
Concise Bible Dictionary: E
>
Edification (#80997)
Edification
Article download …
Download PDF
Download RTF (editable)
Print
Send via email
Share on Facebook
Share on X (Twitter)
From:
Concise Bible Dictionary: E
By:
George A. Morrish
• 1 min. read • grade level: 9
From οικοδομέω, “to build, to build up.” The same word is used for the building of the Temple at Jerusalem (
John 2:20
20
Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (John 2:20)
), and by the Lord when He said He would build His assembly (
Matt. 16:18
18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
). Οἰκοδομή occurs often in the epistles with the exhortation that all things in the church should be done to edification (
Rom. 14:19
19
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (Romans 14:19)
;
Rom. 15:2
2
Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. (Romans 15:2)
;
1 Cor. 14:3-26
3
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9
So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16
Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24
But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:3‑26)
;
Eph. 4:16,29
16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:16)
29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)
). The gifts in the church were also for the edifying of the body of Christ (
Eph. 4:12
12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12)
); and when things were at their worst Christians were exhorted to be building up themselves on their most holy faith (
Jude 20
20
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, (Jude 20)
). As a building is increased and strengthened, so the body of Christ is built up by the ministry of the Spirit through the word until all come “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (
Eph. 4:13
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)
).
Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.
Previous Article
Next Article
Call: 1-630-543-1441
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, … rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Audio
Authors
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z
All Authors
Bibles
Books
All Books and eBooks
Commentaries
Hymnbooks
Magazines
Reference
Stories & Bios
Subjects
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
All Subjects
Bible Truth Study Bible
Español (Spanish)
More
All Articles
Charts
Conferences & Events
Hymnbooks
Illustrations & Quotes
Maps
Magazines
Poetry
Sunday School
Store