The building up and strengthening in the faith of believers and churches. Believers are strengthened by God and are urged, too, to build up one another. The church is edified through God's word, through the Holy Spirit and the proper use of spiritual gifts, through the church's appointed ministries and through the mutual love, support and encouragement of its members.
God edifies his people by strengthening them
Isaiah 40:29–31; Ezekiel 34:16 See also Psalm 29:11, Psalm 73:26; Isaiah 40:11, Isaiah 41:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Hebrews 13:9
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’
The edification of believers
God builds up the community of faith
1 Peter 2:4–5 See also Jeremiah 24:6–7, Jeremiah 31:4, Jeremiah 42:10; Ephesians 2:19–22
As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Believers are to build themselves up
Jude 1:20 See also Colossians 2:6–7
But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Believers are to build one another up
Romans 15:2 See also Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:29; Hebrews 3:13
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
The means of edification
God's word
Acts 20:32 See also Psalm 119:28; Romans 4:20 Abraham was strengthened in his faith by his acceptance of God's promise; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 1 Peter 2:2
And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.
The Holy Spirit
Ephesians 3:16 See also Acts 9:31
I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
Spiritual gifts
1 Corinthians 14:26 See also Romans 1:11; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Corinthians 14:3–4, 1 Corinthians 14:12
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
Appointed ministries
Ephesians 4:11–12 Jeremiah 3:15, Jeremiah 23:4; Ezekiel 34:4; Zechariah 11:16; Acts 15:41, Acts 18:23; 2 Corinthians 12:19; Acts 16:4–5 The message from the Jerusalem apostles results in believers being strengthened.; 2 Corinthians 10:8, 2 Corinthians 13:10
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
Love and encouragement
Ephesians 4:15–16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11 See also Romans 1:12, Romans 14:20–21; 1 Corinthians 8:1, 1 Corinthians 8:10–13, 1 Corinthians 10:23–24; Hebrews 12:12–13; Isaiah 35:3–4
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
Examples of those who edified others
Deuteronomy 3:28 Moses; Job 4:3–4 Job; Isaiah 40:1–2 Isaiah; Luke 22:32 Simon Peter; Acts 14:22 Paul and Barnabas; Acts 15:32 Judas and Silas; 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Timothy; Philemon 1:7 Philemon
The goal of edification
Ephesians 4:13 Ephesians 4:14; Philippians 1:9–10; Hebrews 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:13 Edification results in right living.
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.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.