Another result is that believers can maintain truth in love in both speech and conduct. Paul contrasted the deception of heresy with the integrity of the gospel. [source][source][source]
"This fundamental concern for the truth is the secret of maturity in the church." [1][source]
The church that stresses both the truth and love will produce spiritually mature, Christ-like believers. [source][source][source]
Loving, effective confrontation involves speaking the truth in love. The truth may be as medicine to the person who needs it, but love is the sugar that, added to the medicine, makes it palatable. Remember Mary Poppins" prescription: "A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down."[source]
Context Summary
Ephesians 4:11-19 - Building Up The "body Of Christ"
Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, are the gifts of the risen Christ to His Church. There should be no rivalry among them. Each has his own work to do, as each wheel in a watch has its special function. None can do the work of another, and none should try to do it. The Apostles laid the foundations of the City of God, and the work of each is represented by a different stone. The pastor prepares the ground and sows the seed for the harvest which the evangelist reaps; but God will proportion the reward between them. The teacher is as much needed as the evangelist, but neither is so essential as God, who giveth the increase. Without that all labor would be in vain.
We learn from Ephesians 4:12 that the prime duty of all these agents is not to baptize, marry, and bury the saints, to comfort and console them, and to get them somehow into heaven, as the Arab guides get travelers to the top of the Pyramids. Their duty is to perfect, that is, to adjust the saints for the work of ministry, that they may contribute to the building up of the Church. A minister is a failure if he does all the work himself. The people must all be at work-in the quarries, or shaping the stones, or fitting them into their places. [source]
Chapter Summary: Ephesians 4
1He exhorts to unity; 7and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men; 11that his church might be edified, 16and grow up in Christ 18He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles; 24to put on the new man; 25to cast off lying; 29and corrupt communication
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 4:15
In love [εν αγαπηι] If truth were always spoken only in love! [source]
May grow into him [αυχησωμεν εις αυτον] Supply ινα hina and then note the final use of the first aorist active subjunctive. It is the metaphor of Ephesians 4:13 (the full-grown man). We are the body and Christ is the Head. We are to grow up to his stature. [source]
Speaking the truth [ἀληθεύοντες] Only here and Galatians 4:16. In classical Greek it means to be true, to arrive at truth, and to speak truth. Here the idea is rather that of being or walking in truth. Rev., in margin, dealing truly. [source]
In love [] Some connect with grow up. The parallel construction, tossed and carried about in the sleight, in craftiness, speaking truth in love, favors the A.V. and Rev., as does the awkwardness of speaking truth standing alone. Moreover, Paul's habit is to subjoin, and not to prefix, his qualifying clauses. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 4:15
Galatians 4:16Because I tell you the truth [ἀληθεύων ὑμῖν] Ἀληθεύειν , only here and Ephesians 4:15, means to speak the truth or to deal truly. The present participle refers to the same time as γέγονα Iam become, the time of his second visit. The clause is usually construed as interrogative (A.V.). It is rather a direct statement with a slight interrogative suggestion. “So then, I am become your enemy, am I.” [source]
Galatians 4:16Because I tell you the truth [αλητευων υμιν] Present active participle of αλητευω alētheuō old verb from αλητης alēthēs true. In N.T. only here and Ephesians 4:15. “Speaking the truth.” It is always a risky business to speak the truth, the whole truth. It may hit and hurt. [source]
Ephesians 4:13Measure of the stature [μέτρον ἡλικίας] Defining perfect man. For stature, see on Luke 12:25. The word is rendered age, John 9:21,John 9:23; Hebrews 11:11. So here, by some, the age when the fullness of Christ is received. But fullness and grow up (Ephesians 4:15) suggest rather the idea of magnitude. [source]
1 Peter 2:2Long for [επιποτησατε] First aorist (constative) active imperative of επιποτεω epipotheō old verb for intense yearning (Philemon 2:26).The spiritual milk which is without guile (το λογικον αδολον γαλα to logikon adolon gala). Γαλα Gala is old word for milk as in 1 Corinthians 9:7 and as metaphor in 1 Corinthians 3:2. Αδολος Adolos is an old compound (here alone in N.T.) adjective (alpha privative and δολος dolos deceit), unadulterated milk which, alas, is so hard to get. Λογικον Logikon is an old adjective in ικος ̇ikos from λογος logos (reason, speech), in N.T. only here and Romans 12:1, used here with allusion to λογου logou (1 Peter 1:23) and ρημα rēma (1 Peter 1:25), “the sincere milk of the word” (“the milk belonging to the word,” either the milk which is the word or the milk contained in the word, that is Christ). So Bigg holds. But in Romans 12:1 Paul uses λογικον logikon in the sense of “rational” or “spiritual,” and that idea is possible here as Hort holds. In the Pelagia legend (Usener) we have the phrase των λογικων προβατων του Χριστου tōn logikōn probatōn tou Christou (the spiritual or rational sheep of Christ).That ye may grow thereby Purpose clause with ινα hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of αυχανω auxanō old and common verb to grow. See this same metaphor in Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 4:15. Peter uses the word of God as the food for growth, especially for babes in Christ, not emphasizing the distinction from solid food (βρωμα brōma) made in 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:13. Salvation (σωτηριαν sōtērian) here is final salvation. [source]
1 Peter 2:2That ye may grow thereby [ινα εν αυτωι αυχητητε] Purpose clause with ινα hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of αυχανω auxanō old and common verb to grow. See this same metaphor in Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 4:15. Peter uses the word of God as the food for growth, especially for babes in Christ, not emphasizing the distinction from solid food (βρωμα brōma) made in 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:13. Salvation (σωτηριαν sōtērian) here is final salvation. [source]
1 John 4:6By this [εκ τουτου] “From this,” deduction drawn from the preceding; only example in the Epistle for the common εν τουτωι en toutōi as in 1 John 4:2. The power of recognition There is no reason for Christians being duped by “the spirit of error” (το πνευμα της πλανης to pneuma tēs planēs), here alone in the N.T., though we have πνευμασιν πλανοις pneumasin planois (misleading spirits) in 1 Timothy 4:1. Rejection of the truth may be due also to our not speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). [source]
What do the individual words in Ephesians 4:15 mean?
Speaking the truthhoweverinlovewe should grow upintoHiminall thingswhoistheheadChrist
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 4:15
If truth were always spoken only in love! [source]
Supply ινα hina and then note the final use of the first aorist active subjunctive. It is the metaphor of Ephesians 4:13 (the full-grown man). We are the body and Christ is the Head. We are to grow up to his stature. [source]
Only here and Galatians 4:16. In classical Greek it means to be true, to arrive at truth, and to speak truth. Here the idea is rather that of being or walking in truth. Rev., in margin, dealing truly. [source]
Some connect with grow up. The parallel construction, tossed and carried about in the sleight, in craftiness, speaking truth in love, favors the A.V. and Rev., as does the awkwardness of speaking truth standing alone. Moreover, Paul's habit is to subjoin, and not to prefix, his qualifying clauses. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 4:15
Ἀληθεύειν , only here and Ephesians 4:15, means to speak the truth or to deal truly. The present participle refers to the same time as γέγονα Iam become, the time of his second visit. The clause is usually construed as interrogative (A.V.). It is rather a direct statement with a slight interrogative suggestion. “So then, I am become your enemy, am I.” [source]
Present active participle of αλητευω alētheuō old verb from αλητης alēthēs true. In N.T. only here and Ephesians 4:15. “Speaking the truth.” It is always a risky business to speak the truth, the whole truth. It may hit and hurt. [source]
Defining perfect man. For stature, see on Luke 12:25. The word is rendered age, John 9:21, John 9:23; Hebrews 11:11. So here, by some, the age when the fullness of Christ is received. But fullness and grow up (Ephesians 4:15) suggest rather the idea of magnitude. [source]
The Church is described as a body, Romans 12:4sq.; 1Corinthians href="/desk/?q=1co+10:17&sr=1">1 Corinthians 10:17, by way of illustrating the functions of the members. Here the image is used to emphasize the position and power of Christ as the head. Compare Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 1:22, Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 4:4, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 4:16; Ephesians 5:23, Ephesians 5:30. [source]
Jesus is first also in the spiritual realm as he is in nature (Colossians 1:18-20). Paul is fond of the metaphor of the body (σωμα sōma) for believers of which body Christ is the head (κεπαλη kephalē) as seen already in 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:5. See further Colossians 1:24: Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 1:22.; Ephesians 4:2, Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:30. [source]
First aorist (constative) active imperative of επιποτεω epipotheō old verb for intense yearning (Philemon 2:26).The spiritual milk which is without guile (το λογικον αδολον γαλα to logikon adolon gala). Γαλα Gala is old word for milk as in 1 Corinthians 9:7 and as metaphor in 1 Corinthians 3:2. Αδολος Adolos is an old compound (here alone in N.T.) adjective (alpha privative and δολος dolos deceit), unadulterated milk which, alas, is so hard to get. Λογικον Logikon is an old adjective in ικος ̇ikos from λογος logos (reason, speech), in N.T. only here and Romans 12:1, used here with allusion to λογου logou (1 Peter 1:23) and ρημα rēma (1 Peter 1:25), “the sincere milk of the word” (“the milk belonging to the word,” either the milk which is the word or the milk contained in the word, that is Christ). So Bigg holds. But in Romans 12:1 Paul uses λογικον logikon in the sense of “rational” or “spiritual,” and that idea is possible here as Hort holds. In the Pelagia legend (Usener) we have the phrase των λογικων προβατων του Χριστου tōn logikōn probatōn tou Christou (the spiritual or rational sheep of Christ).That ye may grow thereby Purpose clause with ινα hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of αυχανω auxanō old and common verb to grow. See this same metaphor in Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 4:15. Peter uses the word of God as the food for growth, especially for babes in Christ, not emphasizing the distinction from solid food (βρωμα brōma) made in 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:13. Salvation (σωτηριαν sōtērian) here is final salvation. [source]
Purpose clause with ινα hina and the first aorist passive subjunctive of αυχανω auxanō old and common verb to grow. See this same metaphor in Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 4:15. Peter uses the word of God as the food for growth, especially for babes in Christ, not emphasizing the distinction from solid food (βρωμα brōma) made in 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:13. Salvation (σωτηριαν sōtērian) here is final salvation. [source]
“From this,” deduction drawn from the preceding; only example in the Epistle for the common εν τουτωι en toutōi as in 1 John 4:2. The power of recognition There is no reason for Christians being duped by “the spirit of error” (το πνευμα της πλανης to pneuma tēs planēs), here alone in the N.T., though we have πνευμασιν πλανοις pneumasin planois (misleading spirits) in 1 Timothy 4:1. Rejection of the truth may be due also to our not speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). [source]