Ephesians 4:12

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ,

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 1 Cor 12:27 : 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it.
  • Eph 4:16 : 16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body builds itself up in love.
  • 1 Thess 5:11-14 : 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing. 12 Final Instructions Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.
  • 1 Tim 1:12 : 12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry,
  • Rom 14:19 : 19 So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another.
  • 1 Cor 14:26 : 26 Church Order What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.
  • 2 Cor 5:18 : 18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
  • 2 Cor 6:3 : 3 We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.
  • 1 Cor 14:4-5 : 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.
  • 1 Cor 14:12 : 12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.
  • Rom 15:14 : 14 Paul’s Motivation for Writing the Letter But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.
  • Eph 1:23 : 23 Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
  • Heb 6:1 : 1 Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,
  • Heb 13:17 : 17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.
  • Eph 4:4 : 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling,
  • Rom 15:29 : 29 and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.
  • 1 Cor 4:1-2 : 1 The Apostles’ Ministry One should think about us this way– as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.
  • 1 Cor 12:7 : 7 To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.
  • 1 Cor 14:14 : 14 If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.
  • Luke 22:32 : 32 but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
  • John 21:15-17 : 15 Peter’s Restoration Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied,“Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him,“Feed my lambs.” 16 Jesus said a second time,“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied,“Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him,“Shepherd my sheep.” 17 Jesus said a third time,“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time,“Do you love me?” and said,“Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied,“Feed my sheep.
  • Acts 1:17 : 17 for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.”
  • Acts 1:25 : 25 to assume the task of this service and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
  • Acts 9:31 : 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.
  • Acts 11:23 : 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,
  • Acts 14:22-23 : 22 They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying,“We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.” 23 When they had appointed elders for them in the various churches, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord in whom they had believed.
  • Acts 20:24 : 24 But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
  • Acts 20:28 : 28 Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.
  • Rom 12:7 : 7 If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach;
  • 2 Cor 7:1 : 1 Self-Purification Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.
  • 2 Cor 12:19 : 19 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.
  • 2 Cor 13:9 : 9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.
  • 2 Cor 3:8 : 8 how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?
  • 2 Cor 4:1 : 1 Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged.
  • Rom 15:2 : 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up.
  • 2 Tim 4:5 : 5 You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.
  • 2 Tim 4:11 : 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry.
  • Eph 4:29 : 29 You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it would give grace to those who hear.
  • Phil 1:25-26 : 25 And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that what you can be proud of may increase because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you.
  • Phil 3:12-18 : 12 Keep Going Forward Not that I have already attained this– that is, I have not already been perfected– but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, 14 with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let those of us who are“perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways. 16 Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained. 17 Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example. 18 For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.
  • Col 1:24 : 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body– for the sake of his body, the church– what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.
  • Col 1:28 : 28 We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.
  • Col 4:17 : 17 And tell Archippus,“See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.”

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eph 4:10-11
    2 verses
    84%

    10He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.

    11And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

  • Eph 4:13
    79%

    13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God– a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.

  • Rom 12:4-7
    4 verses
    78%

    4For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function,

    5so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another.

    6And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith.

    7If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach;

  • Eph 4:15-16
    2 verses
    77%

    15But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.

    16From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body builds itself up in love.

  • 2 Tim 3:17
    75%

    17that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

  • 1 Cor 12:27-29
    3 verses
    75%

    27Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it.

    28And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.

    29Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they?

  • 1 Cor 12:12
    73%

    12Different Members in One Body For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body– though many– are one body, so too is Christ.

  • 1 Cor 14:12
    73%

    12It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.

  • Col 1:24-25
    2 verses
    72%

    24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body– for the sake of his body, the church– what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.

    25I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God– given to me for you– in order to complete the word of God,

  • Eph 2:20-22
    3 verses
    72%

    20because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

    21In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

    22in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

  • Col 1:28
    72%

    28We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.

  • Heb 13:21
    71%

    21equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

  • Eph 4:3-4
    2 verses
    71%

    3making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

    4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling,

  • Col 4:12
    71%

    12Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

  • 1 Cor 12:14
    71%

    14For in fact the body is not a single member, but many.

  • 1 Cor 3:9-10
    2 verses
    71%

    9We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building.

    10According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds.

  • Eph 4:7-8
    2 verses
    70%

    7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

    8Therefore it says,“When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.”

  • 1 Cor 12:4
    70%

    4Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

  • Eph 1:10
    70%

    10toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ– the things in heaven and the things on earth.

  • Eph 1:23
    70%

    23Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

  • 2 Tim 4:5
    70%

    5You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.

  • Eph 3:10-11
    2 verses
    70%

    10The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.

    11This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

  • 1 Cor 14:3-4
    2 verses
    69%

    3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.

    4The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

  • 1 Pet 4:10
    69%

    10Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

  • 1 Cor 12:24-25
    2 verses
    69%

    24but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member,

    25so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another.

  • 2 Cor 9:12
    69%

    12because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.

  • Eph 2:10
    69%

    10For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.

  • Heb 11:40
    69%

    40For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.

  • 1 Cor 14:26
    69%

    26Church Order What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.

  • 1 Cor 12:6
    69%

    6And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.

  • 2 Cor 13:10
    69%

    10Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority– the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

  • 1 Cor 12:18
    69%

    18But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided.

  • 2 Cor 4:12
    69%

    12As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

  • 1 Tim 4:13
    69%

    13Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.