When Jesus said he would “build” His church, the Greek work He used is “oikodomeo”, and it is translated in the New testament as “build, built, builders, building, edified, edifies, edify, edifying, edification, and built up.” Thus, you can see that whenever you see the words translated in the King James version “edify”, etc., that it means to build or build up.
I want to list briefly the things given in the New Testament which God tells us are necessary for us to be builders, and which will help build into our lives that which God wants, and thus contribute to the building of the church. In each of the following things listed, the Greek word “oikodomeo” is used to indicate that which builds up or edifies the church. (quotes following are taken from the NKJV).
- Faith builds: “but you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 20). In contrast, doubt, fear, unbelief, etc., tear down and destroy.
- The word of God builds: “So now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up.” (Acts 20:32). See also Mt. 7:24-27.
- Love builds: “knowledge puffs up, but love edifies (builds up).” (1 Cor. 8:1). “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond (uniting, building factor, like mortar, which holds together) of perfection (completeness or maturity). (Col. 3:14).
- Right speech builds: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephes. 4:29). “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt.” (Col. 4:6).
- Right attitudes build: “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” (Rom. 14:19, 15:2). See the Beatitudes of Mt. 5:3-12.
- Greater depth in Christ builds: “rooted and build up in Him and established in the faith,” (Col. 2:7). The “work of God” is to believe INTO Jesus Christ (see John 6:29, where the King James uses the word “in”, but a literal translation of the Greek word eis is “into”).
- God-ordained ministry builds: “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together; grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:20-22). “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some, prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-12).
- The ministry of each member builds: “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edifying.” (1 Cor. 14:26). “… from whom the whole the body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:16).
- Gifts of the Spirit build: “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men … for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification … Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. (1 Cor. 14:3-5, 12).
- Spiritual sacrifices build: “… you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5). “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Heb. 13:15-16).
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