Edification

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

The term (οἰκοδομή) means literally ‘building up.’ The figurative sense of building up spiritually has two applications in apostolic usage. (1) It signifies the spiritual advancement, in a general way, of the Church. (2) It is the special process or didactic means whereby the faith, knowledge, and experience of individuals were established and enlarged.

In Authorized Versionοἰκοδομή and the cognate verb οἰκοδομέω, in the figurative sense, are translated ‘edification’ or ‘edify’19 times. The two meanings indicated above are more apparent in Revised Version, where ‘building up’ is often employed to express the more general idea, especially where, as in  Ephesians 4:12, ‘the picturesqueness of the metaphor must be preserved’ (Armitage Robinson, Ephesians , 1903, p. 182), while ‘edification’ or ‘edify’ occurs 14 times. Half of these are found in 1 Corinthians 14, where they bear the special meaning.

1. General .-The figurative use of the term οἰκοδομή for that which builds up generally the Church and the spiritual life of individuals within the Christian community is almost exclusively Pauline. The germ of the idea is probably to be found in the saying of Christ ( Matthew 16:18) concerning the building of His Church (Lightfoot, Notes on Epistles of St. Paul , 1895, p. 191). But St. Paul frequently applies the metaphor of building to the structure and growth of the Christian life ( 1 Corinthians 3:9 f.,  Ephesians 2:20 f.,  Colossians 2:7; cf.  1 Peter 2:5). Edification is the promotion of this building up process by speech ( Ephesians 4:29) or conduct ( Romans 15:2). Three elements in the Church contribute to it- peace , both external ( Acts 9:31) and internal ( Romans 14:19); love ( Ephesians 4:15 f.), in contrast especially with boasted knowledge ( 1 Corinthians 8:1) or self-seeking ( 1 Corinthians 10:23 f.); and service (διακονία) wherein each may share in the ministering of all ( Ephesians 4:11 f.,  1 Thessalonians 5:11).

2. Special .-In its specialized use, οἰκοδομή is a technical term for the exercise of ‘spiritual gifts’ (χαρίσματα) within the Christian congregation by its members, for the mutual ‘edification’ of individuals. St. Paul’s description of the variety and exercise of these endowments in Corinth (1 Corinthians 12, 14) is probably true of most places in which the Church was established. There were evidently meetings held almost exclusively for ‘edification,’ to which unbelievers were admitted ( 1 Corinthians 14:23 f.). It was not a formal service for Divine worship, but rather a fellowship meeting with the practical aim of affording members with a ‘gift’ an opportunity of using their supernaturally bestowed powers for the spiritual welfare of all present ( 1 Corinthians 12:6; cf.  1 Peter 4:10 f.). At such times the most notable contributions would be: ( a ) teaching (διδαχή), which included the ‘word of wisdom’ and the ‘word of knowledge’ ( 1 Corinthians 12:8); ( b ) prophecy (προφητεία) which dealt with future events ( Acts 11:28) or revealed an insight into the needs of those present ( 1 Corinthians 14:3;  1 Corinthians 14:24 f.); ( c ) glossolalia or tongues (γένη γλωσσῶν), which were probably incomprehensible utterances expressive of prayer or praise ( 1 Corinthians 14:13).

Closely connected with prophecy was ‘discerning of spirits,’ and with glossolalia ‘the interpretation of tongues’ ( 1 Corinthians 12:10;  1 Corinthians 14:27 ff.). In addition there would be prayer, the reciting or singing of hymns, the reading of Scripture, and the ‘word of exhortation’ ( 1 Corinthians 14:26,  Ephesians 5:19,  Colossians 3:16,  Acts 13:15).

In order that genuine edification might result from such a variety of gifts, exercised often under stress of great excitement, two rules were laid down for the Corinthian Church: (1) the comparative value of χαρίσματα must be recognized- e.g. prophecy is superior to ‘tongues’ for purposes of edification ( 1 Corinthians 14:1-25); (2) there must be an observance of due order in the meetings ( 1 Corinthians 14:26-40).

Literature.- Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) , articles ‘Church,’ ‘Edification’; H. Cremer, Bibl.-Theol. Lex. of NT Greek, s.vv. οἰκοδομέω, οἰκοδομή; O. Pfleiderer, paulinism , Eng. translation2, 1891, i. 229-238; C. von Weizsacker, Apostolic Age , Eng. translation2, ii. [1899] 246-279; A. C. McGiffert, History of Christianity in the Apostolic Age , 1897, pp. 520-535; E. von Dobschütz, Christian Life in the primitive Church , Eng. translation, 1904, pp. 16-20; T. M. Lindsay, The Church and the Ministry in the Early Centuries 3, 1907, pp. 41-50, 69-109.

M. Scott Fletcher.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

From οἰκοδομέω 'to build, to build up.' The same word is used for the building of the Temple at Jerusalem,  John 2:20 , and by the Lord when He said He would build His assembly.  Matthew 16:18 . Οἰκοδομή occurs often in the epistles with the exhortation that all things in the church should be done to edification.  Romans 14:19;  Romans 15:2;  1 Corinthians 14:3-26;  Ephesians 4:16,29 . The gifts in the church were also 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 . 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 fulness of Christ."  Ephesians 4:13 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Corinthians 14:3 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Colossians 2:7 Ephesians 4:13 Ephesians 4:11-12 2 Corinthians 10:8 2 Corinthians 13:10 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Acts 20:32 1 Corinthians 14:1 Ephesians 4:29 1 Corinthians 14:26 1 Corinthians 14:18-19 1 Corinthians 8:1 Romans 15:1-2

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

This word signifies a building up. Hence we call a building an edifice. Applied to spiritual things, it signifies the improving, adorning, and comforting the mind; and a Christian may be said to be edified when he is encouraged and animated in the ways and works, of the Lord. The means to promote our own edification are, prayer, self-examination, reading the Scriptures, hearing the Gospel, meditation, attendance on all appointed ordinances. To edify others there should be love, spiritual conversation, forbearance, faithfulness, benevolent exertions, and uniformity of conduct.

King James Dictionary

EDIFICA'TION, n. L. oedificatio. See Edify.

1. A building up, in a moral and religious sense instruction improvement and progress of the mind, in knowledge, in morals, or in faith and holiness.

He that prophesieth, speaketh to men to edification.  1 Corinthians 14

2. Instruction improvement of the mind in any species of useful knowledge.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A building or edifice.

(2): ( n.) The act of edifying, or the state of being edified; a building up, especially in a moral or spiritual sense; moral, intellectual, or spiritual improvement; instruction.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

"the process by which believers are built up, that is, progressively advanced in knowledge and holiness.

1. The ‘ sacred writers perpetually employ this figure as their favorite illustration of the condition of Christians, as forming collectively the temple, succeeding that literal one on Mount Sion; the temple in which the Lord dwells by his holy Spirit; and as being, individually, "living stones, builded up into an habitation for the Lord."' ‘ The words "edify" and "edification" have so completely lost their literal signification in our tongue, that it would be reckoned even an impropriety to use them in speaking of the building of a literal edifice, and thus the reader loses the force and significance of the language of the sacred writers.' The word 'edify,' especially when applied to individual Christians, has often the sense of instruct; though in the 'Preface' to the 'Order of Confirmation' in the English Prayer-book. 'To the end ... to the more edifying,' the word is probably used in the sense already explained, not in the especial sense of 'instruct"' (Eden).

2. "To perceive the full force and propriety of the term as used by the apostles, it is quite necessary to keep in mind the similitudes by which they generally describe a Christian church. All those spiritual gifts, which were bestowed on the Christians were for the building and edifying of the members of the Church. The apostolical power in Church censures was for edification, not for destruction ( 2 Corinthians 10:8); to build, and not to pull down; that is, to preserve the unity of the Church entire, and its communion pure. And we may observe that this edification is primarily applied to the Church: that the Church may receive edifying; that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church; for the edifying of the body of Christ ( 1 Corinthians 14:5;  1 Corinthians 14:12;  Ephesians 4:12). And it is very observable wherein the apostle places the edification of the body of Christ, viz., in unity and love: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ ( Ephesians 4:12-13). Till we are united by one faith unto one body, and perfect man. And speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; 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 4:15-16). This is an admirable description of the unity of the Church, in which all the parts are closely united and compacted together, as stones and timber are to make one house; and thus they grow into one body and increase in mutual love and charity, which is the very building and edification of the Church, which is edified and built up in love, as the apostle adds, that knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth ( 1 Corinthians 8:1). This builds up the Church of Christ; and that not such a common charity as we have for all mankind but such a love and sympathy as is peculiar to the members of the same body, and which none but members can have for each other" (Hook, Ch. Dict. s.v.).

3. "Many professors, and even teachers of religion, not greatly liking such union and its obvious consequences, yet finding much said in the New Testament; of the attainments and comforts of the first Christians have studied to devise means of enjoying these comforts separately. Instead of the objects that chiefly drew the attention of the first believers, they have endeavored to fix the attention of Christians on a multitude of rules respecting the particular conduct of each in his devout exercises his attendance on ordinances, and the frame of his heart therein. But this is a scheme of religion of mere human device. Nothing can be plainer from the whole tenor of the Acts of the Apostles, and their epistles to the churches, than that it is the will of Christ his disciples should unite together, holding fellowship in the institutions of the Gospel; and also that, as he in his infinite wisdom and grace has made abundant provision for their comfort, establishment, and edification, so these blessings can only be effectually enjoyed in proportion as they obey his will in this respect.