Anthem Church

Paul describes diverse gifts in the church. These come from the ascended Christ. The diversity of gifts serves to bring about the unity of Christ's people. Mature manhood extends the body metaphor used earlier for the church and contrasts with "children". Some people think that the learning of doctrine is inherently divisive, but it is people who divide the church, whereas the knowledge of the Son of God (both knowing Christ personally and understanding all that he did and taught) is edifying and brings about "mature manhood" when set forth in love. The work of the gifted was to proclaim and teach the word centered on Christ rather than on speculative or eccentric teachings of their own measure. Christ Jesus is the standard of the maturity to which the church must aspire.