Definition and Meaning:
Edification refers to the process of building up, strengthening, or improving, particularly in a moral, spiritual, or intellectual sense. In a biblical context, edification is the act of promoting spiritual growth and development within the body of Christ, the Church, and individual believers. The term is derived from the Latin "aedificare," meaning "to build," and is often used in the New Testament to describe the nurturing and strengthening of faith.

Biblical References:
The concept of edification is prevalent throughout the New Testament, emphasizing the importance of mutual encouragement and growth within the Christian community. In 1 Corinthians 14:26 , the Apostle Paul writes, "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church." Here, Paul underscores the necessity of using spiritual gifts for the purpose of edifying the church.

In Ephesians 4:11-12 , Paul further elaborates on the roles within the church, stating, "And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ." This passage highlights the diverse roles and gifts given by Christ to His followers, all aimed at the edification of the church.

Purpose and Importance:
Edification serves several key purposes within the Christian faith. It fosters spiritual maturity, unity, and love among believers. In Ephesians 4:15-16 , Paul writes, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part." This illustrates how edification contributes to the growth and cohesion of the church as a unified body.

Moreover, edification is essential for personal spiritual growth. In 1 Thessalonians 5:11 , Paul encourages believers, "Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing." This mutual encouragement is vital for sustaining faith and perseverance in the Christian walk.

Means of Edification:
Edification occurs through various means, including the teaching and preaching of God's Word, prayer, fellowship, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. The Word of God is a primary tool for edification, as noted in Acts 20:32 : "And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified."

Prayer and fellowship also play crucial roles in edification. In James 5:16 , believers are instructed to "confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail." This communal aspect of prayer and confession strengthens the bonds between believers and promotes spiritual growth.

Challenges to Edification:
Despite its importance, edification can face challenges such as division, false teachings, and neglect of spiritual gifts. Paul warns against these in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 , where he addresses the Corinthians' spiritual immaturity and divisions: "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?"

To overcome these challenges, believers are called to remain steadfast in their faith, grounded in Scripture, and committed to the unity and edification of the church.1. (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.

2. (n.) A building or edifice.

EDIFICATION; EDIFY

ed-i-fi-ka'-shun, ed'-i-fi:

The Greek words oikodomeo, "to build," oikodome, "the act of building," are used both literally and figuratively in the New Testament; "edify," "edifying," "edification," are the translation of the King James Version in some 20 passages, all in the figurative sense of the promotion of growth in Christian character. the Revised Version (British and American) in 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 13:10 Ephesians 4:12, 16 1 Thessalonians 5:11 renders "build up," "building up," making the force of the figure clearer to the English reader. In 1 Timothy 1:4 the Greek text followed by the Revised Version (British and American) has oikonomia, "dispensation," instead of oikodomia, "edifying" (the King James Version).

F. K. Farr

3619. oikodome -- (the act of) building, a building
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: oikodome Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kod-om-ay') Short
Definition: the act of building, a building, edification Definition: (a) the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3619.htm - 7k

For Mutual Edification.
... 915. " For Mutual Edification. 915. CM Wesley's Coll. For Mutual Edification.
1 Help us to help each other, Lord, Each other's cross to bear! ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/915 for mutual edification.htm

The Note of Edification.
... BOOK I. THE MAN. CHAPTER IV. The Note of Edification. The preacher is appointed
for the upbuilding of the Church and of the individual ...
/.../jackson/the message and the man/chapter iv the note of.htm

Willing to do all Things for the Edification of the Church...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon XXX. Willing to do all things for
the edification of the Church? Willing to do all things ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xxx willing to do.htm

Of the Need for this History, and Its Value for Edification.
... The Life of the blessed emperor constantine, by eusebius pamphilus. Book I. Chapter
X."Of the Need for this History, and its Value for Edification. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter x of the need for.htm

The Spiritual Gifts.
... primarily with doctrine and theology; secondly, emotional gifts of feeling, appearing
chiefly in divine worship and for immediate edification; and thirdly ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 45 the spiritual gifts.htm

The Dilemma in which I am Placed is of Your Making: it is Brought ...
... to the many but only to those who had been offended by what I had said; for one
ought to speak to Christians not for display but for edification.' Whence then ...
/.../3 the dilemma in which.htm

But Why Should I Prolong this Discussion? I Shall Take no Notice ...
... there is absolutely nothing advanced of the kind which he now reproves in the interest
of the Synagogue rather than that of the edification of Christians. ...
/.../13 but why should i.htm

A Bird's-Eye view of the Early Church
... Now that word 'edified' and the cognate one 'edification' have been enfeebled in
signification so as to mean very much less than they did to Luke. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/a birds-eye view of the.htm

On Pleasing all Men
... "Let every man please his neighbour for his good to edification." Rom.15:2. ... But it
has nothing to do with edification, and is therefore quite wide of the mark. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 100 on pleasing all.htm

Now Suppose that While You were Writing This, as You Tell us You ...
... and whose name you are just about to write down as Adamantine because of the merit
of his praise-worthy labours, did not write books for the edification of the ...
/.../21 now suppose that while.htm

Edification (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A building or edifice. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EDIFICATION; EDIFY. ...
FK Farr. Multi-Version Concordance Edification (10 Occurrences). ...
/e/edification.htm - 10k

Edify (5 Occurrences)
... knowledge; to teach. 3. (vi) To teach or persuade. 4. (vi) To improve. Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EDIFICATION; EDIFY. ed-i-fi ...
/e/edify.htm - 9k

Edified (3 Occurrences)
... ye may prophecy, for greater is he who is prophesying than he who is speaking with
tongues, except one may interpret, that the assembly may receive edification...
/e/edified.htm - 7k

Prophesying (58 Occurrences)
... WEY). 1 Corinthians 14:3 and he who is prophesying to men doth speak edification,
and exhortation, and comfort; (YLT). 1 Corinthians ...
/p/prophesying.htm - 25k

Gift (148 Occurrences)
... 14). Edification, indeed, was gained by the speaker (14:4), but this was
the edification of emotional experience only (14:14). The ...
/g/gift.htm - 59k

Gifts (144 Occurrences)
... (Gr. charismata), gifts supernaturally bestowed on the early Christians, each having
his own proper gift or gifts for the edification of the body of Christ. ...
/g/gifts.htm - 61k

Destruction (734 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which
the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I ...
/d/destruction.htm - 39k

Spiritual (42 Occurrences)
... Ordinarily his message was one of "edification, and exhortation, and consolation"
(1 Corinthians 14:3). Occasionally he was empowered to make an authoritative ...
/s/spiritual.htm - 51k

Needful (17 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word go out of your mouth, but if there be any good
one for needful edification, that it may give grace to those that hear it. ...
/n/needful.htm - 11k

Neighbour (139 Occurrences)
... the law. (KJV BBE DBY). Romans 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour
for his good to edification. (KJV BBE DBY). Galatians ...
/n/neighbour.htm - 34k

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