Matthew Poole and continuators on Ephesians 4:12

12 For the perfecting of the saints , for the work of the ministry , for the edifying of the body of Christ .

Either for the restoring, and bringing them into right order, who had been as it were, dissipated, and disjointed by sin, or rather the knitting together and compacting them more and more both in nearer union to Christ their Head by Faith, and to their Fellow-members by Love, see 1 Cor. 1.10.

Or for the work of Dispensation, i. e. for dispensing the Word, and all those Ordinances which it appertains to them to dispense, and so it implies their whole work. But there may be a Trajection in the words, and then this Clause is to be read before the former, and the meaning plainly is, for the work of the ministry, which is to perfect the Saints, and Edifie the Body of Christ.

The same in effect as perfecting the Saints, viz. the building up the Church both in bringing in new members to it, and strengthning those that are brought in already, in Faith, and Holiness.

Marginal references: Chap. 1.23. Co[illegible: 1 letter]. 1.24.