Ephesians 4:13 (KJV)

What does Ephesians 4:13 mean?

Ephesians 4:13 describes the shared goal of believers growing together in their faith and knowledge of Jesus, the Son of God. Paul pictures that growth as reaching full maturity, with Christ himself as the measure of what maturity looks like.

Following the work described in verse 12, Paul uses the picture of a grown person to describe the group’s development. The phrase “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” gives the picture its standard: the fullness found in Christ.

The Greek behind Ephesians 4:13

• “knowledge” — ἐπίγνωσις (epignōsis): This word can carry the sense of full or deep knowledge. Here, the goal involves more than simply knowing the Son of God’s name.
• “perfect” — τέλειος (teleios): This word can mean complete or mature. In the picture of a “perfect man,” the sense is of reaching full growth.
• “stature” — ἡλικία (hēlikia): This word can refer to age or a person’s physical size. Here, Paul uses the language of growth to picture maturity.

Why Ephesians 4:13 matters

• The goal includes everyone in the group. Paul says “till we all come,” rather than speaking only about the people given particular roles in verse 11.
• Unity includes both faith and knowledge. Paul joins “the unity of the faith” with “the knowledge of the Son of God.”
• Growth gives the group stability. In the next verse, Paul contrasts maturity with being like children tossed about by changing teaching.