When we come to faith in Christ, it may be the end of our search for truth, but it’s just the beginning of the lifelong journey of following Him. God’s will is that we would become more like Christ in that time, and one essential aspect of that transformation is edification. Though it can overlap with discipleship, edification is a process whereby believers are committed to helping each other become more like Jesus.
We are not born spiritually mature; in fact, we need every moment that God gives us on earth to become who He wants us to be. And He wants us to help other believers become more like Him, too, so that His church will bring Him glory now and evermore. God, in His infinite grace, wants His children to edify one another so that everyone will know Him better, be filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and enjoy the peace and abundant life that Jesus came to give.
This article will explore the idea of edification in greater detail, demonstrating what it looks like and why it’s important. We will also learn where the Bible speaks of edification, including how that looked to Jesus throughout the gospels, and to the Apostle Paul in his letters to various young churches. We want to be sure to understand the difference between what the church considers edification and what the world mistakenly believes about self-transformation. Finally, we need to understand how to be involved in those things that edify us and others, and realize what a life-changing process it can be. To start, let’s take a look at the use of the word and where it originated.
What Bible Verses Talk about Edification?
We know that edification comes from the Greek “aedificare” which means “to build.” Later, in Latin, “oikodome” was the word translated “to build.” According to Dictionary.com, to edify means “to instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; to uplift." In terms of Christianity, edification more specifically means to “build up” people in their faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in their knowledge of the Bible, and in their ministry within the body of Christ. We never “arrive” on this side of heaven, but we are called to do those things that lead to spiritual maturity.
There are several uses of edification and its meaning in the Scriptures. Below are a few examples:
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”
“The one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort…so that the church may be edified.”
“Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.”
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…”
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
There are also examples from the Old Testament:
“I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up.”
(God was building up His chosen people, the nation of Israel)
“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not!’” (An example of comforting and building others up)
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Several proverbs provide instruction and emphasize moral building up of the reader)
If God cares enough about edification to speak about it through His word, what does that mean for believers?
Why Is Edification Important for Christians?
In all of the above verses, we see that emphasis is on believers building one another up so that the whole church–the body of Christ–would be strengthened. Because of free will, we have a choice of whether we want to participate in this process for ourselves and others. Are we content with simply professing faith to “make it” into heaven, but not growing in that faith? If so, we will live a life devoid of all of the spiritual blessings that God wants to confer on His children. If we claim to be a follower of Jesus, but don’t obey the Lord (one of the things we learn as we are being edified) then we risk being hypocrites–the kind that Jesus spoke about rejecting when He said, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).
So, what do we need in order to be edified and develop spiritual maturity?
The Holy Spirit, who indwells every believer and works within us to guide and empower us to serve Jesus using our spiritual gifts (Romans 8:14).
Bible study–whether on our own, or within a group at church (2 Timothy 3:16).
Solid Bible-based teaching at church and through trusted pastors/authors/teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Worship and fellowship, which we find in gathering with other believers at church (Hebrews 10:25).
Prayer/communion with God (1 Thess. 5:17).
Obedience and accountability with others in our walk (James 1:22).
Discipleship often overlaps with the idea of edification. While edification is more of a communal process of encouraging one another to walk more closely with Christ, discipleship is more personal. The intention of discipleship is to steer an individual to become a follower of Jesus, and then to mentor that person, provide accountability, and demonstrate how to live out one’s faith (Jesus was the perfect example of how to disciple with great compassion and love). As disciples grow in maturity and have more opportunity to help build up other believers, they will become edifiers as well.
The Bible offers many stories that exemplify edification, both in the Old and New Testament.
Examples of Edification in the Bible
While God made covenants with the nation of the Israelites, He did so through individuals specifically chosen to be blessed and to carry His word to edify the people.
Abraham: by example of a faithful life, trusting in God despite what he could see, and telling others about God (especially Sarah his wife, and Lot his nephew)
Joseph: went through many trials, and later was used by God to build up his brothers when he forgave them for selling him as a slave, and told them that what they meant for evil, God meant for good.
Moses: was used by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, and gave them God’s commandments that, if followed, would lead to fruitful and protected lives. The goal was to build them up in their faith in the One True God.
King David: chosen by God to be king, he demonstrated what complete trust in God looked like. Though he would sin, he also showed what repentance and restoration by God could mean for other followers of God.
Prophets: each gave instruction from God (sometimes in the form of warnings against wrong behavior) that served to build up those who believed their prophecies.
Jesus: while Jesus was the perfect example of one who discipled others, He also edified many other individuals who were considered outcasts by the community. These could include the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, the woman with the 12-year issue of blood, the demoniac, and many others.
The new community of believers in Acts: “devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, praising God and having favor with all the people... And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2)
Paul: went on missionary journeys to plant churches in other areas, and trained pastors to lead their congregations. He often challenged believers to stay true to the faith and to grow in their knowledge and love for the Lord.
John in Revelation: In the ultimate edification that we have to look forward to, the Apostle John received God’s revelation about the end times and shared it with the church to encourage and build up believers in hope.
What about Christians in our time? What can we do?
How Can Christians Practice Edification Today?
From these examples, we can glean how we can edify one another in our day. We can first provide encouragement when life is difficult for our brothers and sisters in Christ, pointing them to the Lord and His word for comfort. Second, we can hold one another accountable in our walk with the Lord. And we all need ongoing teaching so that all may be built up in their knowledge and love for the Lord. Once again, there are several ways that we can share Truth–in church and through well-respected pastors/teachers and Bible-based materials.
We can also focus on those activities/sacraments that take place in our churches throughout the week. We can share worship time together, joining our voices in praise of the Lord. We must be in communication with God and “pray without ceasing” in order to truly know God’s heart. And we can take part in fellowship events where we learn to care for and support one another.
Edification vs. Flattery or Criticism
The unsaved love edification as well. The problem is that their form of edification has more to do with “self-improvement” or self-actualization.” In their thinking, to be “built up” morally or intellectually has nothing to do with God and has everything to do with the individual. As followers of Christ we must be careful not to be “puffed up” with pride over our own edification (Romans 11:20). The Apostle Paul went further, saying, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). Edification is not a means to seek accolades, but is supposed to be a growth process based in humility.
Neither is edification a tool for criticism. We don’t approach fellow believers with reproach about their spiritual maturity, or lack thereof. Part of our ministry as fellow members of the body of Christ is to seek out the best spiritual interests of our brothers and sisters, and look for ways that we can be built up with nothing but God’s intentions in mind.
Conclusion & Reflection on Edification
Christians have always needed edification, but it seems that we need this focus now more than ever. According to the American Bible Society, “Scripture engagement among American adults is at its lowest point in the 14 years the American Bible Society has commissioned the annual State of the Bible report…” Just knowing this tells us that there needs to be more efforts to disciple and build up individuals in our country.
More and more distractions are pulling people (including believers) away from spiritual disciplines that help them mature in the Christian faith. Worse yet, Moral Relativism–the belief that there is no universal truth–competes with attempts to draw people to faith in Jesus. This complete rejection of God is not new, but the number of people born between 1999 and 2015 (Gen Z) seems to be attracted to this philosophy in greater numbers.
But God is still on His throne and still sovereign. There is no one who is too far to reach, to repent, and to start on a path of edification in the Christian faith. As believers, we can honor and glorify Him in anything we do to build ourselves and others up in the faith. We can spend more time at church listening to what is happening in people’s lives, especially their spiritual lives. We can glean from those whose faith is mature and founded on the truth of Jesus’ life, atoning death, resurrection, and promised return. Others who may be struggling may need more help in the edification process, such as praying with others, being invited to Bible study, serving with fellow believers, and engaging in God-honoring fellowship. If personal relationships within the church need to be strengthened, we need to look to Jesus’ example of speaking the truth in love and forgiving one another.
Edification is essential to the Church because without the spiritual growth it promotes, believers will always be immature, relying on milk and not solid food (Hebrews 5:12-14). They will be stunted in areas where God wants them to become more like Christ. One of the best expressions of that growth is participating in the Great Commission Jesus spoke of before He returned to heaven: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Edification develops and strengthens believers to carry on this mission, becoming spiritually sound and ready to make disciples who become everything God wants them to be.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Gajus
Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).
