Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Till we all attain (mexri katanthswmen oi pantev). Temporal clause with purpose idea with mexri and the first aorist active subjunctive of katantaw, late verb, to come down to the goal (Philippians 3:11). "The whole" including every individual. Hence the need of so many gifts.
Unto the unity of the faith (eiv thn enothta thv pistewv). "Unto oneness of faith" (of trust) in Christ (verse Ephesians 4:3) which the Gnostics were disturbing.
And of the knowledge of the Son of God (kai thv epignwsewv tou uiou tou qeou). Three genitives in a chain dependent also on thn enothta, "the oneness of full (epi-) knowledge of the Son of God," in opposition to the Gnostic vagaries.
Unto a full-grown man (eiv andra teleion). Same figure as in Ephesians 2:15 and teleiov in sense of adult as opposed to nhpioi (infants) in Ephesians 4:14.
Unto the measure of the stature (eiv metron hlikiav). So apparently hlikia here as in Luke 2:52, not age (John 9:21). Boys rejoice in gaining the height of a man. But Paul adds to this idea "the fulness of Christ" (tou plhrwmatov tou Xristou), like "the fulness of God" in Ephesians 3:19. And yet some actually profess to be "perfect" with a standard like this to measure by! No pastor has finished his work when the sheep fall so far short of the goal.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
John 1:16
1 Corinthians 2:6
1 Corinthians 6:15
Galatians 4:1
Ephesians 1:10
Ephesians 1:23
Ephesians 4:3
Ephesians 4:14
Ephesians 4:15
Colossians 1:28
1 Timothy 2:4
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