CHAPTER 7 Defining Evangelizing - Evangelism Unlimited

Thomas P. Johnston 415
Greek
Byzantin
e
pro.j to.n
katartismo.n
tw/n
a`gi,wn
Jerom’s
Vulgate
(435)
Ad
consummationemsanctorum
n14) katartismo,j (1 NT use), meaning assembling; training, equipping:
Eph 4:12, “for the equipping [assembling?] of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of
the body of Christ”
Wycliffe
2 nd ed
(1388)
To the ful
endying
of the
seyntes
Tyndale
(1534)
That all
the
sainctes
might
have all
things
neces-
sary
Translations of katartismo,j in Eph 4:12
Coverdale
(1535)
Wherby
the
sayntes
mighte be
coupled
together
English
Geneva
(1560)
For the
gathering
together
of the
Saintes
French
Geneva
(1669)
For the
assembling
of
the
saints*
English
Geneva
(1599)
For the
repairing
of the
Saintes
KJV
(1769);
Darby;
ERV;
ASV
For the
perfecting
of the
saints
BBE
(1949)
RSV
(1952)
For the To equip
training of the saints
the saints
NAS
(1977);
NKJ
For the
equipping
of
the saints
Notice the evangelistic emphasis of these
translations that seems to imply the need
for an ingathering!
*The 1982 Nova Vulgata changed the old Vulgate verb consumationem (perfecting), to the revised verb instructionem (instruction)
**The French text reads: “Pour l’assemblage des saints.”
Is there a gathering element expressed in the term katartismo,j, as hinted to in Coverdale’s
“coupled together,” the 1560 English Geneva’s “gathering together, and the 1696 French
Geneva’s “assembling”?
Before a wall of stones can be fit together, they need to be gathered (hence, the “evangelist”
in Eph 4:11)
Once the stones are gathered or assembled, they can be fitted together (hence, some factories
use an “assembly line”)
Hence the definition in Friberg: “as a process of adjustment that results in a complete
preparedness equipping, perfecting, making adequate”
While the 1599 English Geneva, “repairing,” gives the impression that the wall was good at
one time, and only needs to be repaire, the 1560 English Geneva, however, uses the
words “gathering together”
Could it be that this word includes both meanings, assembling and fitting together for
effective ministry?
Being that katartismo,j is a hapax legomena in both the NT and LXX, there is no other
biblical passage available for the purpose of comparison.
97) katanta,w (13 NT uses), meaning to come, arrive (coupled with the gathering meaning of
katartismo,j above):
As a result of being gathered together:
Eph 4:13 (Eng. Geneva), “ Till we all meete together (in the vnitie of faith and that
acknowledging of the Sonne of God) vnto a perfite man, and vnto the measure of the age of
the fulnesse of Christ
Eph 4:13 (NKJ), “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
“Meet together” seems to be more active than “come together,” which appears passive;
furthermore, the text implies a progression:
v. 12, gather together
v. 13, meet together
If “gather together” is the proper translation of katartismo,j, as noted above, then it provides
purpose for the exhortation of Heb 10:25, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the habit of some.”
Likewise, it exemplifies the importance of the “evangelist” in edification as found in
Eph 4:11
NIV
(1984)
To
prepare
God’s
people