ment as a Christian, Heb. 12, 23; and the church is perfect when it has reached the end of its development and stands complete in glory. In 1 Cor. 13, 10, τὸ τέλειον stands opposed to τὸ ἐκ μέρους, and there as here indicates the state which is to be attained here- after when we shall know even as we are known.
The standard of perfection for the church is com- plete conformity to Christ. It is to attain εἰς μέτρον ἡλικίας τοῦ πληρώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ. These words are explanatory of the preceding. The church becomes adult, a perfect man, when it reaches the fulness of Christ. However these words may be explained in detail, this is the general idea. Whether ἡλικία means stature or age depends upon the context. Most com- mentators prefer the latter signification here, because τέλειος in the preceding clause means adult, in reference to age rather than to stature, and νήπιος in the follow- ing verse means a child as to age and not as to size.
If the phrase “ fulness of Christ,” be explained ac- cording to the analogy of the phrases “ fulness of God,” ‘“‘ fulness of the Godhead,” &c., it must mean the pleni- tude of excellence which Christ possesses or which he bestows. And the “age of the fulness of Christ,” means the age at which the fulness of Christ is attained. Compare 8, 19, where believers ars said to be filled unto the fulness of God.
If, however, reference is had to the analogy of such expressions as “ fulness of the blessing of the Gospel,” Rom. 15, 29, which means ‘ the full or abundant bless- ing,’ then the passage before us means ‘the full age