Joints And Ligaments

by Archibald, M. | Category: N/a | Nov 2006

The joints of our human bodies offer a wonderful study in design. A ‘saddle joint’ at the base of the thumb allows you to grasp and turn a tap, or form a plier-like grip between thumb and any finger. Plane joints in my spine provide stability along with rotation or bending of the torso. The ball and socket joint in the hip allows a leg to swing or turn in several directions, while bearing upper body weight plus that of anything carried by shoulder or arms. Ligaments are fibrous tissues which connect bone to bone, keeping joints together.

The accurate language of Scripture

This detail comes from the last five centuries of the study of anatomy. If, however, we go back to the writing of the New Testament in the first century A.D., what can we expect ‘joints and ligaments’ (or ‘bands’ in the old versions) to mean? Here is another source of wonder, for those terms in fact clearly correspond to what has later been discovered about how joints work. For the doctor trained in a Greek school of medicine, the human body was sacred, and was not to be dissected for study. Therefore knowledge of how joints work was gleaned from external observation, from wounds that exposed bone, or from dismemberment of animals for sacrifice or cooking. Yet the terms used in Ephesians 4:16 and Colossians 2:19 are consistent with today’s knowledge. Here are the Greek words, set out for handy reference:

‘Haphe’ or ‘joint’ is derived from hapto = ‘fasten’, and means something that fastens one object to another.

‘Sundesmos’ is derived from sun = ‘along with’ + deo = ‘bind’. It meant a ‘bond’ in anatomy, as in our texts above; or ‘that which unites’ (for example see Eph.4:3).

Thus, fair equivalents for each word are ‘joint’ and ‘ligament’. This is borne out by neighbouring phrases in both key texts: ‘... being fitted and held together’ (Eph.4:16 NAS); ‘... held together by the joints and ligaments’ (Col.2:19 NAS). It seems more consistent, therefore, to think of ‘joints and ligaments’, rather than translate ‘ligaments and sinews’ as in NIV. (Sinews have a different function, joining muscle to bone.)

‘What every joint supplies’

We are ready now to look at the word commonly rendered ‘supply’ in these verses. The beautiful thought in Philippians 1:19, ‘the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ’, offers the very appealing idea that members of the Body of Christ may be channels of an outflowing of the Holy Spirit from Christ the Head. There is then a link with ‘what every joint supplies’ (Eph.4:16 NAS), and ‘being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments’ (Col.2:19 NAS). The problem is that joints and ligaments would then appear to be thought of in New Testament times as channels rather than fastenings. This would be out of harmony with other passages of Scripture that describe details of the physical world with astonishing truth, centuries before it was discovered by scientific investigation.

So again we make a dictionary search, and find that the Greek word translated here as ‘supply’ could be used to mean: (1) convey as a gift or grant, e.g. ‘seed to the sower’ (2 Cor.9:10); (2) furnish, e.g. ‘virtue’ 2 Pet.1:5; (3) support, providing what is necessary for the well-being of another, e.g. rich supporting poor. There was in the background a special but frequent sense (4) to sponsor public works. So in contexts about connections between the limbs of the body that are ‘fitted and held together’, doesn’t the sense ‘support’ seem to win?

Nevertheless, the most recent translations keep the idea of ‘supply’ in some form, e.g. ‘equip’ or ‘nourish’. In Ephesians 4:16 the E.S.V. (2002) reads: ‘from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped...makes the body grow’. Colossians 2:19 reads: ‘from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God’.

Those translators have plainly decided that in view of the usage of the epichoreg- word-cluster in settings where something is supplied, there is a relevance for that thought in both texts. Certainly, we recognise that a joint in the body not only allows blood and lymph vessels to pass from one limb to another, but also ensures that is so by keeping them connected. It seems we may accept either ‘supply’ or ‘support’ with good sense.

The spiritual purpose in mentioning joints and ligaments

Now we do not wish to lose sight of the apostle’s purpose in this part of his description of the Body of Christ. The Letter to the Ephesians was written to followers of Christ who had turned to Him from the values of commercial success, which undervalued people, using them like tools or property. They lived in the centre for the worship of Artemis, with its attendant image-making industry, and its enticements to immorality. Colossae had once profited from its position on the River Lycus, and beside a trade-route between East and West, but had lost its prosperity, along with the re-sited highway, to Laodicea, now a fashionable health resort. What Paul saw as being vital to both churches, was to realize how blessed, how rich they now were through their relationship with Christ, and so with each member of His spiritual Body. To be closely united with Him, and with one another, would take over from all sense of earthly loss.

But the Christian disciple’s blessing depends to this day on keeping connection with the Saviour of the Body in daily living. We have to learn to value what our Lord prizes, and to accept direction from Him as Head. Thus we will value all those whom He has made one with Himself, and we may then find we receive support from them.

A possible reservation

Before we go on, some readers may be concerned about how far the teaching of the Church the Body of Christ has to do with daily Christian living. It is very true that there is an aspect of the Church the Body that is the perfect work of God, uninfluenced by human achievements or failure. Believers are baptised into that Body by Christ in the Holy Spirit (Mat.3:11; 1 Cor.12:13). Thus no-one can change that divine union with Him. When we were made to drink of one Spirit, we received eternal life, and shall never perish, whatever our conduct down here (John 10:28). This is the perfect position we are given by God’s grace. His purpose, however, is that with our feet set upon a rock, our walk in this world should reflect that blessing. Gifts were granted to the Body so that it might be built up in manner of life, as well as in numbers - that saints might be ‘perfected’ (See RV, Eph.4:12). Those gifts may be exercised or neglected, in our service in churches of God (1 Tim.4:14; 2 Tim.1:6).

Joints and ligaments at work

What, then, is the distinctive role of those joints and ligaments in this process? Are they distinct gifts, to be found in certain believers, or are they general principles of behaviour?

When Paul mentions other parts of the physical body in 1 Corinthians 12, for example the eye or the hand, he doesn’t identify them as specific types of gift: they are left as obvious illustrations of how body parts depend on one another. The joints and ligaments, however, are selected twice over to extend the imagery of the spiritual Body. So we are right to consider how that function may work out in practice in the service of the members together. Keeping connection is clearly vital to helping one another. Co-operation, and the attitude of heart that encourages it, is the theme of the passage about the Body in 1 Corinthians 12. If it is essential to ‘hold fast the Head’ (Col.2:19) so as to receive and follow the direction He gives, it is also vital to practise good relations with the members who serve beside us. Clearly joints have a special role here. A joint allows suitable movement for the various actions that the limbs perform, yet never loses connection - so that each member is still available for the next required action!

First, what is expected of all

First, however, we recognise that all the members are expected to work together, in appropriate groupings. It may begin with simply being civil to one another, and surely we would expect an added kindness in tone and action that flows from the love of Christ. Then comes the effort to be of active help in whatever our Lord calls on us to do for Him; and to do so as part of a team when so required. Out of this grows the readiness to make room for the service of others, rather than always step forward with our own skills. Nor is this a matter of organisation alone. The ESV in Colossians 2:19 speaks of the whole body as ‘nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments’. So it is for each of us to pass on spiritual feeding and refreshing, from the ministry of the Word, and from the upbuilding effect of serving together. From that communion love is deepened and sympathy grows. Thus the Body grows - in the quality of the life that we draw from Christ. There is also a vital effect on our witness (John 17:20-21).

Outstanding gift in promoting unity

Yet are there not in our experience some saints who are specially gifted to minister in this unifying way? They are quick to perceive others’ needs, and equally their skills; ready to understand and listen; and so they become specially able to say and do what helps others to feel involved and valued. Our thoughts turn to an early promise given to peace-makers: ‘Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called sons of God’ (Mat.5:9). They are the people who, with courage and grace, face up to the solving of problems, so as to achieve lasting peace. With great patience and love, they work with estranged saints, to bring them together. Such people are indeed joints and ligaments in the Body of Christ, and they bring the nourishment of His presence. They ‘let the peace of Christ rule’ in their hearts, and His word dwells in them richly (Col.3).

Growing in this gift

Today we know as seldom before that keeping a body fit and healthy depends on balanced food and exercise. Equipment for all the service we have described begins in the quiet place with reading, meditation on, and study of the living Word. Prayer that includes confession and thanksgiving leads to communion with the Father, the Son and the Spirit. Without that, we are poor in communion with others. May we seek the Lord’s face, that He may equip more of our number to fill those two great job descriptions in the glorious Body of Christ!

Archibald, M. | Nov 2006
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