95 EPHESIANS 4,12. A REVISED READING Chrysostom quotation to prove a parallel reading of this verse forces the interpretation and risks missing a larger view of the section. In addition, Chrysostom’s understanding of Eph 4,12 seems to denote, in fact, not a relationship of purpose but one of agreement between the unity of Christ’s gift and its manifestation to build up his body. VI. According to the measure of Christ’s gift Studying Eph 4,12 with the lens of rhetorical analysis demonstrates the methodological importance of looking at the syntactical arrangement in conjunction with the line of thought. On the one hand, the syntactical examination of the prepositional phrases without a larger view of the sec- tion is inadequate because it only presents several possibilities. On the other hand, the study of the line of thought (the midrashic explanation of Ps 68,19 and its consequences) is also insufficient because it can miss the linking between the singular arguments. In this sense, both studies work together. The consequences of applying this methodological approach to Eph 4,12 can be summarized as follows: (a) The construction prov + ¥ accusative in Eph 4,12a may indicate not a relationship of purpose but one of agreement, in the same way as 2 Cor 5,10; Gal 2,14 and Eph 3,4. (b) The prepositional phrases with eıv in Eph 4,12b-c are neither parallel nor ß subordinate to one another, but coordinate, the second phrase defining the first (with prov) and the third enunciating the result of Eph 4,12a-b. (c) ¥ The reasoning of Eph 4,7-16 focuses on the giving of Christ’s gift to build up his body. Therefore God’s grace through Christ and the growth of the body of Christ reflect a relationship of agreement. (d) The sequence of the prepositional phrases, namely the rhetorical figure of accumulation, serves to explain the relationship between Christ’s gift and the edification of Christ’s body. (e) The work of service in the literary context of Ephesians points to the ministry of the Word, which Paul received and shares with all the saints. In brief, the prepositional sequence expresses relationships of agree- ment (prov + accusative), purpose (eıv) and result (eıv), in this order. ¥ ß ß Such an interpretation, in accordance with the train of thought of the whole section (4,7-16), offers not simply a further reading but the most suitable one suggested so far. Pontificio Istituto Biblico Juan Manuel GRANADOS ROJAS Via della Pilotta, 25 00187 Roma Italia