<p>4:12 <i>For the perfecting of the saints, to the work of holy service, to the building up of the body of Christ</i>- The allusions to priestly service and building all recall the gifts of the Spirit given to enable the building of the tabernacle / sanctuary, which was representative of the people of God, the body of Christ. Therefore the more visible gifts of leadership in :11 were only given in order to prepare the congregation for acts of service themselves (&quot;the work of holy service&quot;). &ldquo;Christianity was no slick imitation of existing ecclesiastical organisations. It made no attempt to set up a hierarchy modelled on previously existing institutions. It preferred <i>diakonia</i>, lowly service, to the grandiose ideas of the Gentiles&rdquo;. The &quot;building up&quot; of believers in the first century was partly through the Spirit gift of prophecy, whereby inspired New Testament prophets spoke relevant words from God to the newly converted illiterate believers (1 Cor. 14:3,5,12). And yet the building up of the body today is by the contribution of <i>every</i> part (Eph. 4:16,29). In the special case scenario of the first century, the miraculous Spirit gifts were given; their withdrawal doesn't mean that God's work of &quot;building up&quot; His people through the Spirit is over. It's just that the mode of operation has changed.</p>