This verse, which in Greek continues without a break from verse 11, expresses the purpose of Christ’s bestowing these gifts on the church; the initial preposition “for” in the Greek is directly related to the main verb “he gave” in verse 11.

To prepare translates a Greek noun found only here in the New Testament; it denotes the action described by the verb “prepare, make ready, equip” (see Mark 1.19 and Matt 4.21, with the object “nets”). All God’s people are to be equipped to do the work of Christian service. It is not likely (as Bible de Jérusalem, Jerusalem Bible say in footnote) that “the saints” are here only the particular ministers listed in verse 11. Revised Standard Version (following King James Version and American Standard Version [American Standard Version]; also Abbott) takes the phrase “for the work of service” to be a separate phrase indicating an additional purpose: “for the equipment of the saints, for the work of ministry.”

It should be noticed that the Greek manuscripts do not have punctuation marks, and that the punctuation marks in printed editions of the Greek New Testament are the work of the editors of the text.

He did this to prepare all God’s people may be expressed as “he did this in order that all God’s people would be ready to…” or “… would be able to….”

Christian service translates a Greek noun meaning “service, work,” a general term for all that a Christian is called on to do; the related noun “servant” (3.7; 6.21) was applied to those who performed humble tasks, like waiting on tables.

The phrase for the work of Christian service may be rendered “for the work people who follow Christ must do” or “in order to do what they should as believers” or “in order to help others as believers should.”

To build up translates the Greek noun for “building” (see 2.21; 4.16), and for the body of Christ see 1.23 (also 2.6; 4.4). This last clause is closely dependent on the previous one but is also, like the previous one, related to the main verb “he gave” in verse 11.

The clause in order to build up the body of Christ contains a type of mixed metaphor, since “building up” would refer primarily to construction, while the body of Christ is a group of people. The verbal phrase to build up can be translated in some languages by “caused to grow” or “caused to grow strong.” The whole purpose clause can be translated “in order to strengthen the body of Christ” or “in order to strengthen the believers as the body of Christ.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .