Knitting Together (συμβιβάζω)
The term ‘knitting together’ (συμβιβάζω) combines the concepts of ‘closely associated’ with ‘knitting together’. It is used to describe the interweaving of facts to create a cohesive whole. Another use relates to how a body is knit together by its ligaments and joints.
After Paul’s conversion to Christianity and the three years he spent in the desert being trained by the resurrected Christ, he returned to Damascus to proclaim that Christ is the Son of God. Increasing in strength, Paul confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, ‘knitting together’ the Scriptures, proving that Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 9:20-22).
After the council in Jerusalem with Paul and the Apostles concluded that Gentiles were not required to be circumcised, Paul went through the regions where many assemblies had been planted, ensuring that the saints understood this. The council properly determined, based upon what God was doing and the signs He had shown the Jews concerning the Gentiles, that the Gentiles were not becoming part of Israel. Instead, God was doing a new work in creating the Church; therefore, obedience to the covenant of circumcision was not required by the Gentiles. This conclusion also removed any expectation of compliance to the Mosaic Law.
As Paul was going through the region, taking the news from the Jerusalem council to the churches, when he and his companions traveled through Phrygia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go into Asia. Having gone on to Mysia, they were forbidden to go into Bithynia. Therefore, Paul went to Troas, where he had a vision of a Macedonian man pleading for him to come. Based upon all this information, Paul knit together that he was to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:10).
Today, by using the renewed mind we have in Christ, we are able to test for approval all situations, knitting together what is the desirous will of God for our lives. A soulish man is not able to discern the things from the Spirit, for they are Spiritually discerned. No one can examine a man to determine if her is spiritual. However, a man who is spiritual can discern Spiritual things because, in Christ, he has been given a quality of the mind of Christ. For who knows a quality of the mind of the Lord, who will be knit together with Him? Indeed, we have a quality of the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). When we are spiritual, having put on the new man, the Holy Spirit works within our minds, putting spiritual concepts and spiritual words together so that we comprehend truth (1 Corinthians 2:13). In contrast to this, when we seek to please our emotions as we attempt to relating to God, we lack the inherent ability to discern Spiritual things.
Christ gave the church men to server as pastors even teachers to bring us to a oneness of the faith to a full experiential knowledge of the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. The purpose for these men is to teach the saints so that they are no longer inarticulate babblers that are tossed around by every wind of teaching by the trickery of men. Instead, they are to speak the truth in love, growing up in all things to Him Who is the head, Christ, from Whom the whole body is knit together, having all that it needs for growth and edification (Ephesians 4:16). Therefore, we are to no longer walk as the Gentiles, in the futility of their minds, having our thoughts darkened and being alienated from the life of God, for we have not so learned the Christ (Ephesians 4:17-20). We are to put off the former strong desires of the old man and be renewed by the spirit of our mind, putting on the new man, who we are in Christ (Ephesians 4:21-24).
We of the Church are to be knit together in love. Love is seeking the best for others. As we have received Christ, we are to walk in a worthy manner, attaining to full wisdom of understanding unto a full experiential knowledge of the mystery of God and the Christ (Colossians 2:2). ‘The Christ’ is the new creation in which Christ is the head, and the Church is His body (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:22-24). As members of one body, we are to care for each other in love. Therefore, let no one cheat us out of our reward through taking delight in humility and the worship of angels, while they introduce things that are not discernible and are vainly puffed up in their mind, for they do not hold to the head, from Whom all the body is nourished and knit together (Colossians 2:19).