In this phrase, some commentators adopt the word “age” as the translation of ἡλικίας in preference to stature. The older English versions of Wycliffe, Tyndale, and the Geneva all choose this term, and the King James places it in the margin. The original could be either meaning. John 1:16 reads, “Of his fulness, we have all received.” This describes a filled condition so that the stature of that fullness or the age of that fullness supports the idea expressed in the other three previous phrases. Paul had earlier written of his desire and prayer for them, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:19). His desire and prayer for Colosse were that they desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9). The early saints were said to be filled with the Spirit (cf. Paul, Acts 9:17, 13:9; Disciples, Acts 6:5, 7:55, 13:52, Eph. 5:8), showing that being filled with the fullness of God was attainable while living here. Further, we can understand the meaning by examining the opposite condition of maturity or fullness. It is descriptive of uncertainty, vacillation, and fluctuation. The immature are gullible and easily led astray by false teachers who use deceptive tactics to persuade them to act.
The fullness of Christ is not distinctly different from the Spirit’s indwelling. Similarly, we are taught that Christians are baptized into Christ (cf. Gal. 3:26-27). Thus, they are in Him and He is in them, but not in some mystical or physical way. We dwell in him because we are baptized into him, while God dwells in us through our faith in him. He does not dwell in us in some distinct way from the Father and Son dwelling in us.
With these gifts and the inspired revelation of truth granted to the apostles, and prophets, God’s people could be equipped as a functioning body dependent on each part to produce a needed element for their health and well-being. They could be assured through the testimony of the Spirit that they were God’s people and that the message from Him is true and trustworthy. These four were all attainable goals that were accomplished as a result of the gifts that Christ gave the called-out. The implication is that once the goal was achieved, and the body is fully functional and complete, the gifts were no longer necessary.