"What Every Joint Supplies": A Dynamic Biblical Metaphor

"What Every Joint Supplies" is a phrase from Ephesians 4:16. Paul uses a dynamic figure of speech that metaphorizes joints in the human body as relationships in the body of Christ. In exploring this dynamic metaphor, I cover the different kinds of joints, joint structures, joint health, joint damage, the diagnosis and prognosis of joint damage, and how to treat joint damage. This is all applied to the relationships in the local body of Christ. Human bodies and local church bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made. Bishop F. Josephus (Joey) Johnson, II, has led one of Akron, Ohio's largest and most influential churches, The House of the Lord, for 50 years. Bishop Johnson's motto is "Relationships are everything!" which means that relationships are the interpretive key to the Bible and the relational key to living an effective Christian life. Bishop Johnson has read 50 to 100 books a year for the past 20 years. His reading has primarily been in the areas of theology, psychology and coun