Addressing “the work of the ministry” which is “for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12), Calvin writes “He could not exalt more highly the ministry of the Word, than by attributing to it this effect. For what higher work can there be than to build up the church that it may reach its perfection? They therefore are insane, who neglecting this means hope to be perfect in Christ, as is the case with fanatics, who pretend to secret revelations of the Spirit; and the proud, who content themselves with the private reading of the Scripture, and imagine they do not need the ministry of the church” (quoted in C. Hodge’s commentary on Ephesians).