Ephesians 4:1-16

New International Version

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner^(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy^(B) of the calling^(C) you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another^(D) in love.^(E) ³Make every effort to keep the unity^(F) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.^(G) ⁴There is one body^(H) and one Spirit,^(I) just as you were called to one hope when you were called^(J); ⁵one Lord,^(K) one faith, one baptism; ⁶one God and Father of all,^(L) who is over all and through all and in all.^(M)

⁷But to each one of us^(N) grace^(O) has been given^(P) as Christ apportioned it. ⁸This is why it^[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives^(Q)
and gave gifts to his people.”^[b]^(R)

⁹(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰He who descended is the very one who ascended^(S) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^(T) ¹¹So Christ himself gave^(U) the apostles,^(V) the prophets,^(W) the evangelists,^(X) the pastors and teachers,^(Y) ¹²to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(Z) may be built up^(AA) ¹³until we all reach unity^(AB) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(AC) and become mature,^(AD) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(AE)

¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants,^(AF) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(AG) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^(AH) ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(AI) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(AJ) that is, Christ. ¹⁶From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(AK) and builds itself up^(AL) in love,^(AM) as each part does its work.