Study Desk

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

As a prisoner^(a) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy^(b) of the calling^(c) you have received.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another^(d) in love.^(e)

Make every effort to keep the unity^(f) of the Spirit through the bond of peace.^(g)

There is one body^(h) and one Spirit,⁽ⁱ⁾ just as you were called to one hope when you were called^(j);

one Lord,^(k) one faith, one baptism;

one God and Father of all,^(l) who is over all and through all and in all.^(m)

But to each one of us⁽ⁿ⁾ grace^(o) has been given^(p) as Christ apportioned it.

This is why it^[a] says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives^(q) and gave gifts to his people."^[b](r)

(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]?

He who descended is the very one who ascended^(s) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)^(t)

So Christ himself gave^(u) the apostles,^(v) the prophets,^(w) the evangelists,^(x) the pastors and teachers,^(y)

to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(z) may be built up^(aa)

until 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)

Then 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)

Instead, 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.

From 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.