¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer^(A) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope^(B) that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter,^[a](A) and on this rock I will build my church,^(B) and the gates of Hades^[b] will not overcome it.

¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(A) deceiving and being deceived.^{(B) 14} But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,^{(C) 15} and how from infancy^(D) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(E) which are able to make you wise^(F) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(G) and is useful for teaching,^(H) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{(I) 17} so that the servant of God^[a](J) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^(K)

¹¹ So Christ himself gave^(A) the apostles,^(B) the prophets,^(C) the evangelists,^(D) the pastors and teachers,^{(E) 12} to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(F) may be built up^{(G) 13} until we all reach unity^(H) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God^(I) and become mature,^(J) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.^(K)

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants,^(L) tossed back and forth by the waves,^(M) and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.^{(N) 15} Instead, speaking the truth in love,^(O) we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,^(P) that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(Q) and builds itself up^(R) in love,^(S) as each part does its work.