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.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(A) and each one of you is a part of it.^(B)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(A) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(B) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^{(C) 25} I have become its servant^(D) by the commission God gave me^(E) to present to you the word of God^(F) in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery^(G) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known^(H) among the Gentiles the glorious riches^(I) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(J) the hope of glory.