¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ^(A) may be built up^(B)

¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows^(A) and builds itself up^(B) in love,^(C) as each part does its work.

³⁰ for we are members of his body.^(A)

¹⁸ And he is the head^(A) of the body, the church;^(B) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(C) from among the dead,^(D) so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

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)

²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,^(A) his body, of which he is the Savior.

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