²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing^(A) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,^(B) so that we may present everyone fully mature^(C) in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously^(D) contend^(E) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.^(F)

⁹ For we know in part^(A) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes,^(B) what is in part disappears.

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.

²² Jews demand signs^(A) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:^(B) a stumbling block^(C) to Jews and foolishness^(D) to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(E) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(F) and the wisdom of God.^{(G) 25} For the foolishness^(H) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(I) of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(J) Not many of you were wise^(K) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(L) the foolish^(M) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not^(N)—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him.^{(O) 30} It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,^(P) who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,^(Q) holiness^(R) and redemption.^(S)

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss^(A) for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing^(B) Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ^{(C) 9} and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,^(D) but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness^(E) that comes from God on the basis of faith.^{(F) 10} I want to know^(G) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,^(H) becoming like him in his death,^{(I) 11} and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection^(J) from the dead.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,^(K) but I press on to take hold^(L) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.^{(M) 13} Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(N) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on^(O) toward the goal to win the prize^(P) for which God has called^(Q) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature^(R) should take such a view of things.^(S) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.^(T)

²³ May God himself, the God of peace,^(A) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul^(B) and body be kept blameless^(C) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(D)

¹⁰ But by the grace^(A) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me^(B) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them^(C)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.^(D)