¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

¹⁹ and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with a growth that is from God.^(A)

⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.

² I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ,^[a](A)

¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,^(A)

¹³ And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.

Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts and especially that you may prophesy.^(A)

¹⁵ but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,^(A)

⁵ But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.^(A)

¹³ We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.^(A)

⁹ And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight^(A)