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.

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(A) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(B) against the powers^(C) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^(D)

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you,^(A) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^{(B) 12} Rejoice and be glad,^(C) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(D)

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.^(E)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world.^(F) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.^{(G) 16} In the same way, let your light shine before others,^(H) that they may see your good deeds^(I) and glorify^(J) your Father in heaven.

³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others,^(A) I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.^(B)

⁴ Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom^(A)—both young and old—surrounded the house. ⁵ They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”^(B)

⁶ if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes,^(A) and made them an example^(B) of what is going to happen to the ungodly;^(C)

⁶ And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.^{(A) 7} In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah^(B) and the surrounding towns^(C) gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.^(D)