³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in ^(A)the bond of peace. ⁴ There is ^(B)one body and ^(C)one Spirit—just as you were called to the one ^(D)hope that belongs to your call— ^5 (E)one Lord, ^(F)one faith, ^(G)one baptism, ^6 (H)one God and Father of all, ^(I)who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But ^(J)grace was given ^(K)to each one of us ^(L)according to the measure of Christ's gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

⁹ (^(O)In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into ^(P)the lower regions, the earth?^{[b] 10} He who descended is the one who also ^(Q)ascended ^(R)far above all the heavens, that he might ^(S)fill all things.) ¹¹ And ^(T)he gave the ^(U)apostles, the prophets, the ^(V)evangelists, the ^(W)shepherds^[c] and teachers,^[d]

³¹ But ^(A)earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Prophecy and Tongues

14 ^(A)Pursue love, and ^(B)earnestly desire the ^(C)spiritual gifts, especially that you may ^(D)prophesy.

Qualifications for Overseers

3 The saying is ^(A)trustworthy: If anyone aspires to ^(B)the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

A Living Sacrifice

12 ^(A)I appeal to you therefore, brothers,^[a] by the mercies of God, ^(B)to present your bodies ^(C)as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.^{[b] 2 (D)}Do not be conformed to this world,^[c] but be transformed by ^(E)the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may ^(F)discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.^[d]

Gifts of Grace

³ For ^(G)by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you ^(H)not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, ^(I)each according to ^(J)the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For ^(K)as in one body we have many members,^[e] and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, ^(L)though many, ^(M)are one body in Christ, and individually ^(N)members one of another. ^6 (O)Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if ^(P)prophecy, ^(Q)in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if ^(R)service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; ^(S)the one who leads,^[f] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with ^(T)cheerfulness.

^14 (A)Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you ^(B)by prophecy when the council of elders ^(C)laid their hands on you.

¹⁵ And let ^(A)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called ^(B)in one body. And ^(C)be thankful.

^3 (A)Therefore, brothers,^[a] pick out from among you seven men ^(B)of good repute, ^(C)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.