¹¹ And ^(A)he gave the ^(B)apostles, the prophets, the ^(C)evangelists, the ^(D)shepherds^[a] and teachers,^{[b] 12 (E)}to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for ^(F)building up ^(G)the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to ^(H)the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, ^(I)to mature manhood,^[c] to the measure of the stature of ^(J)the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, ^(K)tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in ^(L)deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, ^(M)speaking the truth in love, we are to ^(N)grow up in every way into him who is ^(O)the head, into Christ, ^16 (P)from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, ^(Q)when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

^23 (A)Whatever you do, work heartily, ^(B)as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord ^(C)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ^(D)You are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

³ knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come ^(A)in the last days with scoffing, ^(B)following their own sinful desires. ^4 (C)They will say, “Where is the promise of ^(D)his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth ^(E)was formed out of water and through water ^(F)by the word of God, ⁶ and that by means of these the world that then existed ^(G)was deluged with water and ^(H)perished. ⁷ But by the same word ^(I)the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and ^(J)destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and ^(K)a thousand years as one day. ^9 (L)The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise ^(M)as some count slowness, but ^(N)is patient toward you,^{[a] (O)}not wishing that any should perish, but ^(P)that all should reach repentance.