Ephesians 4:9-16

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁹ (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended^[a] into the lower parts of the earth?^{[b] 10} He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers^{(A) 12} to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,^{(B) 13} until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity,^[c] to the measure of the full stature of Christ.^{(C) 14} We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming;^{(D) 15} but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,^{(E) 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.