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God has given his grace to each one of us measured out by the gift that is given by Christ. That’s why scripture says, When he climbed up to the heights, he captured prisoners, and he gave gifts to people.[a]

What does the phrase “he climbed up” mean if it doesn’t mean that he had first gone down into the lower regions, the earth? 10 The one who went down is the same one who climbed up above all the heavens so that he might fill everything.

11 He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. 12 His purpose was to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ 13 until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of God’s Son. God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ.

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But de to each hekastos one heis of us hēmeis grace charis was given didōmi · ho according kata to the ho measure metron of the ho gift dōrea of ho Christ Christos. Therefore dio it says legō, “ When he ascended anabainō on eis high hypsos he led aichmalōteuō a host of prisoners aichmalōsia captive ; he gave didōmi gifts doma to ho men anthrōpos.” Now de the ho expression “ he ascended anabainō,” what tis does eimi it imply except ei mē that hoti he also kai descended katabainō to eis the ho lower katōteros regions meros, to the ho earth ? 10 He ho who descended katabainō is eimi himself autos the ho one who also kai ascended anabainō far above hyperanō all pas the ho heavens ouranos, so that hina he might fill plēroō · ho all pas things . 11 And kai it was he autos who gave didōmi the ho apostles apostolos, the ho · de prophets prophētēs, the ho · de evangelists euangelistēs, the ho · de pastors poimēn and kai teachers didaskalos, 12 to pros · ho equip katartismos the ho saints hagios for eis the work ergon of ministry diakonia, to eis build oikodomē up the ho body sōma of ho Christ Christos, 13 until mechri we all pas attain katantaō · ho to eis the ho unity henotēs of the ho faith pistis and kai of the ho knowledge epignōsis of the ho Son hyios of ho God theos, to eis mature teleios adulthood anēr, to eis the measure metron of the stature hēlikia of the ho fullness plērōma of ho Christ Christos,

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