Now grace was given to each one of us(A) according to the measure of Christ’s gift. For it says:

When he ascended(B) on high,
he took the captives captive;
he gave gifts to people.[a](C)

But what does “he ascended” mean except that he[b] also descended to the lower parts of the earth?[c](D) 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens,(E) to fill all things.(F) 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,(G) 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,(H) growing into maturity with a stature(I) measured by Christ’s fullness.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:8 Ps 68:18
  2. 4:9 Other mss add first
  3. 4:9 Or the lower parts, namely, the earth

Gifted Leaders Bring the Church to Maturity

Now to each one of us was given this grace, according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

“Ascending on high he led captivity captive;
he gave gifts to men.”[a]

Now “he ascended,” what is it, except that he also descended[b] to the lower regions of the earth? 10 The one who descended himself is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order that he might fill all things.

11 And he himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers 12 for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ,

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 A quotation from Ps 68:18
  2. Ephesians 4:9 Some secondary manuscripts add “first”