But (A)grace was given (B)to each one of us (C)according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,

(D)“When he ascended on high (E)he led a host of captives,
    and he gave gifts to men.”[a]

((F)In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into (G)the lower regions, the earth?[b] 10 He who descended is the one who also (H)ascended (I)far above all the heavens, that he might (J)fill all things.) 11 And (K)he gave the (L)apostles, the prophets, the (M)evangelists, the (N)shepherds[c] and teachers,[d] 12 (O)to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for (P)building up (Q)the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to (R)the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, (S)to mature manhood,[e] to the measure of the stature of (T)the fullness of Christ,

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
  2. Ephesians 4:9 Or the lower parts of the earth?
  3. Ephesians 4:11 Or pastors
  4. Ephesians 4:11 Or the shepherd-teachers
  5. Ephesians 4:13 Greek to a full-grown man

However, he has given each one of us a special gift[a] through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b]

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.[c] 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:7 Greek a grace.
  2. 4:8 Ps 68:18.
  3. 4:9 Some manuscripts read to the lower parts of the earth.