⁷ Each one of us has been given the ·special gift of grace [^Lgrace; or gift], ·showing how generous Christ is [or in proportion to Christ’s gift; ^Laccording to the measure of Christ’s gift]. ⁸ That is why it says in the Scriptures,

⁹ When it says, “He ·went up [ascended],” what does it mean? ·It means [^L…except] that he first ·came down [descended] to the ·earth [or lower regions, namely the earth; or the depths of the earth; ^Cprobably refers to (1) the Incarnation, though possibly (2) Christ’s descent to Hades after his death (1 Pet. 3:19–20), or (3) Christ’s descent through the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2)]. ¹⁰ So the one who ·came down [descended] is the same one who ·went up [ascended] above all the heavens. ·Christ did that [^L…in order] to fill ·everything with his presence [^Lall things]. ¹¹ And ·Christ gave gifts to people—he made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to have the work of caring for and teaching God’s people [^Lhe himself gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/shepherds, and teachers]. ¹² ·Christ gave those gifts to prepare [^L…to equip] God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger. ¹³ This work must continue until we ·are all joined together in the same faith [or all reach unity in the faith] and in the same knowledge of the Son of God. We must become like ·a mature person [or the perfect Man; ^CChrist], ·growing until we become like Christ and have his perfection [^Lto the measure of the stature of Christ’s fullness].