But to each one of us(A) grace(B) has been given(C) as Christ apportioned it. This is why it[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
    he took many captives(D)
    and gave gifts to his people.”[b](E)

(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended(F) higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)(G) 11 So Christ himself gave(H) the apostles,(I) the prophets,(J) the evangelists,(K) the pastors and teachers,(L) 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ(M) may be built up(N) 13 until we all reach unity(O) in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God(P) and become mature,(Q) attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:8 Or God
  2. Ephesians 4:8 Psalm 68:18
  3. Ephesians 4:9 Or the depths of the earth

Now to each one of us grace has been given proportionate to the measure of the Messiah’s[a] gift. That is why God[b] says,

“When he went up to the highest place,
    he led captives into captivity
        and gave gifts to people.”[c]

Now what does this “he went up” mean except that he also had gone[d] down into the lower parts of the earth?[e] 10 The one who went down is the same one who went up above all the heavens so that all things would be fulfilled. 11 And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, and still others to be pastors and teachers, 12 to equip[f] the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body of the Messiah[g] 13 until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God’s Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in the Messiah.[h]

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:7 Or Christ’s
  2. Ephesians 4:8 Lit. he
  3. Ephesians 4:8 Ps 68:18
  4. Ephesians 4:9 Other mss. read had first gone
  5. Ephesians 4:9 Or parts, that
  6. Ephesians 4:12 Or perfect
  7. Ephesians 4:12 Or Christ
  8. Ephesians 4:13 Or Christ