4 Because of that, I, a prisoner for the master, am urging you all to walk worthily of the calling to which you were called 2 [ref]with all humility, gentleness, and patience, putting up with one another because of your love for them, 3 being serious about keeping the unity of God’s spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one spirit, just as you all were called to one hope when you were called. 5 There’s one master, one system of faith, one immersion, 6 one God and father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

7 Yet each one of us has been given a measure of grace as a gift from the messiah, 8 just as it was written,

“When he ascended to heaven,

he eliminated captivity

and gave gifts to people.”[ref]

9 Of course, he couldn’t ascend if he hadn’t first descended down to earth. 10 So the one who descended is the very one who also ascended above all the heavens so that he could fill all locations. 11 Then he gave some as missionaries, some as prophets, some as announcers of the good message, some as pastors and teachers 12 so as to complete the dedicated ones for the work of service—for building the body of the messiah 13 until we can reach the unity of our faith and of our knowledge about God’s son—becoming mature people measured against the stature of the fullness of the messiah. 14 Then we’ll no longer be like children in our faith, tossed around by waves and being blown by every wind of teaching used to trick us or by crafty people who scheme how to deceive us. 15 Instead, by lovingly speaking the truth, we will grow up into every aspect of him—the messiah who is the head 16 [ref]that integrates the entire body together and holds it together by every one of its joints. When each component does its work, the body grows and builds itself up with love.