4 1 I ENTREAT YOU, THEN—I, a prisoner for the Lord's sake: as God has called you, live up to your calling. 4 2 Be humble always and gentle, and patient too. Be forbearing with one another and charitable. 4 3 Spare no effort to make fast with bonds of peace the unity which the Spirit gives. 4 4 There is one body and one Spirit, as there is also one hope held out in God's call to you; 4 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 4 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 4 7 But each of us has been given his gift, his due portion of Christ's bounty. 4 8 [ Ps.68.18. ] Therefore Scripture says:
4 9 Now, the word 'ascended' implies that he also descended to the lowest level, down to the very earth. Or: descended to the regions beneath the earth. 4 10 He who descended is no other than he who ascended far above all heavens, so that he might fill the universe. 4 11 And these were his gifts: some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 4 12 to equip God's people for work in his service, to the building up of the body of Christ. 4 13 So shall we all at last attain to the unity inherent in our faith and our knowledge of the Son of God—to mature manhood, measured by nothing less than the full stature of Christ. 4 14 We are no longer to be children, tossed by the waves and whirled about by every fresh gust of teaching, dupes of crafty rogues and their deceitful schemes. 4 15 No, let us speak the truth in love; so shall we fully grow up into Christ. He is the head, and on him the whole body depends. 4 16 Bonded and knit together by every constituent joint, the whole frame grows through the due activity of each part, and builds itself up in love.