1 So I—this prisoner in the Lord—am encouraging you to make sure you live according to the principles to which you were called. 2 Don’t think proudly of yourselves; be gentle and patient, showing tolerance to each other in love. 3 Make every effort to remain one in the Spirit through the peace that binds you together. 4 For there’s one body, and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope. 5 The Lord is one, our trust in him is one, and there’s one baptism; 6 there’s one God and Father of everyone. He is over all and through all and in all.
7 To each of us grace was given in proportion to Christ’s generous gift. 8 As Scripture says, "When he ascended to the heights he took captives with him, and gave gifts to humanity."4:8. Quoting Psalms 68:18. 9 (Regarding this: it says he ascended, but that means he also had previously descended to our lowly world. 10 The one that descended is the same one who also ascended to the highest heaven in order that he could make the whole universe complete.)
11 The gifts he gave were so that some could be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, 12 with the purpose of preparing God’s people for the work of helping others, to help the body of Christ to grow.