rsv Ephesians:4:1-16 SEEK
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I therefore ,
a prisoner for the Lord ,
beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called ,
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with all lowliness and meekness ,
with patience ,
forbearing one another in love ,
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eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace .
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There is one body and one Spirit ,
just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call ,
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one Lord ,
one faith ,
one baptism ,
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one God and Father of us all ,
who is above all and through all and in all .
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But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ '
s gift .
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Therefore it is said , "
When he ascended on high he led a host of captives ,
and he gave gifts to men ."
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In saying , "
He ascended ,"
what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth ?
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He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens ,
that he might fill all things .)
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And his gifts were that some should be apostles ,
some prophets ,
some evangelists ,
some pastors and teachers ,
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to equip the saints for the work of ministry ,
for building up the body of Christ ,
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until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God ,
to mature manhood ,
to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ ;
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so that we may no longer be children ,
tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine ,
by the cunning of men ,
by their craftiness in deceitful wiles .
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Rather ,
speaking the truth in love ,
we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head ,
into Christ ,
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from whom the whole body ,
joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied ,
when each part is working properly ,
makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love .