Ephesians 4:7-16 - Gifted Leaders Bring The Church To Maturity

⁷ But grace has been given to each one of us, according to the measure of the gift of the Christ. ⁸ For which reason, the scripture says: When he ascended on high, he led captive a multitude of captives, and gave gifts to men.

⁹ But this He ascended what does it mean, but that he also descended into the lower earthly regions? ¹⁰ He that descended is also he that ascended high above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. ¹¹ And he himself gave some to be apostles, and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² for the complete instruction of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of the Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to a measure of stature that fully develops the Christ; ¹⁴ that we might no longer be children, tossed and carried about by every wind of teaching, through the artifice of men, through craftiness used by them for the deliberate planning of deceit; ¹⁵ but speaking truthfully in love, we might grow up in all things, into him who is the head, even the Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, compactly fitted together, and united by every helping joint, according to the energy in the measure of each part, makes increase of the body, for the building up of itself in love.