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

⁷ But to every one of us hath the grace been given, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸ Wherefore the Scripture saith, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."

⁹ Now this, that he ascended, what does it imply? but that he also first descended into the more internal parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He that descended is the same also, who ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. ¹¹ And he himself appointed, some indeed apostles, and some prophets; and others preachers of the Gospel; and others pastors and teachers; ¹² for the perfecting the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ: ¹³ until we all attain in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a state of complete manhood, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴ that we should be no longer infants, floating on the waves, and carried about with every wind of novel doctrine, by the juggling of men, by their craftiness after the delusive wiles of error; ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶ From whom the whole body nicely joined together, and firmly connected by every joint of exact proportion, according to the energy exerted in the measure of every several part, causeth the increase of the body unto the edification of itself in love.