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

⁷ But unto each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸ Therefore it says: When he ascended on high, he led captives, and gave gifts to men (anthropos: human beings).

⁹ (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers. ¹² This is for the perfecting (equipping) (preparing) of the holy ones, for the work of ministering, for the building up of the body of Christ: ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown (mature) man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error. ¹⁵ By speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in all things to him. For he, Christ, is the head. ¹⁶ The entire body is properly framed and fitted together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in due measure of each individual part. It makes the body increase by building itself in love.