and you yourselves, in union with Him, in fellowship with one another, are being built up into a dwelling for God through the Spirit.

Concerning this the Scripture says: "He led a host of captives, when He went up on high, and granted gifts to men."

What does "He went up" mean, except that He had first gone down into the lower regions of the earth?

The very One that went down has gone up, too, far above all the heavens, to fill the universe.

for the immediate equipment of God's people for the work of service, for the ultimate building up of the body of Christ,

But, on the other hand, we shall go on holding to the truth and in love growing up into perfect union with Him, that is, Christ Himself who is the Head.

For it is under His direction that the whole body is perfectly adjusted and united by every joint that furnishes its supplies; and by the proper functioning of each particular part there is brought about the growing of the body for its building up in love.

You must stop letting any bad word pass your lips, but only words that are good for building up as the occasion demands, so that they will result in spiritual blessing to the hearers.

So it is said: "Wake up, sleeper; get up from the dead, and Christ will make day dawn on you."

Children, obey your parents, for this is right.

You parents, too, must stop exasperating your children, but continue to bring them up with the sort of education and counsel the Lord approves.

You slaves must practice obedience to your earthly masters, with reverence and awe, with sincerity of heart, as you would obey Christ,

You must put on God's full armor, so as to be able to stand up against the devil's stratagems.