Ephesians 4:11-16

Unity in the Body of Christ

¹¹ And _m he gave the _n apostles, the prophets, the _o evangelists, the _p shepherds ₁ and teachers, ₂ ¹² _q to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for _r building up _s the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to _t the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, _u to mature manhood, ₃ to the measure of the stature of _v the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, _w tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in _x deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, _y speaking the truth in love, we are to _z grow up in every way into him who is _a the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ _b from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, _c when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

1. Cross References
   1 Corinthians 12:5 - 6
   And there are varieties of service, but the same Lord.
   
2. Cross References
   1 Corinthians 12:28
   And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
   
3. Cross References
   Acts 21:8
   On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
   2 Timothy 4:5
   As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
   
4. Cross References
   Jeremiah 3:15
   'And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
   Acts 20:28
   Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
   
5. Cross References
   2 Corinthians 13:9
   For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
   
6. Cross References
   Ephesians 4:16
   From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
   Ephesians 4:29
   Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
   
7. Cross References
   1 Corinthians 12:27
   Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
   
8. Cross References
   Ephesians 4:5
   One Lord, one faith, one baptism.
   
9. Cross References
   Hebrews 5:14
   But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
   
10. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:23
    Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
    
11. Cross References
    Matthew 11:7
    As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
    Hebrews 13:9
    Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
    James 1:6
    But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
    Jude 1:12
    These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted.
    
12. Cross References
    Ephesians 6:11
    Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
    
13. Cross References
    1 John 3:18
    Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
    Ephesians 4:25
    Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
    
14. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:21
    In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
    
15. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:22
    And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.
    
16. Cross References
    Colossians 2:19
    And not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
    
17. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:7
    But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.