NET Bible
"to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ,"
— Ephesians 4:12, NET Bible
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
“for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: ”
“for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;”
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the word of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
“For the training of the saints as servants in the church, for the building up of the body of Christ:”
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
Now what is the meaning of“he ascended,” except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?
He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God– a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.
So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.
But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.