for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,

I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from Me there is not a thing you are able to do.

Did you not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?

You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.

My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my embryo, and in Your book I was enrolled, and all my days had been preordained, when as yet there was nothing.

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

For also the body is not one member but many.

And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?

But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He intended.

But now indeed there are many members, but yet one body.

No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given more abundant honor to that part which is lacking,

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

And God has placed some in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that works of power, then gifts of healing, helps, governings, tongues of nationalities.

and not holding fast to the Head; from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

of which I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ,

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love,

that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Now concerning sacrifices to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Love is longsuffering and is kind; love does not envy; love does not boast itself, is not puffed up;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

Love never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will come to an end; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will come to an end.

Pursue love, and be zealous over spiritual matters, but rather that you may prophesy.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith,

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in full true knowledge and all discernment,

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full true knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you abound more and more;

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently out of a pure heart,

And we have known and believed the love that God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.