For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church,

because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord.

From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.

Now what is the meaning of “he ascended,” except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?

In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will