(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
NIV
[But He ascended?] Now what can this, He ascended, mean but that He had previously descended from [the heights of] heaven into [the depths], the lower parts of the earth?
AMP
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
KJV
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
NIV
For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
AMP
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
KJV
But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
NIV
But as it is, God has placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each [particular one] of them, just as He wished and saw fit and with the best adaptation.
AMP
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
KJV
He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.
NIV
He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each in its own script and to every people in their own language, saying that every man should rule in his own house and speak there in the language of his own people. [If he had foreign wives, let them learn his language.]AMP
For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.
KJV
While our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it
NIV
Which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so adjusted (mingled, harmonized, and subtly proportioned the parts of) the whole body, giving the greater honor and richer endowment to the inferior parts which lack [apparent importance]AMP
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
KJV
