Here is my commentary on Ephesians 4:11. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au
Ephesians 4:11
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.”
Christ gave some people to the church to be in leadership. These gifts are not abilities or facility in the use of a supernatural ability as we see in other lists of spiritual gifts. These particular gifts are the people themselves. God gave some apostles prophets, etc.
The wording of this verse makes it clear that not every believer is included in the list. We cannot all point to one item on the list and say, “That’s my gift.”
It should also be realised that not all of these people are in what might be called “full-time” ministry. Not everyone in full-time ministry doing the work of a pastor, for example, has been called and equipped by God for that role.
These gifts are often called “Ministry Gifts” because they are given for the building up of the church. Often the church, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, will recognise that some of its members have been especially gifted by Christ for ministry in the local church. There may be a setting apart or ordination ceremony. These people will be given extra responsibilities and opportunities to exercise their gifts.
Although the church has been reluctant at times to recognise these gifts, they have never disappeared. Although parts of the church have belittled or denied their place today, the Bible clearly teachers that the gifts will not cease until the church reaches unity in the faith and maturity in Christ (vs.12-13).
In the light of the above, the church must come to terms with these ministry gifts and order itself in such a way as to develop those who are called to these ministries. Otherwise, we will be condemned to an imperfect and impoverished life as the Body of Christ.
We also need to recognise that these ministry gifts are complimentary. No single person (other than Christ) has been able to contain or to work in all of these gifts. Apostles need the constraining insight of prophets. Evangelists are wonderful at bringing people to the new birth, but they need pastors and teachers to bring the convert to maturity, and so on.
Since the 1500s, the church has gradually been rediscovering these ministry gifts. The Reformation transformed the role of ministers from being priests, that is intermediaries between man and God, to being pastors who encourage congregations in their walk with the Lord. The teachers came to the fore in the 20th century as improved general educational standards and technology such as cassette recorders made it possible for people to absorb more detailed information. Evangelists came to the fore from the 18th century with people such as John Wesley bringing tens of thousands to the Lord. Prophets were rediscovered in the 1970s, apostles in the 1990’s.
The church is in a time of transition away from institution to a much more organic structure in which various gifts, rather than elected officers, prevail.
An apostle is a man (or, less commonly, a woman) who exercises an informal authority over several or many congregations, through the voluntary submission of pastors, teachers, prophets, and evangelists to their oversight.
This is different to a bishop who is appointed to rule over a geographic area within a denominational structure. Apostles are recognised by other ministers as carrying the grace of apostleship. Their network may consist of members of many denominations and others who have no denominational background.
Apostles speak of their authority in terms of fathers and sons. This is a relational authority which seeks to release those under them into the fullness of all the potential that is in them.
It is a relationship of equals rather than of a hierarchy. Both father and son seek to serve one another and enhance each other’s ministry .
The gift of apostleship is only recently being rediscovered in the church. There will no doubt he many missteps before the ministry is properly mature.
The gift of prophet is also in the process of being reestablished, and is not yet mature in its operations. It is interesting that prophecy appears in all three of the major list of gifts in the New Testament.
In this context the ministry gift of prophet refers to a person who is fluent in the operation of the gift of prophecy, and is recognised by the local church has such.
The ministry gift of prophet is analogous to the Old Testament prophets. They hear the word of God and declare it to the people of God.
Prophecy is different from preaching in that it tends to be more spontaneous and more heart directed then head directed. Prophecy is not about foretelling the future, but about speaking God’s desire in the present. It may include warnings about the future, but it’s emphasis is on what God is saying to us now.
Prophecy is often seen as most authentic when it is concerned with edifying, exhorting and comforting the people of God (1 Corinthians 14:3).
All prophecy should be evaluated by the church, especially to ensure that it is aligned with Scripture.
Evangelists work outside the boundaries of the faith community to bring unbelievers to faith in Christ. Their role can be seen as analogous to spiritual midwives. After proclaiming the good news, their responsibility is to bring new believers into the fellowship to be discipled by the Body, under the oversight of the pastor.
Although some evangelists are itinerant, the majority support the local church, and submit themselves to the church. Even itinerant evangelists must be under the oversight of an apostle and remain connected to a congregation. This makes them personally accountable, but also strengthens their ministry.
Pastors are responsible for the oversight and the spiritual growth of the congregation. They have God’s authority to preach and to proclaim His Word. They also have responsibility to ensure that those who seek to undermine or destroy the church are exposed and removed. For this latter role the support of prophets and apostles indispensable.
Pastors are also responsible for nurturing, encouraging, and exhorting the members of their church to live faithfully as followers of Christ. Traditionally this role was achieved through visitations and such, but these days is as likely to be done through small groups and other decentralised ministry strategies .
Finally, teachers are responsible for studying the Scriptures and teaching the members of the church the doctrines of the Bible. Their particular strength is often to develop structures of faith (theology) and finding new insights by bringing complimentary scriptures together.
Because there is overlap between the gifts of pastor and teacher, these gifts are sometimes combined, that is, pastor/ teacher. The Greek of this verse certainly allows that interpretation. .
These five gifts, then, are intended to bring the church to maturity and strength. Although they are very different in their focus, these gifts actually work together as pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, interlocking to bring unity to the body.
Key points in this verse
- Christ has given certain people as ministry gifts to the church.
- These gifts are by God’s grace not by appointment of the church
- In the past, the church has been reluctant or unable to see these gifts. Some are only now being rediscovered by the church.
- The five gifts are meant to work together to make the church strong and to raise believers to maturity in Christ
- All of the gifts are meant to be in submission to one another and to the church
- Scripture is the ultimate test of the validity of all of these gifts
New Life Narrabri 