Last Day's Essentials-10

Unity in the Body of Christ

Eph. 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

So He anointed some men to be apostles. He anointed others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastor-teachers.

Now what is the purpose then of the church? What is the purpose of these men that God has gifted? For years because of my bible experiences and my exposure to the Holy Spirit and his missionary effects on us, and because of my denominational background, I thought that the primary purpose of the church was the evangelization of the world. I was always trying to preach evangelistic messages in order that I might evangelize the world. Because, after all, that, I was taught, was the primary purpose of the church. As the result, the people in my teachings have been exposed to evangelistic preaching over and over and over again. Every week they were hearing messages on the importance of receiving Jesus Christ and being born again, the new life that you could have in Christ. Repent, turn your life over to Jesus, surrender your life to Him, and be saved.

And...

καί

kai

kahee

Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.

He (Christ)...

αὐτός

autos

ow-tos'

From the particle αὖ au (perhaps akin to the base of respire through the idea of a baffling wind; backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the compound of him) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons: - her, it (-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, ([self-], the) same, ([him-, my-, thy-]) self, [your-] selves, she, that, their (-s), them ([-selves]), there [-at, -by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with], they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

gave...

δίδωμι

didōmi

did'-o-mee

A prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternate in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection): - adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.

some,...

ὁ, ἡ, τό

ho hē to

ho, hay, to

The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom): - the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

μέν

men

men

A primary particle; properly indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with but, and (this one, the former, etc.: - even, indeed, so, some, truly, verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.

Five Kinds of Ministers

1. Apostles (see, Acts 15:33)

2. Prophets (see, Acts 11:27)

3. Evangelists. Greek: euangelistes, a bringer of glad tidings. Used only here; Acts 21:8; 2Tim. 4:5

4. Pastors. Greek: poimen. Translated "pastor" only here, but "shepherd" 16 times (Mat. 9:36; 25:32; 26:31; Mark 6:34; 14:27; Luke 2:8-20; John 10:2-16; Heb. 13:20; 1Pet. 2:25). The Hebrew: ra‛ah, to tend a flock is translated "pastor" 8 times (Jer. 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16; 22:22; 23:1-2) and "shepherd" 63 times. God, Christ, and men are called "shepherds" (Psm. 23:1; 80:1; Ezk. 34:1-23; Zec. 13:7; Heb. 13:20; 1Pet. 2:25; Eph. 4:11)

5. Teachers (see, Acts 13:1)

Apostles;...

ἀπόστολος

apostolos

ap-os'-tol-os

From set apart; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

and...

δέ

de

deh

A primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.: - also, and, but, moreover, now [often unexpressed in English].

some,... see above.

prophets;...

προφήτης

prophētēs

prof-ay'-tace

From a compound of fore, that is in front of and to make known one's thoughts; a fore-teller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet: - prophet.

and... see above.

some,... see above.

evangelists;...

εὐαγγελιστής

euaggelistēs

yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace'

From to announce good news; a preacher of the gospel: - evangelist.

and... see above.

some,... see above.

pastors...

ποιμήν

poimēn

poy-mane'

Of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literally or figuratively): - shepherd, pastor.

and... see καί above.

teachers;...

διδάσκαλος

didaskalos

did-as'-kal-os

From to learn; to teach; an instructor (generally or specifically): - doctor, master, teacher.

Besides the Above, Ministers Are Called:

1. Ambassadors (2Cor. 5:20)

2. Angels (Rev. 1:20; 2:1)

3. Elders (1Tim. 5:17; 1Pet. 5:1)

4. Fishers of Men (Mat. 4:19; Mark 1:17)

5. Laborers (1Th. 3:2)

6. Men of God (Deu. 33:1; 1Tim. 6:11

7. Lights (Mat. 5:14; John 5:35)

8. Messengers (2Cor. 8:23; Mal. 2:7)

9. Ministers (2Cor. 3:6; 6:4; Rom. 15:16)

10. Overseers (Acts. 20:28)

11. Preachers (Rom. 10:14; 1Tim. 2:7)

12. Servants (Tit. 1:1; Jude 1:1; Jas. 1:1)

13. Soldiers (Php. 2:25; 2Tim. 2:3-4)

14. Stewards (Tit. 1:7; 1Pet. 4:10)

15. Watchmen (Isa. 62:6; Ezk. 33:7)

16. Witnesses (Acts 1:8; 5:32; 26:16)

17. Workers (2Cor. 6:1)

18. Stars (Rev. 1:20; 2:1)

This verse is a commentary on the second part of the quotation in Eph. 4:8, namely, Christ’s giving gifts to Christians. The gifts to the church are gifted people. The subject He is emphatic in the Greek to denote that Christ Himself gives the gifted people. Five kinds of gifted people are listed in the predicate accusative, so the NIV correctly translates, gave some to be. The first two, apostles and prophets, were already mentioned in Eph. 2:20 and Eph. 3:5 as the foundational gifts to the church. The apostles include the Twelve, who had the office of apostleship by virtue of being with Christ (Acts 1:21-22) and having been appointed by Him (which would also include Paul; 1Cor. 15:8-9; Gal. 1:1; 2:6-9). But “apostles” also included others who were recognized as apostles, such as James (1Cor. 15:7; Gal. 1:19), Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14:14; 1Cor. 9:6), Andronicus and Junias (Rom. 16:7), possibly Silas and Timothy (1Th. 1:1; 2:7), and Apollos (1Cor. 4:6, 4:9). This latter group had the gift of apostleship but not the apostolic “office” as did the Twelve and Paul. Apostles, then, were those who carried the gospel message with God’s authority. “Apostle” means “one sent as an authoritative delegate.”

New Testament prophets were gifts to the church to provide edification, exhortation, and comfort (1Cor. 14:3). They probably revealed God’s will to the church when the biblical canon was incomplete. Since the apostles and prophets were foundational, they did not exist after the first generation of believers.

Evangelists were those engaged in spreading the gospel, similar to present-day missionaries. Pastors and teachers are listed together because they are governed by one article (“the” occurs before “pastors” but not before “teachers”) and because the word “and” (kai) differs from the other “and’s” (de) in the verse. This may imply that these are two kinds of gifted people whose ministries are among settled congregations (rather than itinerant ministries like those of the apostles and evangelists). More likely, they refer to two characteristics of the same person who is pastoring believers (by comforting and guiding) while at the same time instructing them in God’s ways (overseers or elders are to be able to teach; 1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:9).