Ephesians 4:11
And He gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers,
Focused Thinking:
What did God give to the church?
In this context, Ephesians 4 addresses the gifted people/offices given to the church.
Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 address gifts given to believers in the church.
Apostles–
Apostles were those who carried the gospel message with God’s authority.
“Apostles” means one sent as an authoritative delegate.
The twelve held the office of apostleship by virtue of being with Christ.
(Ac 1:21–22).
The apostles were appointed by Christ. Paul is one of the appointed apostles.
(1 Co 15:8–9; Gal 1:1; 2:6–9).
The term “apostles” was given to others, such as James (1 Co 15:7; Gal 1:19), Barnabas (Ac 14:4, 14; 1 Co 9:6) Andronius and Junia(s) (Ro 16:7) and possibly Silas and Timothy (1 Th 1:1; 2:7) and Apollos (1 Co 4:6, 9).
This latter group had the gift of apostleship but not the apostolic “office” as did the Twelve and Paul.
Does God still give the church men and women of special authority for specific generations?
I’m not talking about the twelve plus Paul.
I’m talking about people like Martin Luther.
- Did he carry God’s gospel message with God’s authority?
- Did he become an authoritative delegate?
- I know the word “apostle” is tricky but did he fulfill that role and responsibility?
Prophets–
The Prophets were gifts to the church to provide edification, exhortation and comfort (1 Co 14:3).
- They revealed God’s will to the church before the biblical canon was complete.
- Many scholars believe that apostles and prophets were foundational and ceased to exist after the first generation of believers.
Does God still use men and women today to speak prophetically?
What does Acts 2:16–21 say about this?
I’m not comfortable with the hermeneutic principles of interpretation that say some gifts have ceased to exist.
- When it comes to the gifts I’m “open but cautious.”
- I believe all the gifts exist, but I’m cautious about the ways they are used and applied.
Has God provided prophets to the church throughout church history that have provided edification, exhortation and comfort?
The answer is definitely yes.
Has God provided prophets to the church throughout church history that have discerned God’s will through scripture and the illumination of the Holy Spirit?
The answer is definitely yes.
- We need to be very careful and cautious about giving people the titles “apostles and prophets” because it is easy to abuse a gift and to make it more about the individual than the edification of the church.
- That is not a good enough reason to say that those gifts are not operational in God’s chosen people for specific churches and times.
Evangelists–
The evangelists are those engaged in spreading the gospel.
- Missionaries are probably a good picture of evangelists.
Pastors and Teachers–
The double title refers to characteristics of the person who is pastoring believers (leading and comforting) while at the same time instructing them in God’s Word and ways (1 Ti 3:2; Tit 1:9).
Interactive Prayer:
Thank You Lord for calling me to be a pastor/teacher. I want to be a pastor/teacher that causes You to smile and say, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lighting.” I want to hear You say, “Well Done, good and faithful servant. Since You have been faithful in a little, I will put You in charge of much.” Father, I want my life to be a fragrant aroma that is well-pleasing to You.
I want to sanctify people in truth because Your Word is truth. I want to perfect people in unity so that the world will know that the Father has sent the Son and loved them, even as You have loved me. I want to present every man complete in Christ. I want to labor and strive according to Your power working mightily within and through me. I want to develop my spiritual gifts for Your glory. I want to take pains in these things and be absorbed in them so that my progress is evident to all. I want to pay close attention to myself and my teaching. I want to persevere in these things to ensure salvation for myself, my family and those who hear me. I want to count all things to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Father, I want to accurately handle the Word of God. I want to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I want to renew my mind daily and not be conformed but be transformed. I want my life, my family and my church to teach the Word of God, to reprove, to correct and to train in righteousness so that the man/woman of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I want to preach the Word of God in season and out of season. I want to reprove, rebuke and exhort with great patience and instruction. I want to fight the good fight. I want to lay many crowns at Your feet.
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