Gifted to Equip the Saints

It has been over a month since I last wrote on Ephesians, and that was after a several week gap from the previous Ephesians’ devotion. I’ve missed writing and hope to be a little more consistent.

In October and November, we considered Paul’s transition in Ephesians 4 from unity to diversity. Paul, by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, clearly placed Jesus as the conquering victor ascending to the right hand of the Father and giving grace-enabled gifts to those in Christ. Jesus’ ascension should not and cannot be separated from His crucifixion, resurrection, and Pentecost. Jesus’ ascension declares His victory, and His ascension was necessary for the Holy Spirit to come at Pentecost.

As we move to verse 11 today, Paul continues the point from verse 7 about Christ’s gift.

⁷ But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

⁹ (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.^[1]

Ephesians 4:7-16 (emphasis added)

Jesus gave. Jesus is sovereign, meaning He is omnipotent, and has all wisdom and authority to control and rule over all things. What He purposes to give, He can and did give.

Throughout the New Testament, we find gifts Jesus gave the church (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; 1 Peter 4:10-11 for a few instances). Different passages cite different gifts that are relevant to the context. Here, the gifts are people who teach and preach God’s Word. The purpose, which we will study next time, is for equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ to maturity and unity (vs 12-13).

The first gift to the church was the apostles. This term is used elsewhere in a more general sense where it includes Barnabas (Acts 14:4), Silas and Timothy (1 Thessalonians 2:6), and a few others (Romans 16:7; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25). But in Ephesians 4, it seems to be used in the technical and primary sense of referring to the twelve disciples (Matthias who replaced Judas Iscariot) and Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8; 9:1-3; 15:6, 9-10).

The apostles had to meet certain criteria. 1) They saw the resurrected Jesus, and 2) They were commissioned personally by Jesus. Given this criteria, they could not and do not exist in the church today. This office ceased after the thirteen apostles were martyred or died.

Prophets seem to have complemented the apostles. The prophets in this context are specific people in an office in the early church which is not to be confused with the early church gift of prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). Since Scripture is complete, there is no new revelation from God, prophets, like the apostles, ceased during the early church age.

Both the apostles and the prophets were the foundation of the church with Christ as the cornerstone (vs 2:20). God revealed His Word to them, and they in turn declared it to others (vs 3:5; Acts 11:21-28; 13:1; 15:32; 21:10-11). It is possible the apostles focused on doctrine and the prophets on personal, practical teaching, but we don’t know for certain. Signs, wonders, and miracles confirmed their declaration of God’s Word (2 Corinthians 12:12).

Evangelists in the early church probably were not the same as we think of today although commentators aren’t sure the differences other than being an office. The term is also used of Philip (Acts 21:8) and Timothy (2 Timothy 4:15). The Greek verb form of evangelists is evangelizō which meant to proclaim the good news to unbelievers. In the case of Philip and Timothy, God equipped them to travel and preach the Gospel (Acts 8:4-5, 35, 40; 2 Timothy 4:9, 12^[2]).

It is not certain if the evangelists served alongside the apostles and prophets. If they did, this office would have ceased during the early church age as well. Beyond what we have regarding Philip and Timothy, we don’t have much information about the evangelists in the early church. However, we should not take this to mean there are no evangelists today as far as those who travel and share the Gospel, including many missionaries, but it would not be an office of the church.

All believers are called to be ready to share the hope they have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15), thus sharing the Gospel, but Paul, in Ephesians, is depicting those who God has specifically gifted to travel and share the Gospel.

Last, Paul says Jesus gave shepherds/pastors and teachers. Commentators agreed that these are likely not two separate offices but one. Teachers describes the pastors’ primary function while shepherd highlights caring, protecting, and leading God’s flock in the local church body (Acts 20:28-30).

In the New Testament, there are three words that, according to textual evidence, indicate the same office (1 Timothy 3:7; Titus 1:5, 7; 1 Peter 5:1-2): poimēn (shepherd or pastor, used in verse 4:11), presbuteros (elders), and episkopeo (overseer or bishop). All must be able to teach, but some may be more gifted in teaching (1 Timothy 5:17; 2 Timothy 4:17). They persuade the flock (Acts 2:14; 14:22; Titus 1:9), plead with (2 Corinthians 8:17; comfort (1 Thessalonians 2:11); and encourage the flock (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

One of the fundamental steps in the early church was appointing elders (Acts 14:23). Paul outlined the qualifications for elders in his letters to Timothy and Titus: above reproach, husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, violent, quarrelsome or lover of money, gentle, manages his household well, good reputation with outsiders, not a recent convert, not arrogant or quick-tempered, a lover of good, upright, holy, disciplined, and holding firm to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).

Pastors/elders/overseers are an ongoing office. Not all evangelical churches have this office, but this is the pattern in the New Testament. Their purpose is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry (vs 12-16).

Jesus perfectly demonstrated in His life and death what a pastor/shepherd/elder/overseer should be. Jesus is the Great Shepherd and overseer of our souls (1 Peter 2:25), and through our Great Shepherd, we are equipped with everything good to do His will (Hebrews 13:20-21). Our Great Shepherd has also given us shepherds in our local church to care for, protect, and lead us. He also gave the apostles and prophets who laid the foundation during the early church and evangelists who spread the Gospel. Jesus has given the church precious gifts in the form of gifted men who proclaim(ed) God’s Word.

Reflection

1.    How are you thankful for the apostles and prophets who laid the foundation of the church with Christ as the cornerstone? You might think of the New Testament we have because of the Holy Spirit inspiring some of them to write, their sacrifice, their faithfulness, or their example.

2.    Although the way we use the word evangelist today may differ from the original office, who is a missionary you could encourage today or pray about supporting financially or in prayer?

3.    1 Timothy 5:17 says: “Let the elders who rule well be considered of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” How can you encourage your pastor and elders this week? One way is to obey and submit to them for they are keeping watch over your soul, as those who will have to give an account (Hebrews 13:17). We should make it a joy for them to shepherd us. Pray regularly for them. Tell them what you learned from their teaching. How it encouraged or convicted you. Usually, they only hear what people didn’t like. Find a way to serve them in a specific way – bring a meal to them and their family, help with a home project, etc.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 4:7–16.

^[2] Although Timothy was in Ephesus for a significant time, it also appears that he traveled after he left Ephesus.