AND HE GAVE SOME AS APOSTLES: kai autos edoken (3SAAI) tous men apostolous: (Eph 4:8; 2:20; 3:5; Romans 10:14,15; 1Corinthians 12:28; Jude 1:17; Revelation 18:20; 21:14)

In this passage Paul lists the five kinds of ministers which have been given by Christ to His Church with first three of these being itinerant ministers - apostles, prophets and evangelists - who were preaching wherever they found an opportunity, while pastors and teachers were attached to some congregation or location. For example, Philip was a missionary who traveled from Jerusalem to preach in Samaria and was on the road to Gaza when he met the eunuch whom he baptized (Acts 8:5ff, 8:26ff)  then arriving at Azotus (modern Ashdod), passing through, preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea (Acts 8:40). One can only conjecture that perhaps prophets preached to believers and evangelists to unbelievers, while apostles addressed either. An apostle was in a sense a prophet and an evangelist, but a prophet or an evangelist was not necessarily an apostle if we take the word “apostle” with the narrow sense of the apostles who had seen Jesus Christ in His resurrection (1Cor 9:1).

And He gave some - Now Paul explains how Christ sets about to attain the goal of filling all things by giving His body gifted men to foster and further growth. Paul is picking up his main thought from Eph 4:7-note. Read verse 7 leaving out verses 8-10 which shows his continued thought...

(Ep 4:7) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift....(Ep 4:11) and He gave some as apostles...

Ray Stedman writes that these gifted men...

 constitute what we shall call "support gifts" (as contrasted with the "service" and "sign" gifts previously considered, as found in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12). These four gifts relate to the whole body of Christ, much as the major body systems relate to the physical body...Note that each of the four support ministries we are discussing have to do with the Word of God. The first two--apostles and prophets--are concerned with originating and expounding the Word, while the last two--evangelists and pastor-teachers--are concerned with applying the Word to individual lives. The evangelist deals with the beginning of Christian life while the teaching pastor is involved with the development and growth of that life. Evangelists are much like obstetricians, helping to bring new Christians into the world. Teaching pastors are like pediatricians, seeing that these Christians have a healthy spiritual "diet," that their "diseases" receive proper attention, and that they get plenty of spiritual "fresh air" and "exercise." To return to the word picture of the church as a building, the evangelist is the quarryman who digs out the rock, cuts it loose from quarry stone, and hews it to a rough approximation of its ultimate size. The pastor-teacher is the stone mason who shapes the rock, fitting it into the building in its proper place according to the blueprint of the great architect. (from his book Body Life and the chapter entitled How the Body Works) (Bolding added)

Like several other passages in Ephesians (Ep 1:3-14, 15-23; 2:1-7; 3:1-13, 14-19; 4:1-7; 6:14-20), Eph 4:11-16 is one long sentence in Greek.

He - Literally this reads "He Himself" which is emphatic. Paul is saying that it is the Lord Jesus Himself who gives gifted men to perfect the church. The Lord Jesus is the One who has the authority and is the One who bestows gifts.

And gave some... - Here Paul focuses not on individual spiritual gifts but on gifted persons who Christ has given to the church. Notice that each of these designations is involved in some way with the proclamation of the Word of God (through them it is revealed, declared and taught), which speaks to the critical importance of the "pure milk of the Word" in growth in respect to salvation. It's as simple as "No Word, no growth". Don't accept substitutes as they say in the advertising world!

Gave (1325) (didomi) means He granted this based on decision of His will and not on the merit of the recipients.

Lesson - Let us not seek our work for Him but instead let us seek first His Kingdom (the King) and He will give us each our assignment in His Kingdom that we might carry out His Kingdom work to expand His Kingdom in His power and for His glory (cp Jn 15:5, 8, 16, 1Co 3:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 2Co 5:10)

Gave some as apostles - Paul knew of what he was writing for he opens the great letter of Romans with these words...

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, (Ro 1:1-note)

Comment: Paul did not seek this job. God sought him (Acts 9:4, 5, 6, 15, 16) and gave him the job (2Ti 1:1-note).

Apostles (652) (apostolos [word study] from apo = from + stello = send forth)) signifies one sent forth by another, often with a special commission to represent another and to accomplish his work. It can be a delegate, commissioner, ambassador sent out on a mission or orders or commission and with the authority of the one who sent him. The apostolos was officially commissioned for the position or task.

Apostolos is primarily used as a specific and unique title for the thirteen men (the Twelve, with Matthias replacing Judas, and Paul) whom Christ personally chose and commissioned to authoritatively proclaim the gospel and lead the early church. The thirteen apostles not only were all called directly by Jesus but all were witnesses of His resurrection, Paul having encountered Him on the Damascus Road after His ascension. Those thirteen apostles were given direct revelation of God’s Word to proclaim authoritatively, the gift of healing, and the power to cast out demons (Mt 10:1). They were even impressed with this authority themselves, on one occasion returning back to Jesus and telling Him how they rejoiced to discover that the demons were subject to them. When these gifted men spoke the Word, they had authority and that word of authority especially marked them as apostles. Andy by signs that accompanied their ministry, their teaching authority was verified (cf. 2Co 12:12). Thus the apostolic teachings and writings became the foundation of the church (see below), and their authority extended beyond local bodies of believers to the entire believing world.

Apostolos - 80x in 79v - Matt 10:2; Mark 3:14; 6:30; Luke 6:13; 9:10; 11:49; 17:5; 22:14; 24:10; John 13:16; Acts 1:2, 26; 2:37, 42f; 4:33, 35ff; 5:2, 12, 18, 29, 40; 6:6; 8:1, 14, 18; 9:27; 11:1; 14:4, 14; 15:2, 4, 6, 22f; 16:4; Rom 1:1; 11:13; 16:7; 1 Cor 1:1; 4:9; 9:1f, 5; 12:28f; 15:7, 9; 2 Cor 1:1; 8:23; 11:5, 13; 12:11f; Gal 1:1, 17, 19; Eph 1:1; 2:20; 3:5; 4:11; Phil 2:25; Col 1:1; 1 Thess 2:7; 1 Tim 1:1; 2:7; 2 Tim 1:1, 11; Titus 1:1; Heb 3:1; 1 Pet 1:1; 2 Pet 1:1; 3:2; Jude 1:17; Rev 2:2; 18:20; 21:14. NAS translates as - apostle(18), Apostle(1), apostles(52), apostles'(5), messenger(1), messengers(1),one who is sent(1).

Earlier in Ephesians Paul related the importance of apostles and prophets writing that God's building (composed of believing Jews and Gentiles) was...

built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone (Eph 2:20-note)

Comment: These first apostles and prophets were foundational, and once that foundation had been laid in the form of the NT books, there was no longer a need for this function. And so there is are no apostles in the sense that Paul or Peter were apostles. Some used the term "apostle" in a secondary sense to describe those men who go out and plant churches, but this "apostolic gift" as some have called it should in no way be confused with the gift given to the original 13 apostles whose function was unique and is not to be repeated. In other words there is no so-called apostolic succession as some have mistakenly taught. To reiterate there is no other line of truth about Jesus Christ and no new revelation which can come to us about Him other than what the original apostles have given.

Ray Stedman has an explanatory note writing that

"The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ, as Paul declared to the Corinthians, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1Cor. 3:11), and the primary work of an apostle was to declare the whole body of truth concerning Jesus Christ. That is the foundation. What the apostles say about Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church, and what they said about Jesus Christ is recorded for us in the New Testament. That book is written by the apostles and prophets, and the church rests squarely upon that foundation. How does one get into the church? By believing the truth about Jesus Christ (and believing means more than intellectual assent--it is a commitment of the will as well). It is only as the church rests upon this foundation of the faith, as taught by the apostles, that there is any certainty or strength. Today many are straying from the foundation and as a result they have lost any note of authority or assurance. Merely human view-points or opinions do not change the foundation. Modern knowledge and the discoveries of science will never alter it. Our ultimate concern is what the apostles taught. That is the greatest revelation of reality we possess, "the truth [as it] is in Jesus" (Eph. 4:21-note).

People in the construction business know that a foundation is of the utmost importance. You do not take risks or shortcuts with a foundation. You lay it squarely, securely, and strongly, for the whole building is going to rest on that foundation and will derive its strength from the character of the foundation. The same is true of the church.

The Lord Jesus made very clear that if a man builds on the wrong foundation, he is in trouble. One man may build his house on the sand and the house may look very beautiful and impressive, but when the storms come, it falls. Another man may build on the rock and his house will stand in the storm. It is the foundation which makes all the difference." (from Pastor Stedman's book Body Life and the chapter entitled How the Body Works)

In Ephesians 3 these gifted men known, both apostles and prophets were the recipients of God's revelation...

which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit (Ep 3:5-note)

'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false (Rev 2:2-note)

Comment: The fact that the apostles and prophets were part of the foundation [See Ep 2:20-note], a foundation which was laid in NT times, substantiates that these offices by virtue of their purpose have long since disappeared from the church.

AND SOME AS PROPHETS: tous de prophetas:

AND SOME AS EVANGELISTS: tous de euaggelistas, tous de poimenas kai didaskalous: (Acts 21:8; 2Ti 4:5)

Evangelists (2099) (euaggelistes from euaggelizo = to evangelize) (See related word euaggelion = gospel) (Evangelist) are those possessed a special gift of communicating the Gospel in relevant terms to those who are not yet Christians. The evangelist was (and is) primarily responsible for the numerical growth of the body of Christ (the "obstetrician" who birthed saints through the gospel). He was the bringer of good tidings.

An evangelist knew the gospel narrative thoroughly and was capable of explaining it. They were traveling or itinerant missionaries preaching the gospel to the unconverted and calling them to repentance. It is important to note that the purpose of evangelization is to carefully but simply help unbelievers become aware of their sinfulness and lostness and through the proclamation of the Gospel to proclaim Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Lord. Any human manipulation in that process, no matter how well intentioned, always becomes a barrier to genuine belief.

Luke (the second of three NT uses) describes a NT evangelist writing...

And on the next day we departed and came to Caesarea; and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. (Acts 21:8) (Comment: Philip was best known for his missionary work in Samaria and with the Ethiopian eunuch [Acts 8:5-40]. An evangelist brings the good news of salvation to the unconverted 

Pastors can also do the work of evangelists, for we see Paul exhorting his young protégée Timothy (in the face of men turning away their ears from the truth, and turning aside to myths) to...

be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2Ti 4:5-note) (This is the third and final NT use)

Ray Stedman explains that...

The evangelist's task is not to go about denouncing sin, but to point the way out of sin. The evangelist may call people's attention to that which is creating so much misery and heartache in their lives, but his work is not to denounce and condemn sinners. Evangelists are no to thunder away at people, telling them what miserable creatures they are and how God is waiting to strike them with thunderbolts of judgment. He is not to expose the horrors of hellfire and dangle sinners over those fires until they writhe and tremble. That is not the calling of the evangelist!

If the preaching of "fire and brimstone" is ever called for, it is the task of a prophet, not the task of an evangelist. The evangelist's role is to tell people about the overpowering grace of God and the overpowering love of a heavenly Father--a Father who calls men and women back to Himself, offering to set their twisted lives straight through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.

Many Christians today possess the gift of an evangelist, both men and women. Evangelism can be done anywhere. It is not restricted to mass meetings, such as in the great Billy Graham crusades, though Dr. Graham's ministry is also true evangelism. The gift of an evangelist can he exercised toward a single individual, as is clear in the book of Acts when Philip the evangelist spoke to the Ethiopian eunuch as he was riding along in a chariot and told him of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. (from Pastor Stedman's book Body Life and the chapter entitled How the Body Works)

AND SOME AS PASTORS AND TEACHERS: tous de poimenas kai didaskalous:  (2Chronicles 15:3; Jeremiah 3:15; Matthew 28:20; Acts 13:1; Romans 12:7; 1Corinthians 12:29; Hebrews 5:12; 1Pe 5:1, 2, 3)

Pastors and teachers - The two nouns are connected in Greek by kai which often has the meaning "that is" or "in particular" and thus many feel this conjunction connects the pastors (shepherds) and teachers in a way that speaks of a single entity of teaching shepherds ("Pastor-Teachers"). An additional piece of evidence supporting this distinction is that the and (kai) differs from the other “and’s” (de) in this verse.  All pastors teach (since teaching is an essential part of pastoral ministry), but not all teachers are also pastors. The latter exercise their leadership role by feeding God’s flock with his word.

Ray Stedman has an interesting comment on pastors writing...

The pastors of the churches are not to exercise their authority as bosses but as examples. When they themselves obey the Word, others will be motivated to follow. But if the teaching pastors do not practice what they preach, they have no other authority. Their authority derives from their spirituality, and if they lose their spirituality they also lose their authority. It is not the office that gives a pastor the right to rule--it is the individual and his gift before God. (from Pastor Stedman's book Body Life and the chapter entitled How the Body Works)

Pastors ("Sheepherders"!) (4166) (poimen) (Pastor) is related to the word poimne, a flock of sheep, and literally is one who herds sheep and tends flocks as a shepherd. Metaphorically poimen refers to one who performs functions including feeding, oversight, protection, leading, and guiding.

Poimen - 18x in 17v - Matt 9:36; 25:32; 26:31; Mark 6:34; 14:27; Luke 2:8, 15, 18, 20; John 10:2, 11f, 14, 16; Eph 4:11; Heb 13:20; 1Pet 2:25. NAS translates as pastors(1), shepherd(11), Shepherd(2), shepherds(4).

Matthew's use of poimen is instructive recording that Jesus...

seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd.  (Matthew 9:36)

It is interesting to observe in the parallel passage in Mark how Jesus responded to the distressed, downcast flock...

And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:34)

Comment: The antidote for distressed, downcast sheep is the word of God.

What does this verse imply was the flock's greatest need? Is there a message for pastors today? Remember Jesus' words to the one on whom He stated He would build His church...

He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love (phileo) Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love (phileo) Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (phileo) You." Jesus said to him, "Tend (bosko = feed; present imperative - Command to continually feed, graze, tend, herd) My sheep. (John 21:17KJV)

The parallel passages in KJV read "Feed (bosko = feed; present imperative - Command to continually feed, graze, tend, herd) My lambs" John 21:15KJV and "Feed My sheep" (poimaino - present imperative - Command calling for continual feeding - no food = "shabby sheep", easy prey for the "wolves"!) in John 21:16KJV.

Luke records Paul's warning to the Ephesian elders...

Be on guard (present imperative - Command calling for continual alertness - note order = [1] your own heart dear elder and [2] then you are prepared to tend the "flock") for yourselves (watch over you own heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life cp Pr 4:23-) and for all the flock, (the local church is like a flock of sheep) among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd (tend flocks like a shepherd) the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." (Acts 20:28, 29, 30)

Sheep need to graze continually in the pasture of the Word of God, the pure Word, the Word of Truth and nothing but the Truth, sound doctrine, solid food. Anything else is chaff. The Word of God is the local church’s protection and provision, and no amount of entertainment, good fellowship, or other religious substitutes can take its place. Pastors, I think Jesus is saying to shepherds of the modern church in America "Feed My sheep!" How will He one day assess the quality of the spiritual food you have fed to His sheep?

Jesus is the Great Shepherd Who vigilantly watches over and provides for the welfare of His flock.

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20, 21-note)

You were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. (1Pe 2:25-note)

Barclay comments that...

Pastor is the Latin word for a shepherd. At this time the Christian Church was no more than a little island in a sea of paganism. The people who came into it were only one remove from their heathen lives; they were in constant danger of relapsing into heathenism; and the duty of the pastor was to shepherd his flock and keep them safe. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press)

Teachers (1320) (didaskalos from didasko [word study] = teach to shape will of one being taught by content of what is taught) is an instructor, master, teacher, the one who provides instruction and is used 41 (out of 58 NT uses) of Jesus! Teachers are  are divinely empowered to explain what the Bible says, interpret what it means, and apply it to the hearts and consciences of the saints. Teachers did not simply impart information or open up new ways of thought. They also urged their hearers to live by what they taught. So vital is the ministry of teachers that Paul exhorted his young disciple Timothy...

the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach (didasko) others also. (See note 2 Timothy 2:2)

Didaskalos - 59x in 58v - Matt 8:19; 9:11; 10:24f; 12:38; 17:24; 19:16; 22:16, 24, 36; 23:8; 26:18; Mark 4:38; 5:35; 9:17, 38; 10:17, 20, 35; 12:14, 19, 32; 13:1; 14:14; Luke 2:46; 3:12; 6:40; 7:40; 8:49; 9:38; 10:25; 11:45; 12:13; 18:18; 19:39; 20:21, 28, 39; 21:7; 22:11; John 1:38; 3:2, 10; 8:4; 11:28; 13:13f; 20:16; Acts 13:1; Rom 2:20; 1 Cor 12:28f; Eph 4:11; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11; 4:3; Heb 5:12; Jas 3:1. Always translated teacher.

MacDonald adds this caution...

One final word. We should be careful to distinguish between divine gifts and natural talents. No unsaved person, however talented, could be an evangelist, pastor, or teacher in the NT sense. Neither could a Christian, for that matter, unless he has received that particular gift. The gifts of the Spirit are supernatural. They enable a man to do what would be humanly impossible for him. (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)

John Stott has written that...

“Nothing is more necessary for the building up of God’s church in every age than an ample supply of God-gifted teachers. … It is teaching which builds up the church. It is teachers who are needed most.” (John R. W. Stott, God’s New Society: The Message of Ephesians)

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A new student once asked a College president if he didn't have a shorter course to offer. The man of learning replied: "That depends upon what you want to make of yourself. When God makes an oak, He takes a century. When he makes a squash, three months will do." One reason why the Churches of our country have so many squashes and so few oaks in their pulpits and in the mission fields, lies right here. In this pell-mell, hurry-up-and-get-there age in which we are living, few young men and women have the grit to resist the spirit of the age. Few have the determination and perseverance necessary to send them to the top. In their impatience, they make squashes out of themselves-and, O, how the Church needs oaks! (Note when this was written -- Jan, 1935!)