And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
in Ephesians 4:4-6 (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6) Paul emphasizes the fact that the church administration is not man-made1, but a sacred institution established by Christ. Just like Christ chose the apostles, genuine pastors today are also selected in a similar way. Their authority doesn’t come from themselves, but from the Lord. Rejecting or ignoring this ministry is like rebelling against Christ. When Christ calls you to a specific ministry or gifts, He will equip and guide you to fulfill your responsibilities to Him faithfully.
Paul emphasizes that the church is made up of different people, and they should work together for the good of the whole group instead of focusing on their own interests. He warns against selfishness and envy, and stresses the value of using individual abilities for the benefit of everyone. Paul reminds believers to use their gifts for the community and to avoid behaviors that disrupt the group’s harmony.
These gifts are varied and are given for the purpose of serving and ministering to others. These include leadership roles as well as other ministerial functions, highlighting the principle that all believers are called to serve.
Listing and Function of Spiritual Gifts
Paul provides several lists of spiritual gifts in his epistles (see 1 Cor 12:8-10, 28-30; Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11). It is noteworthy that these lists are not identical, suggesting that they are not exhaustive but representative of the diverse spiritual gifts. Paul views these gifts as aspects of Jesus’ ministry given to His body, the church, to continue His work. Importantly, the New Testament does not furnish a definitive list of spiritual gifts or specific guidelines for believers to discern their gifts but emphasizes the varied aspects of ministry.
Specific Spiritual Gifts
- Apostles: The term “apostles” extends beyond the original Twelve to include individuals such as Barnabas, Andronicus, Junias, Apollos, and Silvanus. While their exact role is uncertain, it likely involved proclaiming the gospel and providing servant leadership to the church. The possibility of a female apostle is also suggested in Romans 16:7 (KJV “Junia”).
- Prophets: The function of New Testament prophets is not identical to that of Old Testament prophets. They apply Scripture to new and different contexts and are associated with apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in proclaiming the gospel with different emphases.
- Evangelists: Surprisingly mentioned only three times in the New Testament, their precise task is uncertain but likely involved proclaiming the gospel and exercising servant leadership, possibly through itinerant or regional ministries.
- Pastors and Teachers: These titles refer to one function and later office, indicating that the roles of elders (presbuteroi), bishops (episkopoi), and pastors (poimenas) were unified in one gifted person who proclaimed and explained the gospel within a local context. This gift was particularly vital for churches contending with false teachings.
The diverse array of gifts underscores the multifaceted nature of ministry within the body of Christ, demonstrating that every believer has a vital role to play in serving and ministering to others.
The Purpose of Christian Leaders
Christian leaders have a key role: to equip God’s people for ministry. Rather than doing all the work themselves, they are meant to train individual Christians to serve according to their spiritual gifts and influence. The ultimate aim is the building up of the Body of Christ through the maturity and unity of the faith. Instead of seeking personal advancement, the goal of leadership is to empower the church members for ministry and help them reach Christ-like maturity.
Maturing in Faith
The goal is for every Christian to mature and not remain as spiritual “babies,” easily swayed by different teachings and doctrines. Rather than being led astray by new ideas or tricks, the focus should be on holding on to the truth found in the Bible and growing in perfect unity with Christ.
- The government of the church, by the preaching of the word, is first
of all declared to be no human contrivance, but a most sacred ordinance of Christ. The apostles did not appoint themselves, but were chosen by Christ; and, at the present day, true pastors do not rashly thrust themselves forward by their own judgment, but are raised up
by the Lord” – Calvin. ↩︎
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