Eph.4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Apostles
Apostles along with prophets were foundational positions or offices (Eph 2:20). A qualification to be an apostle was to have seen Jesus in the flesh (Ac 1:22; which also included Paul, 1 Co 15:8-9; Ga 1:1; 2:6-9). Not only must a person with the apostolic office have seen the resurrected Lord Jesus personally, but he must have been personally commissioned by Jesus as an apostle (Acts 1:22; cf. Ga 1:1, 12).
The office of the apostle disappeared when those personally commissioned by Jesus died. Jesus personally chose apostles with the office. These men had the authority to perform "signs and wonders" (2 Co 12:12).
Some apostles had the apostolic gift but not the office. The idea of an apostle is a sent one. By application this would refer to missionaries and church planters of our day. The emphasis in this case would be on the function rather than the office of an apostle.
Prophets
God gave "prophets" truths of the New Testament before its books were written. The apostolic church, or the primitive church, needed prophets because the canon of Scripture was not complete (Ac 11:27-30; 13:1). Since the New Testament had not been written yet, prophets gave the church the revelation it lacked. As with apostles, the office of the prophet concluded with the completion of the canon of the New Testament. The office of the prophet existed up until the first century and ceased when the canon of scripture was completed.
"Prophets", as listed above, carried the roles of revelation, exhortation, and edification (2:20). A prophet was not only a foreteller but also a forth teller (1 Co 14:3). Most of the people in the first century did not possess their own Bible; therefore, they needed proclaimers who received direct revelation from God.
Today, authority rests in the Word of God, not in apostles and prophets as it was in the first century. All authority now is within the written Word alone. Any person today who claims to have the authority of an apostle or prophet is off base.
Evangelists
"Evangelists" are catalysts for spreading the gospel. Those with this gift have a unique ability to reach the lost. Although all of us have the responsibility of evangelism, not all of us have the gift of evangelism. While the office of an apostle and prophet do not exist anymore today, the gift of "evangelism", the ability to present the gospel in a compelling way, is still operative for today. Evangelists typically operate in the field (outside the church), where the losts souls are. Their task is to bring the gospel to losts souls, to save them where they are, and then to place them into the church as new coverts.
Pastors and Teachers
The term "pastors" emphasizes leading, like a shepherd leads his sheep. He looks after their safety by guarding them against false doctrine with the truth of Scripture. "Pastors" emphasizes authority of the office. God gives pastors authority over souls. "Teachers" accentuates communicating the content of the Word. The "teacher" instructs in Bible exposition, revealing truths systematically revealed from God. The expositor's purpose is to build an edification construct in the souls of those who listen to him.
The pastor and teacher gifts are the greatest need in the church today. After the offices of apostles and prophets came to a close with the finishing of the New Testament, the gift of pastors and teachers came to the fore. A prophet gave revelation, but a pastor and teacher expounds existing revelation.
Pastors and teachers typically operate within the church, dealing with those saved souls whom the evangelists brought into the church. Their tasks are to protect and encourage (pastor) and edify (teacher) these souls, bringing them into a relationship with God and teaching them to understand and apply the Word in their lives.
As these converts grow, they too will then be able to add value to the church body by becoming evangelists or pastors and teachers, so continuing the cycle of growth from within the church, illustrated by the next few verses in Eph.4,
Eph.4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Inspired by and slightly edited from the writings of Dr. Grant C. Richison at https://versebyversecommentary.com/
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