By: Albert B. Gran
This is one of the most intriguing doctrinal issues emerged in different Christian pages at FB. Many so-called Pastors these days from among many denominations thought they are Christ’s gifts similar to that of those men as gifts in Eph. 4 :11 as stated:
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
The word Pastor only appeared once in Paul’s epistles and such etymology as stated in the above verse was a fact categorically belonged to the GIFTS wherein such among those mentioned were some apostles; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. Many crafty interpreters thought these people are gifted men while as it was appeared above there’s no sense or idea as such. The phrase “And he gave some” clearly emphasized the literal meaning that “Christ gave some”. Now the question lies in this underlying phrase is: What “SOME” did Christ gave to the church? The gifts mentioned stated above were apostles, prophets, evangelists, and some PASTORS AND TEACHERS. I would want you to focus clearly that these GIFTS were people. They are men. No implied sense entailing gifted men but these gifts were men Christ gave after He ascended up on high when the Body of Christ had already began its operation beginning from our very own apostle, the apostle Paul( 1 Timothy 1:16). We can’t twist the superb literal sense and obvious words as written in this verse itself. Why do these so-called Pastors nowadays cannot simply understand that the gifts never talked about characteristics, attributes, physical objects or whatever but simply convey the most trusted literal sense MEN (as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers).
GIFTS NOT FOR THE KINGDOM CHURCH
As this verse clearly emphasized by which these gifts occurred after Christ ascended up on high or literally heavens to fill all things (Eph. 4:10), our so-called denominational religious leaders imply to mean that these apostles and prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers were the OT prophets and the NT disciples during the earthly ministry of Christ. These people already performed their respective functions and works before Christ ascended up on high. So if the verse proved its certain occurrence happened when Christ ascended to the heavens then we knew the fact that after the fall of nation Israel he raised up a brand new apostle, the apostle Paul to be the minister of the Gentiles (Rom. 15:16;Col.1:25-26).
We must be certain in the aspects of angles where all our proofs shall be taken in the account according to the revelation of the mystery truth revealed to Paul so these people may not remain undoubted to the veracity of our truthful and honest claim nullifying their claims on the belief that they themselves (so called men ordained Pastors in the religious denominational sectors) were Christ’s gifts as in Eph. 4. On top of that their thoughts against the bishopric office as they falsely assumed only patterned after the unbelieving ideas of Roman Catholicism can be proven as a mere alleged notion and only a religious cliché and a matter of denominational defence through traditional basis.
GIFTS IN THE EARLY PART OF THE BOC
Apostle Paul wrote in his epistle relative to the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4.It means this verse isn’t independent where we can’t clearly understand God’s operation in setting these men as gifts for the church edification prior the completion of the holy Scripture. Let’s briefly consider this verse specifically to its clear content.
1 Corinthians 12:28
27 Now YE are the BODY OF CHRIST, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
This verse clearly proved upon comparison that Christ was God for in Ephesians 4 it was Christ who gave some men in the church the body of Christ. Clearly the verse stated above that “God set”. This is a parallel truth to mean Christ gave or God set these men in accordance to its rank and category which are: first apostles, secondarily prophets, and thirdly teachers including the complimentary gifts of healings helps, governments, and diversities of tongues. Where are the Pastors and evangelists in this verse which aren’t found in Ephesians 4? Let’s note again the verse for us to clearly see the truth about pastors and teachers as all one personal identity.
Ephesians 4:11
King James Version (KJV)
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Take a look carefully the punctuations that separate each of these gifts. You can clearly see that the semi-colon (;) after evangelists there appeared …..AND SOME, PASTORS AND TEACHERS. It could mean Pastors and teachers in one personal identity thus they’re teaching Pastors. Pastors could mean teachers and teachers could mean pastors in light with the truth in this verse. As clear proof for these in the early Acts where the current existing of the BOC operates during the time of Paul we can support these gifts stated in the following verses namely: prophets and teachers known as Pastors also as in Acts 13:1.
Acts 13
1Now there were in the CHURCH that was at Antioch certain PROPHETS and TEACHERS; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Another account in the early Acts concerning one of the gifts specified as the God the Holy Spirit made them overseers believed to be Pastors though not specifically mentioned in the verse but the fact was that it’s the Holy Spirit made them overseers to feed the church of God.
Acts 20: 28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
It clearly viewed as men being the Holy Spirit’s gift for the church the BOC during its early stage. Modern Pastors today may not qualify and claim they were the Holy Spirit’s choice for indeed the Holy Spirit’s ministry and its mode of manifestation in the early stage of the BOC was far more different to the Holy Spirit’s function today where the mind of the Spirit and its function was then upon the result of His complete word if we believe. Thus, filling the Spirit is to be nourished or be filled with the word of God richly in our lives. Today the tool of the Holy Spirit wherein we can be filled is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17-18).
Clearly in the early stage of the BOC the apostles were also part in the operation and function during the transition period for the BOC’s maturity leading to the completion of the full revelation where Paul was termed as ” …..when that which is perfect is come” 1 Cor. 13:10.
In the early stage of the BOC there were apostles contemporaries with him though names aren’t mentioned. Let’s consider one of the passage of Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:8-9 where it states:
8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that WE also might reign with you.
9For I think that GOD HATH SET FORTH US the APOSTLES LAST, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
It’s very clear here that there were other apostles in the BOC contemporaries with Paul as the term “US” the “APOSTLES’ last. It’s plural form of pronoun (us) and plural noun (apostles) however, Paul was the sole apostle where the mystery of this dispensation of grace was revealed.
Galatians 2:8
(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
In this book of Galatians it’s very clear that Peter’s apostleship was intended for the circumcision and therefore he and the rest of the kingdom apostles may not considered be the gift of the church though they have participation during the early stage of the BOC in Acts 9,11,15, etc. for they were for circumsicion.
So as God has set in 1 Corinthians 12:28 there are only three major categories namely: first apostles, secondarily prophets, and thirdly teachers or Pastors interchangeably. Thus evangelist was an additional gift not mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:28 that belong to the first three sets of category. However we can prove in the early Acts account after Paul’s conversion and beginning of the Body of Christ where there’s a man being called an evangelist and his name was Philip.
Acts 21:8
And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
My impression for these spiritual gifts for the church in my thorough studies and assessment in this issue was that the occurrences of these gifts involved the triune God’s participation in order to edify the church the BOC on its early stage prior the completion of the revelation of the mystery truth with the apostle Paul (Ephesians 4:12-14).
May you consider this things brother by simply not undermining the mystery truths revealed by Paul to us through the Holy Spirit where utterance for this dispensation of grace was unveiled when Christ was declared to us as the Head of the Body.
Grace and Peace!
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