-Back on track, Paul proceeds to unpack the ‘gifts’ - at least some of them - which Christ gave to men (Ephesians 4.8), this measure of charis (grace) which He gifted to each one of us who trust in Him and who are thus a part of His body (Ephesians 4.7). Elsewhere these gifts are actually called charismata (grace-gifts) as opposed to domata (thus we are talking about the original 'charismatics'). The list of specific gifts Paul mentions here is different than the other notable lists of charisma we find in the NT (Romans 12.4-10, 1Corinthians 12.4-13, 1Peter 4.8-11) - we’ll consider this further in the next verse, where Paul indicates that the gifts he mentions here are training/equipping gifts.
Apostles - sent away ones. God sent Jesus (verb form found in Matthew 10.40, Luke 4.41, John 3.17, John 17.3). He sent John the Baptizer (Matthew 11.10, John 1.6). He sends out spiritual harvesters (Matthew 9.38). Jesus specifically chose and sent out the twelve (Matthew 10.5, Matthew 10.16, Luke 6.13) - those who had been with Him and who became actual witnesses of the resurrected Lord. He also sent out seventy others (Luke 10.1-3), but in the early days of the church in Jerusalem, the twelve were a distinct group (Acts 1.2, 1.25-26), gifted in various ways (teaching - Acts 6.2, miracles - Acts 2.43, 4.33, 5.12). Then we see in Acts 14 on their first missionary journey that Paul and Barnabas are called apostles (Acts 14 4, 14.14). They were not at that point belonging to the twelve, but we do see God using them to teach and perform miracles (Acts 14.3), just like the twelve. After this we also see the twelve functioning in Jerusalem alongside elders (Acts 15.2), but then at some point when Paul reports to Jerusalem he meets not with the twelve but with ‘James (brother of Jesus and not one of the twelve) and the [rest of the] elders’ (Acts 21.17-18). Where are the twelve? The lines blur still further in Paul as he calls others ‘apostles’ who were not at all of the twelve (Romans 16.17, 1Thessalonians 2.6). The twelve appear to fade into the background. We do see them accorded some further distinction in later epistles by Peter and Jude, where the words of the twelv (or at least some of their writings) are elevated now to the level of Scripture, right on par with the holy prophets (2Peter 3.2, Jude 17)(not to be confused with the prophets who operated in the NT - see next word). One is left to wonder somewhat to what extent this was an exclusive gift given only for a season to a few (specifically to the twelve, plus aul - cf Gal 2.8, 2Cor 12.12, Rom 1.5), or perhaps broader than that. Some maintain that this gift (if not the office) still operates today, albeit ostensibly in a somewhat-watered-down form, God’s Spirit gifting some to operate sans-miracles (at least in the west) in the realm of entrepeneurial start-up pioneering (launching things/ministries, planting churches, etc), but in light of the context it makes sense to conclude that Paul here most likely has in mind the twelve (plus-one-or-a-few) who were specifically used to plant the church in various places during its 1st century infancy.
Prophets - declaring forth ones. Traditionally, prophets spoke for God, declaring His word to the people. They spoke of misdeeds and of things to come (destruction, Messiah) - ‘thus sayeth the Lord’. At certain times there was only one prophet for the entire nation (think Moses, Eli, Samuel, Nathan), and at other times you would not find even one. There was a season leading up to the exile where a small handful were operating, warning God’s people of coming judgment for their unfaithfulness. And in that season, one prophet did prophesy of a day when God’s Spirit would indeed be poured out on all mankind, and that sons and daughters would speak for God (Joel 2.28 and referenced by Peter in his pentecost sermon - Acts 2.16-18). Did prophets function in the NT? Clearly (Acts 11.27, 13.1, 15.32, 19.6, 21.9-10; Romans 12.6; 1Corinthians 11.4-5, 12.10, 12.28-29, 14.1-6, 14.24-25, 14.29, 14.31, 14.39; 1Thessalonians 5.20; 1Timothy 1.18, 4.14). What we do observe is functioning more on a congregational than a national level, not speaking words of canonicity (that would be included in the canon of Scripture) but rather communicating more specifically to a local assembly and to individuals therein. Ranked second by Paul in order of significance, this, yet since the #1 gift, apostle, was restricted to the twelve (plus one-or-a-few), Paul holds up prophecy as the gift to be most valued/desired by believers. Do prophets still function today? Are there speaking-forth ones in local assemblies? Sadly they appear to have passed out of existence in the modern west, at least in ‘mainline evangelical congregations’, the world to which this writer has been confined, but I wonder if one might still find prophets operating in charismatic congregations and in other assemblies in the two-thirds world where ‘less-educated’ believers simply believe God’s Word and put it into practice? Paul says we should eagerly desire to prophesy, that a prophet speaks for exhortation and consolation and to build up believers, and that we should let two or three prophets take turns speaking (to the assembly) and the assembly should pass judgment on what they have said. But ‘MEC’s pretty much do none of this. There are some who describe a modern-day 'prophecy-lite', where God’s Spirit gifts some people to be wired to call out things that aren’t right. No doubt there are people who do indeed seem to have a predilection for doing this. However, on whether or not this is a spiritual gift or more of a natural bent God’s Word is silent...
Evangelists - good news ones. Another uncommon occupation in the history of God’s people, this word is actually used only three times in the entire NT. Philip is the lone person who warrants this title (not the one of the twelve in Acts 1.13 but rather the one of the seven in Acts 6.5) - the better part of the 8th chapter of acts records the early exploits of this man who was supernaturally gifted by God to proclaim the Good News about Jesus. It is notable that so compelled was he that he is the first disciple we see crossing cultural boundaries with the Gospel - outside the comfy confines of traditional jewish-dom to both Samaritans (Acts 8.5) and to Africans (Acts 8.27ff). The work of declaring the Good News about Jesus is entrusted to all who follow Him (cf 2Timothy 4.5, Matthew 4.19, Matthew 28.19), but according to this there are ones who, having received a gift - a supernatural enabling - in this regard, will be more eager and more fruitful in helping others begin to follow Jesus. No doubt at least some of the apostles had this gift as well? Paul, certainly...
Shepherds and teachers - protecting/caring and impartingknowledge ones. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, no? (John 10.11). Sheep need to be watched and protected (Zechariah 11.16) and they need to be fed (cf Jeremiah 3.15). The good shepherd cares about every sheep, tender & gentle (Isaiah 40.11), leaving the flock to go find even one that is lost (Matthew 18.12)(in fact, it is safe to say that NOT losing any sheep is pretty high up on a shepherd’s priority list - cf John 18.9). Being a shepherd is deemed a lowly (even loathsome - Genesis 46.34) occupation, but God Himself is not ashamed to be our Shepherd (Psalm 23.1). Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd (John 10.14). King David cut his teeth as a shepherd (cf 1Samuel 16.11, Ezekiel 34.23). The challenge of course is that tending sheep can be hard work, done best by those who are ‘cut out’ for it. Watching over and feeding souls should really be left to the one who is supernaturally gifted by the great Shepherd of the sheep Himself for such a task. That doesn’t mean others cannot try their hand at it, but invariably they will be less effective, less eager, and less able to keep at that work. Teaching - feeding the sheep, imparting knowledge about God and His Word - could be construed as loathsome as well, or at least as somewhat undesirable (James 3.1). In spite of being somewhat warned away by James, the fact is that each Christ-follower is indwelt by a built-in Teacher, and can be expected to grow in knowledge about the Lord to the point where they can teach and impart this knowledge to others (cf John 14.26, John 16.13, 1John 2.27, Hebrews 8.11, Colossians 3.16, Hebrews 5.12). Teaching clearly appears to be much more accessible and more widespread gift than the other gifts - Jesus was a teacher, as were the apostles (Acts 1.1, 2.42). There would have been teachers in every assembly (1Corinthians 14.26, 1Timothy 5.17). Nevertheless, it is ranked third in the 1Corinthians list (1Corinthians 12.28)(even before miracles and healing!), and Paul raises a standard of teaching that should be not only healthy (1Timothy 1.10) but beautful (1Timothy 4.6 - kalos). to be sure, every bonafide Christ-follower is able to (and should) impart knowledge to other believers as it pertains to following Christ (and about life in general), but there are some who are specifically gifted to function more fruitfully in this capacity on a more regular ongoing basis.
-But so, we have these gifts in the Body. So what? To what end? Next verse...
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