and *he* has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers,
The gifts in this verse are not offices men hand out, but people the risen Christ Himself hands down to His church. Everything turns on two questions: who is the "He" who gave, and what did He give — abilities, or persons?
The Giver
Before naming a single gift, the passage stops to describe the One doing the giving. One writer draws attention to that pause:
The answer is in verse 11 of Ephesians 4: "He gave." Who is the He? The person who ascended and took His seat at God's right hand. And before telling us that He gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, the Holy Spirit turns aside to tell us who this person is — "He who ascended is the same also that descended into the lower parts of the earth, that he might fill all things." Before He touches the question of ministry, He fixes our eyes on this person, on some sides of His divine and moral glory.
Persons, Not Qualifications
The verse does not say He gave gifts of apostleship or teaching. He gave apostles. He gave teachers.
I do not know any scripture that gives ministry according to God stronger divine backing than this. All true ministry — that is to say, gifts, persons, remember, not qualifications — flows from Him, the Head in heaven. Notice that Ephesians 4 speaks of persons: "He gave, some apostles." An apostle is a person, a pastor is a person, an evangelist is a person. It is not a question of the qualification at all. He gave the persons.
Foundation Laid Once
Apostles and prophets come first on the list. One writer explains why they came first, and why they are not given now:
Why were the prophets given? Because the written Scriptures were not yet complete. Now that they are complete, we do not have such gifts. The apostles and prophets are at the bottom of the building. You do not put the foundation stones of a building in the middle. You put them at the bottom. The apostles and prophets are the foundation — the Church began with them — and Jesus Christ Himself is the chief corner stone. I say this because some people who call themselves Christians tell us they have the power to appoint apostles. They must be false apostles, for you do not find apostles at the top of the building. They are at the bottom.
Outside And Inside
The other gifts divide the work between those outside and those inside. One writer then separates the pastor from the teacher:
Evangelists go out to bring others in and so enlarge the building. Pastors and teachers care for what is inside… Clearly the pastor has the people more in view, while the teacher is taken up more with the truth.
One Phrase, Two Words
Paul does not repeat "some" before "teachers". Commentators read that wording in two ways. Some take it as one double gift resting in one man:
Only it is important to see that the pastor and teacher are joined in one person — "some pastors and teachers", not "some pastors and some teachers". It is a double gift in one individual. This matters greatly. Many teachers have almost become mere scholars and theorists, and many pastors almost philanthropists. The pastor's practical work keeps the gift of teaching wise and useful in practice.
Others hold that the link is real but not fixed. The two are "closely allied, although they are distinct gifts and one may have the one without the other, or may have them both" (Raymond K. Campbell). The ESV calls this pair "shepherds and teachers".
No Congregation Owns Them
Because the Giver is the Head of the whole body, no group can fence a gift in:
They are given for the whole Church, not for one part of it only. An evangelist or a teacher is given for the whole Body of Christ. No denomination can claim them. No local assembly can keep their service to itself. A pastor may never work outside one assembly, yet he is a gift for the whole Body.
Unfailing Supply
These gifts come from Christ, not from man. That is also why they do not run out:
But apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are different. They are Christ's gifts and need no permission from man… The evangelists call people in from the world to God, and those people become members of Christ. The pastors and teachers then build them up in His grace and truth, holy and beloved. Notice that bishops or elders, like deacons, are not "gifts" and never appear among them… But the gifts that build up come from the ascended Christ. They are as sure today as on the day of Pentecost, and they last until the last members of His body who need them are brought in.
Summary
- Giver — the verse begins with a Person, not a programme: the One who descended and ascended is the "He" who gave.
- Gift — what He gave was people, not abilities; the man with his gift is the gift.
- Shape — apostles and prophets lay the foundation. Evangelists work outside. Pastors and teachers care for those inside.
- Reach — every gift is given to the whole body, so no denomination or assembly can claim ownership.
- Duration — these gifts come from the ascended Christ, not from man. So they need no human licence, and they will not fail until the last member is brought in.