Tag Archives: apostles

An Introduction to Ephesians 4 Ministry Gifts

Posted on June 21, 2011 by | 3 comments

by Scott

One of my favourite passages in all of Scripture is found in Ephesians. Actually, Ephesians is probably one of my favourite books in the whole of the Bible. As one of Paul’s final letters, he packs so much wisdom and revelation in this short yet amazing book.

The Ephesians text is filled with multiple great passages: from Paul’s beginning words in 1:3-14; to the all-important words of our salvation by grace through faith in 2:8-9 (not to mention his words about walking out that salvation in 2:10); on to the goal of the one body in 2:11-22; his prayer in 3:14-21; the words on how to live our new life in Christ at the end of ch. 4 and beginning of ch. 5; his words of how to live out godly relationships in marriage, parenting, etc; and the charge about the armour of God in his final words in ch. 6.

This letter stands as maybe the pique of Paul’s writings (uh oh, the reformed people are getting stirred because I didn’t say it was Romans).

But one passage I really enjoy pondering is found in 4:11-16. It, too, is filled with great wisdom and revelation into the purposes and plans of God in this new covenant era. Here are the words from the NIV:

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

From these words, we find out that the goal for the body of Christ is both unity and maturity. Both of those are important. No, they are very important! I find that somehow we don’t realise this. It took me a while to understand that the goal was to see the bride of Christ prepare for our marriage to Christ. This calls for movement towards unity and maturity. We cannot miss that if we are to fulfil the purposes of God.

But, there is another reason I like this specific passage.

Here, in these words of Paul, we are told that, when Christ ascended back to the Father to reign over all, He gave specific gifts to the church to help us move towards this unity and maturity. What are those gifts. They are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These five gifts (or four, as some see pastor and teacher as one gift, as in pastor-teacher) are known as the Ephesians 4 ministry (service) gifts, though many refer to them with various other names such as the ascension gifts (since they were given at His ascensions – see vs8) or the five-fold ministry gifts (or four-fold, if one believes pastor-teacher are a combination gift).

Now, for the most part, many Christians in general, both in the past and in the present, have seen only three of these gifts still necessary for and functioning today. Those three being evangelist, pastor and teacher.

Of course, with the rise of Pentecostal and charismatic churches in the last 100+ years, one will definitely find many churches believe prophets (and prophecy) are still functioning today. And with a massive 500 million Christians who would count themselves as part of such Pentecostal, charismatic and neo-Pentecostal church groups, such a belief is definitely not outside of orthodoxy.

But, most all Christians would not venture down the path that would allow for apostles to still exist. They were the ones called to write Scripture (kind of receiving the baton from the Old Testament prophets). They were the select few who were given Christ’s special authority to help the church transition into this new covenant gospel. Once their foundational revelation and message was recorded (as found in our New Testament today), there would no longer be a need for such a ministry. (Such is also argued by some for the ministry of prophets.)

Now, before considering various views on which of these gifts are actually still in function today, I think it important to first ask this question: What is the purpose of these ministry gifts?

Hey, this is an important question. Because we get so caught up in debating whether prophets and apostles could still exist today, we can actually forget why Jesus gave such gifts to the church.

Paul does make it quite clear in this passage as to the purpose of these ministry gifts:

  • To prepare and equip God’s people for works of service, or ministry, since the Greek word could be translated either way (vs12).
  • So that the body of Christ might be built up (vs12).
  • To help Christ’s body reach unity in the faith and knowledge of Christ, becoming mature and grown up into the fullness of Christ (vs13).

Jesus desired to gift people in these ministries so that the body of Christ could be prepared, equipped, built up, unified and mature! That sounds awesome (though Christ really doesn’t need my thoughts here).

But, though we can see these five gifted ministries were given to help the church move towards such a high calling in Christ, there are still questions as to why these gifts are practically needed. I mean, really, why do we need these gifts? What’s this all about? Couldn’t we just get on without them?

Well, to that, I give an answer that isn’t found specifically in Ephesians 4. Rather, I have come to a conclusion as to why these gifts are practically important to the body of Christ and the world today through my overall consideration of the New Testament text. For such, I give four more bullet points:

  • Jesus, Himself, functioned in all five of these ministries.
  • The Holy Spirit also functions in all five of these ministries
  • The body of Christ, empowered by the Spirit of Christ, is now called to be all of Christ in all of the earth.
  • Therefore, Christ’s desire is to continue to gift people in such ministry roles.

Now, I know those four statements are pretty loaded. But I can only say I hope to spend quite a few articles showing why I believe those four points are the logical conclusion from reading the New Testament text.

Of course, one may not have ever realised that Christ functioned in all five of these ministries, nor the Holy Spirit, but they certainly did. I mean, some realise Christ was a teacher or a prophet. But was Christ an apostle? And the Holy Spirit being apostolic or pastoral?

Yes, they were both apostolic. And we must take note that Christ and the Spirit functioned/fucntion in all five of these ministries. Actually, Christ was the greatest apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher that ever existed. Forget Paul, Peter, John or any of the others. Simply stated, there was no other that walked out these five ministries like the divine Son in the flesh. Of course, we would not expect less, right?

And here we are today, even 2,000 years post-incarnation, looking to be all of Christ to all of the world. For this, I believe the best way would be to function in all that Christ himself did. If Christ walked it out, I think he desires his body to emulate the same. If Christ functioned in something, I believe he desires that his body similarly practice such. Of course, I am not trying to equate us with the Son of God. But I do believe that, as sons and daughters of the King, we are called to participate in that which Christ lived in the flesh as we, too, are empowered by the Spirit.

So let me take some time in my next post to look at how Christ was an apostle. Hopefully it will be of interest to you.

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Video Teaching – The Apostolic Nature of the Spirit

Posted on May 19, 2011 by | Leave a comment

by Scott

Last week, I posted a detailed video teaching entitled, Jesus, the Apostle. For many, there may have never been the consideration that Jesus was an apostle, seeing that ministry mainly belonging to people like Paul or Peter or John. But Jesus was the greatest apostle, or ‘sent one’, that ever lived. So we need to start with him if we are to truly learn what this ministry is all about.

The video below continues with some in depth teaching on the apostolic ministry, specifically looking at the apostolic nature of the Holy Spirit. Just as the Father sent the Son, so the Spirit was sent out by the Father and Son to accomplish a specific mission. Thus, the Spirit carries an apostolic mission, even empowering the church to continue on with the apostolic ministry of Christ.

See view the video below for more.

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Video Teaching – Jesus, the Apostle

Posted on May 13, 2011 by | 2 comments

by Scott

One thing this blog is definitely devoted to is presenting a positive case for the continuation of all gifts of the Spirit from Pentecost to the present (and beyond). While that might usually seem wrapped up in a defense of the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, for me personally, I also believe in the continuation of all 5 ministry gifts in Ephesians 4:11-13 (or 4 giftings if one would like to argue such).

So, yes, though Marv (my partner in crime) and I would probably disagree on this subject, I do believe the ministry gift of apostle is still active and needed even today. I’ll post a rather detailed series in the near future on why I hold to such. But I at least wanted to share 2 teaching videos as a kind of taster.

The first video below is entitled Jesus, the Apostle and the teaching comes from a close friend and ministry partner of mine, Alan Scotland. He specifically looks at what it means to be an apostle and does this by considering specific aspects in the life of Jesus. Christ is the great apostle, so it’s best to look at His life and apostolic ministry.

Though the video is about 10 years old, the teaching remains extremely relevant to the topic at hand. I hope the video stirs you.

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Posted in apostles, Ephesians 4 ministries, Jesus, Jesus the apostle, resource, video

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Wayne Grudem on Ephesians 2:20 and 3:5

Posted on October 1, 2010 by | Leave a comment

by Scott

Many people who have spent time studying pneumatology and the gifts of the Spirit will probably be aware of Wayne Grudem and the works he has written around such topics. Grudem believes the charismata gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 still exist today. He is one of the many ‘theologically-minded’ and scholarly Christians now standing as advocates for these gifts of the Spirit. Others are Sam Storms, John Piper, Gordon Fee, Mark Driscoll, Jack Deere, and many other such people.

Though one can get a taster of his theological stance on the gifts of the Spirit in his Systematic Theology (pgs1016-1088), another of his writings, The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, gives a much more in-depth treatment of the gift of prophecy, as you would expect from such a title.

Though the book definitely stands as an evangelical stalwart for study on the gift of prophecy, I believe the book fails to incorporate the full biblical teaching on prophecy, as well as the nature of apostles and prophets. I want to deal with one area where I believe his work has some shortcomings. This revolves around his discussion on New Testament apostles. With this specific matter, Grudem offers what I believe is faulty exegesis on the passages of Ephesians 2:20 and 3:5. You can see his discussions in chapter 2 of the book (pgs45-47), as well as in his Appendix 6 (pgs329-436). Remember, this is in the revised edition from 2000. I don’t believe earlier copies have Appendix 6.

Before analysing some of his words, let’s quote the two biblical passages. I shall give a little bit of context around these verses up for discussion:

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Eph 2:19-22)

4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Eph 3:4-6)

What does Grudem teach about New Testament apostles and prophets by looking at these two Scriptures? The two bullet points below are a summary of his thoughts:

  • New Testament apostles are equal to the Old Testament prophets in their authority. Therefore, these two groups, NT apostles and OT prophets, are the authoritative recorders of Scripture.
  • Subsequently, New Testament prophets have much less authority than New Testament apostles.

In discussing the two Ephesians texts, Grudem gives four possibilities of how to understand the roles of apostles and prophets in the New Testament. Those possibilities are below, with the emphasis being his own:

  1. the apostles and the Old Testament prophets
  2. the teaching of the apostles and New Testament prophets
  3. the apostles and New Testament prophets themselves
  4. the apostle-prophets themselves (that is, the apostles who are also prophets)

His conclusion is that the best interpretation can be found with the fourth option. For Grudem, from a New Testament perspective, these two verses in Ephesians teach that apostles and prophets are mainly one joint ministry rather than two distinguishable ministries. Such helps maintain his viewpoint that New Testament apostles are the authoritative writers of the New Testament while the prophets of the Old Testament era were the authoritative writers of the Old Testament.

Grudem goes on to state:

After considering these views…it seems best to me to conclude that Ephesians 2:20 has meaning 4, that the church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles who are also prophets,” and Ephesians 3:5 should be understood to mean that the mystery of the Gentile inclusion in the church “was not made to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles who are also prophets by the Spirit.” (p46)

But such a view only seems contrived to prove one’s point rather than to be carefully founded in exegesis of the Scripture. For starters, in every other place outside of Ephesians 2:20 and 3:5, apostles and prophets are actually distinguished from one another. The two main places we see this distinction are:

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:11-13)

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? (1 Cor 12:28-29)

One other major point Grudem brings up to try and prove that apostles and prophets are one group in both Ephesians 2:20 and 3:5 is that, in both instances in, the definite article ‘the’ is found before the word apostle, but not before prophet. Thus, Paul is referring to one joint authoritative group, mainly apostle-prophets.

Theologian, Edmund Clowney, who oddly enough used to be Grudem’s seminary professor, and they maintain a great relationship to this day, answers Grudem in his own work:

The absence of the article before ‘prophets’ in Ephesians 2:20 and 3:5 indicates, then, not that prophets are identical with apostles, but that they are closely linked with them since they, too, receive and communicate revelation. (The Church, p261, italics mine)

This makes perfect sense, for we see prophets carrying a very unique and important ministry amongst the body of Christ within the New Testament. Some examples are:

  • Acts 13:1-3 – Prophets utilised in the apostolic commissioning of Paul and Barnabas together.
  • Acts 15:22-35 – Following the Jerusalem council, Judas and Silas, who were prophets, accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their trip to Antioch. We read that these two were ‘leading men among the brothers’ (vs22) and of their strengthening role they had to the church (vs32). Noting that in vs32 we are told these two are prophets, we can assume that the verse is not simply telling us they were simply doing a little encouraging. But it is highly probable the strength and encouragement came out of their prophetic ministry. Not to mention Silas’ continued role in Paul’s apostolic-ministry team.
  • 1 Cor 12:28 – Though I am not up for pyramid-like leadership structures, we still get a sense of the important role prophets had from reading this verse – first apostles, second prophets, third teachers…
  • Eph 4:11-13 – Prophets are part of a team of ministries that are given by Christ to the church to help equip and prepare them for ministry. They have quite a significant role, along with apostles, evangelists, teachers and shepherds.

I’m not negating the role of apostles, nor would I even look to negate their primary role within the New Testament. But apostles never replaced prophets in any sense. They both existed alongside each other, as we find in the testimony of the New Testament itself. Prophets were foundation layers, in conjunction with apostles (hence Eph 2:20 and 3:5). Prophets were revelatory communicators, and still are.

Therefore, my conclusion is that apostles and prophets are two distinguishable ministries, yet both working together in an all-important, authoritative role within Christ’s body. For practical purposes today, this does not mean we add to the biblical canon, making their words the rule of faith for the entire body of Christ for all time. But, by His Spirit, God still utilises these ministries in relaying revelation from God. And such would make sense, for God has always been communicating even outside the bounds of the biblical canon. This was even taking place in biblical times as Scripture was being authored and inspired by God.

So, when God speaks today, it doesn’t mean we write 4 John or 3 Thessalonians or 1 Brussels. It simply means that, as people speak forth revelation (or what they claim as revelation), we learn to weigh it against Scripture, keep it before the leaders we are connected to, keep it before the wider body we are in relationship with, and pray for discernment. It doesn’t make it easy. But it makes us move towards becoming the men and women God desires His body to be – hearers of His word. How amazing to hear the living God through both His written revelation and through His spoken revelation.

Thus, in all, though I do believe I understand the desire of Wayne Grudem to uphold the importance of the revelation of God as found in the trustworthy, God-breathed canon of Scripture, I do not believe that we faithfully accomplish this by somewhat watering down the role of prophets, claiming that apostles replaced prophets as the only authoritative revelatory communicators of the new covenant era. Nor can I agree with another major premise of his, mainly that God’s revelation can come to the mind (or spirit) with 100% accuracy, but by the time it is spoken from the mouth of humans today, it is no longer 100% accurate. But, hey, challenging that notion is for another day and another time. In all, I would call Grudem to rethink his exegesis of Ephesians 2:20 and 3:5

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John 14: Doing the Works of Jesus

Posted on April 9, 2010 by | 3 comments

 By Marv

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

This is an astounding statement.   If overfamiliarity with it has dulled its impact, mull it over a while and let it sink in.  Jesus spoke these words as part of the farewell instructions he gave to the eleven (after the departure of Judas) during supper the night before He died.  Prefixing it by “Truly, truly, I say to you…,” He intended this statement to be taken seriously, and we would do well to pay careful attention to it.

We have ways, though, of mitigating its force.  One is by focusing on the second part, the “greater works” Jesus says we will do.  “That just means we will evangelize far more people than Jesus ever did” is the comeback.  The way this works is that “greater works” can be “greater” in some way—without being the same works that Jesus did.  Yet “the works that I do” allow for no dodge from Jesus’ clear intent.

Nor can we take His words as being for the apostles alone.  Apart from the fact that He told them to teach us to do everything He had commanded them (Matt. 28:20), Jesus opens the door wide: “whoever believes in me…”  Where have we seen this phrase before?

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”  Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:38-39)

Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. (John 11:25-26)

“Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.  And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.  I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:44-46)

Now, what are the “works” Jesus is referring to?  He makes this clear in the immediately preceding verses:

The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. (John 14:10-11)

The works were the works of God, which Jesus did under the Father’s authority, and they were such that even if one was not convinced by Jesus’ words, His works were reason enough to believe.  These were acts through which the Father manifested Himself on the earth, glorified Himself.  As the John 12:44-46 citation above shows Jesus’ works led ultimately to belief in the Father by making visible the invisible: “whoever sees me sees him who sent me.”  And Jesus repeats this very point in this chapter: “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (v. 9)

Why?  Because, as Jesus said “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (v. 10) With His farewell instructions He is extending the chain:

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. (John 13:20)

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)

The works are those through which God makes visible His character and His nature, to which the world is blind.  If this is not clear enough, Jesus explains:

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (vv. 13-14)

This is all quite astounding, if we will dare to believe it.  It is difficult not to qualify this promise, to discount it somehow, because we’ve tried it and have come to the conclusion that there must be some fine print somewhere.  There is no fine print, but we have to pay attention to His words.  He says it twice; “in my name.”

This is not a tag phrase for our prayers.  It means acting under His authority, as He acted under His Father’s authority.  Recall what He has just said: “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” (v. 10).  Jesus was sent and acted in the Father’s name (John 5:43).  We are sent and are to act in Jesus’ name, and it is only by virtue of the ongoing dynamic connection with Him that we do His works, that His promise of “anything” has force.  It involves acting under His orders, and if we do not understand that this involves an open channel of communication with Him, through the Spirit, then this promise of prayer, and indeed, any ministry “in His name” ceases to have power. 

And all this, Jesus says, “because I am going to the Father.”  How is that?  His departure brings an end to one phase of His ministry, and His departure begins another, and that will happen at Pentecost: “if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.” (John 16:7).  “Because I am going to the Father” means then “because the Holy Spirit will come as the Helper.” 

Some of the works that he did, such as prophecy, which we examined in a previous post in this series (John 13: Jesus and Prophecy), are what we would label as “miraculous.”  But there is no dividing line here between these and works of compassion or preaching the word, which Jesus also did.  He did all that He was sent by the Father to do, including living out God’s love and displaying His character, as well as “mighty works.”

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)

Since Pentecost, each believer has been anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, and we are sent as well, with specific works to do:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)

And these manifest God’s light to the world to bring Him glory:

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  (Matt. 5:16)

The best of us carries out our assigned works so imperfectly, so fallibly, it truly is a wonder that God has ordained to use believers in this way to bring glory to Himself.  Yet he has.  The power is there, in the indwelling Holy Spirit, but we must grow in our willingness and in our ability to manifest this power, whether it is living a godly life, speaking words of prophecy, or effectively praying healing for the sick. 

So from this passage I conclude:

  • The second phase of Christ’s ministry is for believers to carry on the works that He did.
  • This is true for every believer, not just the apostles.
  • This involves an ongoing vital and dynamic connection and communication with Christ through the Holy Spirit.
  • This is true beginning with the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost and while He remains until Christ’s return.
  • This is Christ’s express will and His Father’s plan.
  • This brings glory to God and is part of God’s means to effect faith in the world.
  • Christ’s Word promises the power, but we still have a learning curve in doing these works.

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