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NASB | Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 4:12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God's people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; |
Subject: Eph. 4:11 gifts applicable today? |
Bible Note: A New Definition Not only did that I realize that God’s Church needs prophets but I also discovered some fascinating things about apostles. I discovered that even though Jesus had chosen the Twelve to start the Church initially, he also called other apostles later on to start his church among the Gentiles. In fact Paul in Galatians said, For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles(1:8). This could possibly mean that God has a set of apostles for each group of people, since Peter was the chief apostle to the Jews as Paul was the chief apostle to the Gentiles. (NB, the KJV uses apostleship where other versions use ministry to). The first passage which I came upon in Acts which caused me to see that apostleship was a gifting and not a closed position, was Ac.14:4, 14 which calls Paul and Barnabas, apostles. The reader will do good to go back to (11:26) and note that at that time Paul was a teacher and even in 13:1 was still described by Luke as among the prophets and teachers at Antioch, Syria. (Yet only one chapter later Luke calls him and Barnabas apostles). Indeed, Barnabas and Paul were noted as teachers from chapter 11, but in 13:1 the Holy Spirit came and told the group to set apart both men to the ministry or apostleship (see above) unto which he had called them. Then when we meet them in Acts14:4, 14,while they are on the field, Luke calls them both apostles showing at the very least Luke’s conception of an apostle: one sent out by the Holy Spirit. Paul not only gives this impression (NB. Luke was Paul’s disciple), but blows the elitist idea out the window. Some say Paul was the replacement for Judas but Paul cherished no such idea as he gave his own view on the matter in 1Co.15:3-9. As far as he was concerned the Twelve were accounted for and states that he was just another apostle, who was born out of due time. Also I believe Rom.15:17-21 gives Paul’s understanding of an apostle. (Compare that to Kinghorn’s definition below). Further, in Ephesians 2, Paul describes that God gave his revelation of the church age to his holy apostles and prophets. So one could infer that the apostles and the prophets especially the apostles are not necessarily an elite group but are given for the establishing and further development of the church and serve to raise up the other four to assist him in the church’s total ministry; a few people have said that the apostle was given first place in the Church to raise up the other leaders and hence he can do all five ministries (I tend to agree with them) -1Co.12:28-31.... In my search for meaning, I also came across two books, which I do believe give a better basis for evaluating who or what is an apostle. The two books, if you can find them are: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts by K.C. Kinghorn and Rediscovering the Charismata by Charles V. Bryant (Waco: Word Bks, 1986). Observe Kinghorn’s definition below: Apostleship is the ability to communicate the Christian message across cultural (and frequently linguistic barriers) and plant a Christian Church where there is no knowledge of the gospel. The term in Greek (apostolos) and Latin (missio) means a sent one or a messenger. The rough modern equivalent is a pioneer missionary. Warren Wiersbe, in his book, Be Free, 1975, writes, Apostle,Special Messenger, Agent, II Co.8.23, Phil. 2.25, Rom. 16.7… One who is sent with a commission. Bryant writes: APOSTOLOS – Ambassador, delegate, one sent out, a messenger, a herald. Further he writes, An apostle, in a general sense, is a person who adheres to the personality and teaching of another and who willingly goes out to espouse the teaching and to placard the personality… He is not the message but the messenger. Since he gives a similar definition to Kinghorn later in his book, I will just add this pertinent point and close: This ability may go beyond merely being an herald or messenger to that of effectively organizing and overseeing groupings of people who are being discipled. Some missionaries may have the gift of apostleship, but not all missionaries are apostles; and all apostles are not missionaries. Apostleship is not an office.(end of quote from Apostle Squabble, 2004) Paul in a specific way does not fit the bill to Be among the Twelve but he fits the bill of a commission Ac.9:15-16;23:7-10 and 13:2 where Barnabas is commmissioned but does not see the Lord. Thanks for asking. This interaction is helpful. God Bless |