The Holy Bible Verses

Ephesians 4:11

Cited in 7 topics on this site.

Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

“He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherdsor, pastors and teachers;”

— WEB

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

— KJV

“And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

— ASV

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Commentary

Greek, emphatical. "Himself" by His supreme power. "It is HE that gave," &c. gave some, apostles--Translate, "some to be apostles, and some to be prophets," &c. The men who filled the office, no less than the office itself, were a divine gift [EADIE]. Ministers did not give themselves. Compare with the list here, Co1 12:10, Co1 12:28. As the apostles, prophets, and evangelists were special and extraordinary ministers, so "pastors and teachers" are the ordinary stated ministers of a particular flock, including, probably, the bishops, presbyters, and deacons. Evangelists were itinerant preachers like our missionaries, as Philip the deacon (Act 21:8); as contrasted with stationary "pastors and teachers" (Ti2 4:5). The evangelist founded the Church; the teacher built it up in the faith already received. The "pastor" had the outward rule and guidance of the Church: the bishop. As to revelation, the "evangelist" testified infallibly of the past; the "prophet," infallibly of the future. The prophet derived all from the Spirit; the evangelist, in the special case of the Four, recorded matter of fact, cognizable to the senses, under the Spirit's guidance. No one form of Church polity as permanently unalterable is laid down in the New Testament though the apostolical order of bishops, or presbyters, and deacons, superintended by higher overseers (called bishops after the apostolic times), has the highest sanction of primitive usage. In the case of the Jews, a fixed model of hierarchy and ceremonial unalterably bound the people, most minutely detailed in the law.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

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