Recovering the Gift-Roles of Ephesians 4
What if the Church is missing out on significant leadership gifts and roles because of a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of Paul’s gifts list in Ephesians 4:11? Maybe the secret sauce of a healthy, growing church isn’t purely methodologies; what if it’s the chemistry and utilization of the right giftings that align with the right methodologies?
In Ephesians 4:7-16, Paul expounds on what Christ provides for His Body’s constant development and advancement. The divine empowerment and strategy for missions, ministry leadership, discipleship, and multiplication are the oft-forgotten gift-roles of APEST—apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, & teachers. It is probable that this has been abandoned or exaggerated in the ongoing spiritual gifts debate between cessationists (some gifts have ceased) and continuationists (all gifts remain operational), and in the church office-function clashes over who can and what are overseers, elders, pastors, and ministers, and the functions which follow. In these battles, APEST is treated as either a cursory tale (“that was for the early church”), a reductionistic pair (pastor-teacher or pastors & teachers), or as a set of venerable titles (whether conferred or assumed). Yet, each of these views is mistaken. Paul explains that APEST are specific gifts given by Christ for His Church. Dismissing, misrepresenting, or sensationalizing this hurts the Church’s development. For example, I believe there are Christians underutilizing their gifts in our churches or organizations because APEST goes unacknowledged, and these places are weakening from it. I also believe there are Christians wrongly using APEST, maligning Christ and His word in the process. A proper understanding and utilization of APEST matters to the Church and for the Church.
Hence, I chose to write a research paper on it: “Exegetical Exploration of Ephesians 4:7-16.” This paper argues that Paul distinguishes between two categories of divine empowerment in Ephesians 4:7-16: grace-gifts distributed to every believer and APEST gift-roles bestowed upon select individuals for the church’s equipping. Read it. Process it. Use what you can from it. If you have questions, reach out.
May the Body of Christ be released into greater ministry and growth for God’s glory, our edification, and the salvation of the lost.