Albert Barnes Commentary Ephesians 4:11

"And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" — Ephesians 4:11 (ASV)

And he gave some, apostles. He gave some to be apostles. The object here is to show that he has made ample provision for the extension and edification of his church. On the meaning of the word apostles, and on their appointment by the Savior, see the notes on Matthew 10:1.

And some, prophets, he appointed some to be prophets. See the notes on Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:28, and 1 Corinthians 14:1.

And some, evangelists. See the notes on Acts 21:8.

Compare 2 Timothy 4:5. The word does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It is now impossible to determine what the precise office of the evangelist was in the primitive church. The evangelist may have been one whose main business was preaching, and who was not particularly engaged in the government of the church.

The word properly means "a messenger of good tidings." Robinson (Lexicon) supposes that it denotes a minister of the gospel who was not located in any place, but who traveled as a missionary to preach the gospel, and to found churches. The word is so used now by many Christians, but it cannot be proved that it is so used in the New Testament.

An explanation of the words that occur here may be found in Neander on the Primitive Church, in the Biblical Repository, vol. iv, p. 268 and following. The office was distinct from that of the pastor, the teacher, and the prophet; and was manifestly an office in which preaching was the main thing.

And some, pastors. Literally, shepherds—in Greek, poimenav. Compare Matthew 9:36; 25:32; 26:31; Mark 6:34; 14:27; Luke 2:8, 16, 18, 20; John 10:2, 11, 12, 14, 16, where it is rendered shepherd, and shepherds; also Hebrews 13:20 and 1 Peter 2:25.

In Matthew 26:31, Mark 6:27, Hebrews 13:20, and 1 Peter 2:25, it is applied to the Lord Jesus as the great Shepherd of the flock—the church. It is rendered pastors only in the place before us. The word is given to ministers of the gospel with obvious propriety and with great beauty. They are to exercise the same watchfulness and care over the people of their charge as a shepherd does over his flock. See the notes on John 21:15 and John 21:16.

The meaning here is that Christ exercised a special care for his church by appointing pastors who would watch over it as a shepherd does over his flock.

And teachers. See the notes on Romans 12:7.