Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

The apostle now resumes the train of thought inaugurated in v.7 but interrupted by his excursus on the ascent and descent of Christ in vv.8–10. This diversion was necessary in order to stress that none other than the exalted Lord is the one who has endowed his church with gifts by grace, so that it may indeed be his body in the world (1:23; 4:4). Paul does not go on to list the grace-gifts, however, but only those who receive them. After “each one of us” in v.7 we might have expected him to include all the members of Christ’s body (as in 1 Corinthians 12:4–11). Instead, we read only of those who are appointed to leadership, whose ministry is exercised for the sake of the whole community (vv.12–13). “Apostles” and “prophets” have already been paired as providing a foundation for the Christian temple . “Evangelists” (GK 2296) were missionaries who pioneered outreach in areas where the faith had not as yet been proclaimed (e.g., Philip in Ac 21:8; cf. 8:6–40; Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5). With “pastors and teachers,” Paul turns from itinerant to local ministry. These are grouped together, suggesting that the two roles were regarded as complementary and often coordinated in the same person. “Pastors” (or “shepherds”; GK 4478) probably included presbyters and bishops; they were entrusted with the nurture, protection, and supervision of the flock. “Teachers” (GK 1437) are linked with prophets in Ac 13:1 and follow them in the list in 1 Corinthians 12:28.