Ephesians 4:7-16

[7] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

[8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

[9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

[10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Unity (vs.1-6) does not negate diversity and individuality. In the one Body of Christ there are many different members. Paul was given the measure of grace needed to fulfill his ministry as the apostle of the Gentiles (Rom. 12:3; 15:15; 1 Cor. 3:10; 15:10; Eph. 3:7-8).

The Body of Christ had sign gifts during the transition period of Acts, before Israel was officially set aside as a nation (1 Cor. 1:22) and the Bible was complete. The sign gifts such as miracles, healing, and tongues have ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-13).

The gifts mentioned in this passage are apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers. Notice that Christ gave these apostles and prophets from heaven. This tells us that Paul is not referring to the twelve apostles because Christ called them when He was on earth. The gifts of apostles and prophets are not for today (they were foundational, Eph. 2:20). The apostles were men that saw the Lord, were personally chosen and sent by Him, and that had the signs of an apostle (2 Cor. 12:12). When the apostles died they were not replaced. There is no longer a need for prophets because we have the complete revelation of scripture. 

There is still a need for evangelists and pastors and teachers. However, nobody today is given supernatural enablement like what occured before the Bible was completed. The scripture is sufficient for the work of the ministry (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Of course we must depend upon the Spirit, but He is not coming upon people for power like he did in the Acts period. The primary responsibility of an evangelist is to go to an area where the gospel is not being preached and start a church through an evangelistic ministry. The primary responsibility of the pastor and teacher (pastors are teachers) is to ground the saints in the faith by faithfully feeding them the word of God and leading by example. Not all believers are evangelists, but we should all do “the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5).

In v.8 Paul cited scripture from the Psalms and made a spiritual application. The verse he cited (Ps. 68:18) is not a prophecy about the Body of Christ (Eph. 3:5). It is from a Messianic Psalm about the victory the Lord will give Israel in the Kingdom. We may also make spiritual applications so long as we don’t contradict sound doctrine. However, Paul also changed the word of God, which we never have a right to do (“received gifts for men” vs. “gave gifts unto men”). He wrote by inspiration and God alone has the right to change His words.

He who humbled Himself to not only descend to the earth but to also die on the cross and go down into the lower parts of the earth has ascended up far above all heavens and exalted above all principalities and powers (Eph. 1:19-23). In contrast, Satan said, “I will ascend into heaven,” but he will brought down into the pit and then the lake of fire.

The Bible reveals some of the activities of Christ during the three days and nights that He was in the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:40):

• He went into paradise the day He died (Lk. 23:43) – this refutes “soul sleep”

• He preached to the spirits in prison (1 Pet. 3:18-20; 2 Pet. 2:4-5)

• Some say that He was tormented in the fires of hell. His soul went to hell (Acts 2:27), but in the OT all souls went into the heart of the earth upon death. He paid the full price of our sins on the cross.

[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

[13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

[14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

[15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

[16] From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

This passage is all one sentence and concerns the ministry.

• The purpose of the ministry gifts (v.12)

Christ gave these gifts that the saints might be perfected to do the work of the ministry so that the Body of Christ will be edified (built up). What is meant by perfecting? The strengthening and completing of the saints (2 Cor. 7:1; 13:9). We will not be sinlessly perfect until the rapture, but in the sense of spiritual growth we may be perfect in this life (Phil. 3:12-16; 1 Cor. 2:6). What do evangelists and pastors use to perfect the saints? The word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). God is NOT giving any new revelation today. The word of God fully equips us to do the work of God. It is important to understand that God would have every member to have a part in the edification process (v.16).

• The goal of the ministry (vs.13-14)

This is the mark we are pressing toward (v.13), but it will not be fully and finally reached until the rapture. That is when will all the saints be in agreement concerning the one faith and we will all become a perfect man with a full knowledge of the Son of God as the Head of the one Body. The goal is Christ- to know Him and be conformed to His image. We begin the Christian life as babes and we are to grow into spiritual manhood (1 Cor. 14:20). We begin with milk, but we must go on to the meat of the word (1 Cor. 3:1-2). The stronger we are in the faith the less likely we will be deceived by the false doctrines of men. There is a difference between changing because you are growing in your knowledge of the truth and being tossed to and fro with every new doctrine you hear. Satan, that great deceiver, has his ministers ready and waiting to deceive the saints (2 Tim. 3:13). Those that are tossed to and fro are not rooted and grounded (Col. 2:6-10). The faith refers to the sound doctrine of the word of God in general and the body of truth revealed through Paul for the Body of Christ in particular.

• The motive in ministry (vs.15-16)

Those that walk after the flesh bite and devour one another (Gal. 5:14-15). Love (fruit of the Spirit) seeks to build up. Anybody can tear down, it takes a spiritual saint to build up. Love must be our motive in ministry (1 Cor. 13). The saints cannot grow without the truth (1 Tim. 4:6). Notice that the Body is to "increase." Growing Christians reproduce themselves. All true ministry in the Body comes through the Head and works through the members (Col. 2:19).