Ministry Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 AV 1873

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Ephesians 4:11–12 AV 1873

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

1 Corinthians 12:28–31 AV 1873

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Introduction

Dictionary of Theological Terms Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Writers ancient and modern have likened the miraculous gifts of the Spirit to the attire of a young bride, important for its purpose, but not her permanent garb. In 1 Cor. 13:11 Paul shows that they belong to the church’s infancy and that God’s people will be more mature and more certain when they learn to stand on the finished canon of revealed Scripture.* Despite this clear teaching, some claim the continuance of the charismata—the miraculous gifts of the Spirit—and blame their nonappearance on unbelief.

I cor. 12:28-

1 Corinthians 12:28–31 AV 1873

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Apostles

Definition: One sent

The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Difference between Apostle and Disciple

The terms “apostle” and “disciple” do not have the same meaning in the New Testament. The term “disciple” is only used in the Gospels and in Acts (usually to refer to the Twelve), whereas “apostle” is mainly used in Acts and the Letters. While disciples in the Gospels are all those who are called into discipleship by Jesus, only a few of them are sent out by Him as apostles. In the epistles, the term “disciple” is never used and Jesus’ original 12 disciples are referred to as apostles (or the Twelve): “Then He appointed twelve, whom He also named apostles, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons” (Mark 3:14–15; see also Luke 6:13). Later on, in Acts, Matthias is chosen as Judas’ replacement and becomes numbered among the “eleven apostles” (Acts 1:15–26; especially see Acts 1:26).

Matthew 10:2 AV 1873

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

There are many sent, but few sent directly by Christ.

Apostolic Succession:

The notion that an unbroken line of succession extends from the twelve apostles through the bishops they ordained right up to the present day, thus giving apostolic validity to the ministry of those bishops and to the ministry of those on whom they lay hands in ordination.* The theory is historically unprovable. Also, it proceeds on the assumption that the unique power of the apostles to lay hands on men that they might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit was passed on to their successors. It was not. There is no evidence that the Lord ever intended it for continual use in the church. The usual way of ordination, even in NT times, was by the laying on of hands of the presbytery, or the eldership (; ). The NT knows nothing of bishops in the sense in which proponents of apostolic succession understand them, thus destroying the very foundation of the theory of episcopal succession.

Prophets

The notion that an unbroken line of succession extends from the twelve apostles through the bishops they ordained right up to the present day, thus giving apostolic validity to the ministry of those bishops and to the ministry of those on whom they lay hands in ordination.* The theory is historically unprovable. Also, it proceeds on the assumption that the unique power of the apostles to lay hands on men that they might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit was passed on to their successors. It was not. There is no evidence that the Lord ever intended it for continual use in the church. The usual way of ordination, even in NT times, was by the laying on of hands of the presbytery, or the eldership (; ). The NT knows nothing of bishops in the sense in which proponents of apostolic succession understand them, thus destroying the very foundation of the theory of episcopal succession.

Cairns, A. (2002). In Dictionary of Theological Terms (pp. 37–38). Belfast; Greenville, SC: Ambassador Emerald International.Prophets

Definition:

Lexham Theological Wordbook Prophets

In the OT, a prophet is a person, either male or female, who functions as God’s spokesperson and is commissioned by him to deliver his word, either to individuals or to groups. The prophet receives the word of God through various means, including dreams, visions, and theophanies. In the NT, a prophet is one whom God has equipped, alongside apostles, pastors, and teachers, to lead the church through the edification and encouragement of believers.

Typically the gift of prophecy has a revelatory factor in it and therefore is one gift that is laid aside after that which is perfect is come.

Teachers

In the Pauline epistles, prophets (prophētis) are listed alongside apostles, pastors, and teachers as those whom God has equipped to lead the church (; ; ). A major role of these individuals is to edify and encourage believers (; see ). The New Testament, like the ot, condemns false prophets (ψευδοπροφήτης, pseudoprophētēs) for being illegitimate and for teaching false doctrine (; , ; ; ).

In the Pauline epistles, prophets (prophētis) are listed alongside apostles, pastors, and teachers as those whom God has equipped to lead the church (Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 12:28–29; Eph 4:11). A major role of these individuals is to edify and encourage believers (1 Cor 14:3; see Acts 15:32). The New Testament, like the ot, condemns false prophets (ψευδοπροφήτης, pseudoprophētēs) for being illegitimate and for teaching false doctrine (Matt 7:15; 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; 2 Pet 2:1).

In the Pauline epistles, prophets (prophētis) are listed alongside apostles, pastors, and teachers as those whom God has equipped to lead the church (; ; ). A major role of these individuals is to edify and encourage believers (; see ). The New Testament, like the ot, condemns false prophets (ψευδοπροφήτης, pseudoprophētēs) for being illegitimate and for teaching false doctrine (; , ; ; ).

Lexical Information

Lexical Information

Fenlason, A. C. (2014). Prophets. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Fenlason, A. C. (2014). Prophets. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Fenlason, A. C. (2014). Prophets. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Pre

Teachers

Teachers

Definition: instructor

Governments

Definition: administration

Evangelist

Ephesians 4:11–12 AV 1873

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Ephesians 4:11 AV 1873

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

Helps

Evangelist. NT term referring to one who proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are only three occurrences of the word in the NT.

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Evangelist. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 730). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Helps

λαμβανω—receive; take

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 35.9 ἀντίλημψις, εως

35.9 ἀντίλημψις, εως f: the ability or capacity to help or assist—‘ability to help.’ ἔπειτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων, ἀντιλήμψεις, κυβερνήσεις ‘followed by the gift of healing, or the ability to help others, or to direct them’ 1 Cor 12:28.