7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
v. 7 Grace given us – implication that God apportions grace according to His own will and according to our need. Every person is unique, and we receive differing gifts of grace that fit our aptitude, but also reflect God’s sovereign call.
vv. 8-9 Paul quotes Psalm 69:18: “You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men.”
Paul connects this praise to God with Christ by pointing out that God ascending means that he must previously have descended to the earth. This affirms the incarnation of God in Christ, one who “ascended far above all the heavens [and fills] all things.”
v.11 Christ’s gifts – ministerial offices. We should be careful in applying titles to ourselves. Servanthood is demonstrated in function not titles.
a. Apostles. “sent ones” – 1st century: those who had seen the risen Lord, attested by miracles, authority to establish / plant churches. Early Catholic church definition excluded apostles after the first century. No evidence that God eliminated the office, however.
Apostles establish major new works, pioneer into new frontiers; provide strategic leadership (2 Cor. 10:3-7). Spiritual gifts of word of wisdom, faith, miracles, healing.
b. Prophets. Guided by the Spirit, give insight into where God is moving. Prophets may work in gifts of word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits.
Some prophets are motivated to see and interpret situations in stark black / white terms. Challenge to holiness. Danger of running roughshod over people who are mixtures of faith & doubt, righteousness & compromise.
c. Evangelists. Passion to see the lost converted are able to bring people to understand their spiritual condition and need for a decision.
Billy Graham, most famous evangelist of 20th c. Influenced evangelical Christianity more than anyone for 50 years. Apostolic influence: Christianity Today, Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Lausanne Conference on World Evangelization, Billy Graham School of Evangelism at Wheaton College, Decision magazine. Franklin Graham: Samaritan’s Purse.
d. Pastor. From the word, shepherd. Pastors tend to the personal needs of the flock. In the large modern church, successful pastors are managers who oversee associate pastors who oversee departments within the church. Our reverence for the Bible shouldn’t require us to operate the modern church by first century standards when the church was in an undeveloped state. The Bible doesn’t specify how churches should function, but gives us useful principles and insights.
e. Teacher. Can be a separate office or “pastor and teacher” as implied by the Greek text. A church pastor must be able to teach; but professors may have superior specialized knowledge and be gifted in searching deeper into areas of knowledge and understanding to serve.
v.12 for the building up (KJV – perfecting, Cl. Greek, refitting a ship, setting a bone). Putting things in place for effective functioning. “The work of service”. Ministry has taken on a professional meaning that is unknown in the New Testament. We are all called to be servants with only one Master, Christ, and one goal – to build up the Body of Christ.
Matthew 20:25-28, “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
v.13 – Explanation of v.12. God’s people are to:
a. Attain the unity of the faith.
b. Knowledge of the Son of God (Christ)
c. Mature man
d. Measure of stature of the fullness of Christ. dignity, presence.
v.14 Paul deals with the dangers of immaturity, being lead by “every wind of doctrine” (new teaching). Tendency of people to make their mark by introducing a new idea that becomes a school of thought. Denominations have been founded over emphasizing one practice as essential to salvation. New emphases in some places on the five-fold ministry functioning in every church or city. While I agree these ministries do function locally and nationally, our tendency to categorize people and offices may miss the mark of what the Spirit is doing in a given city or region. All people have different gift mixes, and their influence is determined by how people respond to their leadership or influence.
Institutions are influenced by leaders, supporters, financing and the significance of their work in meeting real human needs.
Be wary of those who attack the institutional church as having failed to discern Christ’s purpose or kingdom. God has been tending the Church for 2,000 years and it has adapted to the times and context it is in. The Church is highly diversified, because every Christian has different gifts and motivations, and the needs and complexity of this world defy simple structural formulas. God gives us freedom to try new arrangements, and some work better than others.
v. 15 “Speaking the truth in love” lit. truthing in love, living the truth in a loving way. Truth can be blunt and painful – read the Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus lived the truth in a gentle way toward the people around him, balancing truth with grace and loving acts of healing and deliverance, and sometimes feeding. His words were tough; his presence kind and gentle.
Truth leads us to cut away unprofitable behaviors, habits, attitudes in order to find and hold on to that which is eternally profitable: Christ Himself.
v.16 explaining the Body of Christ. Every “joint” or “part” of the Body, that is every person and every human structure causes the growth of the body in love. Love is the essential character of God – what we are meant to exemplify, to show to others. Seeking others best in Christ is love, without seeking personal advantage.