Gifts

Study of Ephesians

Week 14

Ephesians 4:7-16

Through Ephesians chapters 1-3, Paul provides foundational truths for the Ephesians, namely the Gentiles who have come to Christ. He teaches them about their identity in Christ, once dead to God but now alive in Him.

In chapter 4, Paul shifts his teaching to how these young Christians should live now as they are part of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:4-5 provides this from our study last week:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were also called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Paul’s main message, there should be unity in Christ.

Now, in Ephesians 4:7-16, he teaches what unity in Christ looks like and how it operates. He provides a framework for the church.

“But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”(v7)

In this context, the word grace as defined in Thayers’ Greek Lexicon means the “capacity and ability due to the grace of God.”  Paul establishes up front that as Christians, we are all given gifts according to God’s grace. It is His gifts to us used for His purpose.

Now to verse 11, “And He gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers.”

Paul explicitly lists different gifts given to all men, but does not in any way give more importance to one than another in this verse. Let’s take a closer look.

Ephesians 4:11 states that He gave some as:

*Apostles-(in this context)  a messenger, one who was sent out by Jesus Himself to preach the Gospel

*Prophets-(in this context) is someone inspired by God to foretell the Word of God.

(Theologians differ on these first two gifts but the consensus is that the Apostles were only those who saw Jesus after His resurrection and Prophets were those who, under the power of the Holy Spirit, wrote the scripture.)

*Evangelists- those who bring the Good News, those who, many times, share the Gospel as their vocation.

*Pastors- A shepherd, one who feeds those who he has been charged with care, a group of believers with whom he has been given responsibility.

*Teachers- A Bible teacher, one competent in theology. One charged with dividing the Word rightly.

While each of these gifts were given, it is Ephesians 4:12-13 that explains why.

“For the equipping of the saints (that’s us) for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 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.”

The key thought here is represented, in part, by the word, “knowledge” of the Son of God.  “Knowledge” in this context is “epignosis”.  “Epi” elevates “gnosis” to even a greater level. “Gnosis” means to “experientially know”. However, Paul used “epignosis” to signify his very point, “until we all attain to the unity of faith… to a mature man.” Yes, Paul is referring to spiritual maturity to the believers. He is challenging them to not just know (ginosko) Christ but to full knowledge (epignosis). 

This is not meant to get “heady” or spiritually heavy. But Bible knowledge for the sake of Bible knowledge is nothing. “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”1 Corinthians 8:1.  It is “epignosis” or “epiginosko”, a knowing that comes through a relationship with Christ over time.  Like any relationship that has been proven, it cannot be microwaved.

Paul is teaching that we need to pursue Christ first through His word and a relationship with Him, not to pursue the gifts or titles.  

These gifts of grace were to be used in love to, first, unify the body of Christ.

Let’s look at Ephesians 4:16.

“Even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which 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.”  This paints a visual picture of how the body of Christ should operate.

And secondly, these gifts of God’s grace were to provide a structure, support, and boundaries for the maturing of the saints.

“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 the craftiness in deceitful scheming but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects of Him.”  Ephesians 4:14 -15

Psalm 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity…”

Knowing Christ first and pursuing Him provides the power to walk in the gifts He alone can give.

Question for discussion (your email is never posted or shared)

As you look at the people God has put in your life, how has their gifts help you become a stronger Christian?