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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eph_4:7-16
7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8Therefore 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? 10He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13until 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. 14As 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; 15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16from 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.
Eph_4:7 "to each one of us grace was given" Notice the switch from the corporate aspect of the church to the individual aspect. Every believer has a spiritual gift, given at salvation by the Spirit for the common good (cf. 1Co_12:7; 1Co_12:11). The NT lists of the gifts (cf. 1Co_12:1-13; 1Co_12:28-29; Rom_12:3-8; Eph_4:11) are representative, not exhaustive. This can be seen from the fact that the listing of the gifts and the order in which they are listed varies.
Believers are often counterproductive if they
1. boast over their gifts
2. compare one gift to another
3. define the exact characteristics of each gift
The NT does not dwell on these issues. The reality of a called, gifted family of ministers, a kingdom of priests is the issue (cf. 1Pe_2:5; 1Pe_2:9; Rev_1:6). Believers are called to service, not privilege!
▣ "according to the measure of Christ's gift" Jesus is God's gift to fallen humanity. His personality ("gifts of the Spirit," 1 Corinthians 12) and ministry ("the fruit of the Spirit," Gal_5:22-23) are divided among His people to assure the furtherance of the gospel through their unity and cooperation in the Spirit.
Eph_4:8 This is a quote from Psa_68:18, which originally referred to YHWH. The phrase "gave gifts to men" is found in one Aramaic Targum, the Peshitta (Syriac), and Chaldee translations, while "received gifts from men" is in the Masoretic Text (Hebrew text) and the Septuagint (Greek translation). Paul obviously picked an OT translation that reflected his theological purposes. God in Christ has gifted His people. He gifted them for service, not for a privileged position (cf. Mat_20:25-28; Mat_23:1-12).
▣ "He led captive a host of captives" The Colossian parallel (cf Eph_2:15) implies that this verse refers to a Roman military triumphal parade, in which the defeated forces were displayed. Here it refers to Christ's victory over the hostile spiritual forces of the universe (possibly related to the Gnostic aeons).
Eph_4:9 This verse refers to either (1) the Incarnation (cf. Php_2:6-11) or (2) Jesus' descent into Hades (cf. Act_2:31; Rom_10:6-7; or possibly 1Pe_3:18-20; 1Pe_4:6; which is reflected in the early creeds of the Church, "descended into hell").
Eph_4:10 "far above all the heavens" This is the parallel contrast to "the lower parts of the earth." Jesus left heaven to become a human. He returned to the highest heaven as the victorious Savior! Note the plural, "heavens" (cf. 2Co_12:2). The rabbis argued whether there were three or seven heavens. It refers to God's presence or throne room as in Revelation 4-5.
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▣ "that He might fill all things" Jesus came to fulfill God's eternal plan for the uniting and redeeming of all mankind as well as physical creation (cf. Rom_8:19-21). This term "fill" (plçroô, cf. Eph_1:23; Eph_3:19; Eph_4:10; Eph_5:18) was a special term used by the false teachers to describe the angelic levels (aeons). Salvation is not in human knowledge but in repentant faith in Christ's finished work-His incarnation, life, teachings, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, intercession and promised return.
Eph_4:11
NASB "He gave"
NKJV "He Himself gave"
NRSV "the gifts He gave"
TEV "It was he who gave gifts to men,"
NJB "and to some, his gift was"
Christ Himself, or rather the Trinity (cf. Eph_4:4-6; 1Co_12:4-6), gives spiritual gifts to His/their people. Believers are all gifted ministers. Some are leaders, but all are ministers. We are saved to serve.
There are several lists of spiritual gifts in Paul's writing (cf. 1Co_12:8-10; 1Co_12:28-30; Rom_12:6-8; Eph_4:11). These lists are not identical. This implies that these lists are not exhaustive, but representative. For Paul the gifts are aspects of Jesus' ministry given to His body (the church) to continue His ministry. The NT never gives a definitive list of the gifts or a guideline for believers' knowing which gifts they are given. The focus is not on identifying gifts, but on the diverse aspect of ministry. One of the best practical guidelines for knowing one's spiritual gift is found in an IVP booklet called "Affirming the Will of God" by Paul Little. The same guidelines for knowing God's will apply to discovering one's spiritual gift.
▣ "apostles" This is the ongoing usage of the term beyond "The Twelve" (cf. Act_14:4; Act_14:14, Barnabas; Rom_16:7, Andronicus and Junias; 1Co_4:6; 1Co_4:9; 1Co_12:28-29; 1Co_15:7, Apollos; Php_2:25, Epaphroditus; 1Th_2:6, Silvanus and Timothy). Their exact task is uncertain, but it involves proclamation of the gospel and servant leadership of the church. It is even possible that Rom_16:7 (KJV "Junia") refers to a feminine apostle!
▣ "prophets" The exact function of these gifted believers is also uncertain (cf. Act_11:28; Act_21:9-11; Act_15:32). They are not the same as OT prophets who wrote Scripture. New Testament prophets apply Scripture to new and different situations. They are linked with apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers because they all proclaim the gospel, but with different emphases. See Special Topic at Eph_2:20.
▣ "evangelists" Surprisingly, in light of Mat_28:19-20, this gift is mentioned only three times in the NT. Their task in the early church, like the previous two, is uncertain (cf. Act_21:8; 2Ti_4:5), but again obviously involved proclamation of the gospel and servant leadership. It is possible that these first three gifted leaders had itinerant or regional ministries.
▣ "pastors and teachers" The titles "elders" (presbuteroi), "bishops" (episkopoi), and "pastors" (poimenas) all refer to one function and later office (cf. Act_20:17; Act_20:28; and Tit_1:5-7). The term "elder" had an OT background, while the term "bishop" or "overseer" had a Greek city-state background. The Greek syntax (one conjunction [de] and one article [tous]) links these two titles together as one function, one gifted person who proclaims and explains the gospel to a local situation.
It is interesting that in Rom_12:7 and 12:28 teachers are listed as a separate gift and pastors are not mentioned at all (unless it is "he who exhorts" in Rom_12:8). There is so much we moderns do not know about the early church.
Eph_4:12
NASB "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service"
NKJV "For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry"
NRSV "to equip the saints for the work of ministry"
TEV "He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service"
NJB "so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service"
Leaders are God's gifts given to train the Body of Christ for the work of ministry! The church needs to recapture the power, giftedness and biblical assignment of all the members of the church (clergy - laity, old - young, male - female, cf. Joe_2:28 quoted in Peter's Pentecost sermon in Acts 2). Every Christian is a full-time, God-called, God-gifted minister.
The term "equip" means to cause something to be ready for its assigned purpose. It is used of:
1. broken limbs being healed and made useful again
2. torn fishing nets being mended and thereby able to catch fish
3. ships being fitted with ropes and sails and tacked for sea
4. chicks who had grown large enough to be taken to market
Also, notice the goal is not that only some believers became mature, but all (cf. Eph_4:13). For "saints" see Special Topic at Col_1:2.
The gifts are given to every believer for the common good (cf. 1Co_12:7; 1Co_12:11). Every believer is a called, gifted, full-time minister of Christ. Not all are "vocational" ministers, but all are servants. The modern church is crippled by (1) a clergy/laity mentality and (2) the concept of salvation as a product instead of a relational process of servanthood!!!
▣ "to the building up of the body of Christ" Paul mixes his building metaphor (cf. Eph_2:20-22) with his body metaphor (cf. Eph_1:23; Eph_4:12; Eph_5:30). Believers are gifted for the common good, not for individual acclaim (1Co_12:7). The focus is not on the individual but on the body (cf. Eph_4:4-6). Spiritual gifts are servant towels, not merit badges! Believers are worker bees! See Special Topic: Edify at Eph_2:21.
Eph_4:13 "until we all attain" This is an Aorist active subjunctive which denotes an aspect of contingency. It literally means "to arrive at a destination." Note that "all" speaks of our corporate responsibility. Notice the three aspects of maturity mentioned: (1) unity of the faith; (2) knowledge of the Son of God; unto a (3) Christlike maturity. Also, notice the goal is not that some mature, but all!
▣ "the knowledge" This is the compound Greek term (epiginôskô), which implies a full experiential knowledge. This was an obvious rejection of the Gnostic false teachers' emphasis on secret, exclusive knowledge. The believers' knowledge is complete in Christ. This may be a play on the Hebrew concept of "know" as personal relationship (cf. Gen_4:1; Jer_1:5; Php_3:8; Php_3:10) versus the Greek concept known as cognitive information. Both are needed for a mature Christianity.
▣ "mature man" This is in contrast to "children" of Eph_4:14. The Greek root (telos) means "complete," "fully equipped," not sinless or perfect (KJV).
Eph_4:14 "as a result, we are no longer to be children" This implies that many believers were saved but immature (cf. 1Co_3:1-3; Heb_5:11-14). They still did not sense the necessary submission and dedication needed to be servant ministers. Believers must die to self and be alive to God (cf. Rom_6:1-14; 2Co_5:14-15; Gal_2:20; 1Jn_3:16).
NASB "tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming"
NKJV "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive"
NRSV "tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming"
TEV "carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful men, who lead others to error by the tricks they invent"
NJB "or tossed one way and another and carried along by every wind of doctrine, at the mercy of all the tricks men play and their cleverness in practicing deceit"
This obviously refers to the false teachers, who seem to be a combination of Greek philosophers and Jewish legalists. This phrase refers both to human deception (the false teachers) and angelic deception (craftiness in deceitful scheming). Behind these false teachers lay the activity of the fallen angelic levels (cf. Eph_6:10-12; 1Co_10:20; Daniel 10). God's people are tricked, manipulated and deceived because they have not matured in Christ. There is a spiritual battle even after conversion. The goal of the Christian is not just heaven when they die but Christlikeness and ministry now (cf. Eph_4:15; Rom_8:28-30; Gal_4:19)!
Eph_4:15 Believers are not just to speak the truth, but to live and to teach the truth in love (cf. Ezr_7:10). The goal is unity (Eph_4:2-3)! How different this was from the confusion and rivalry of the false teachers.
Eph_4:16 Paul uses the metaphor of the human body to emphasize unity in love, amidst diversity. Disunity opens the door to Satan, his angels, and false teachers (cf. Col_2:8). See Special Topic: Edify at Eph_2:21.