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This is evidently a different ministry, for the evangelist is omitted
in 1 Corinthians 12, but is included in Ephesians 4, while the enumeration of
the first three gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 precludes any idea of casuality in
the order. The gifts of Ephesians 4, were from the Ascended Christ. Now,
even if we should set Paul aside, which is impossible, yet even then the
plural word `apostles' would demand another order beside that of the twelve,
for the twelve were called not by the ascended Lord, but in the days of His
earthly ministry (Matt. 10:2). This new order of apostles and prophets is
spoken of as a `foundation' in Ephesians 2:20, in no sense competing with
`Jesus Christ Who is the Chief Corner Stone', but indicating that before the
new company could be called under the terms of the new dispensation, some
pioneer work had to be done to bridge the gulf and prepare the ground for the
new building. This was done once and for all by the apostles and prophets.
No provision is made in the Scriptures for any further apostles or prophets
in the church of the Mystery. This foundation is followed by `evangelists,
pastors and teachers'. When Paul knew that the time for his departure had
come, he called upon Timothy to make full proof of his ministry as an
evangelist, (2 Tim. 4:5), and to arrange for the appointing of teachers (2
Tim. 2:2). The office of pastor is united to that of teacher, and is
literally `shepherd'. This looks to the great world -wide work that is to be
done today among the `other sheep' and comes under John's Gospel -- a subject
too wide for the present article, but which has been dealt with in The Berean
Expositor, Volume 20 under the heading The Dispensational Place of John's
Gospel.
This new ministry, the gift of the Head of the Church in the capacity
of Him that `fills all things', was for a definite object:
`For (pros toward) the perfecting of the saints unto (eis) a work of
ministry, unto (eis) the building up of the Body of Christ' (Eph.
4:12).
The `perfecting' here refers to the `mending' of a rent, the
`resetting' of a limb, see the use of katartizo in Matthew 4:21 and Galatians
6:1. There is in the word the idea of `adapting' anything to new conditions,
as `prepared' in Hebrews 10:5, and as the framing of the
ages, Hebrews 11:3. The reason for this ministry of re -adjustment is found
in the dispensational crisis of Acts 28. With the setting aside of the
chosen channel of blessing, the people of Israel, a new order was
necessitated and was introduced in the prison ministry of the apostle Paul.
He and his immediate helpers `re -adjusted' the saints to the new conditions.
This is called `a work of ministry' and its great object was `the building up
of the Body of Christ'. We must not read this `edifying of the Body of
Christ' as though it meant its spiritual growth in grace, but rather the
initial work of setting the new calling upon a true basis. When this work
was done `gifts' as such ceased, and each member makes for the increase of
the Body as it takes its place as a joint in the Body (Eph. 4:16). Before
this could take place however, something more was necessary. This Body and
this Building, this perfecting and this ministry, dealt with revealed truth
that must be believed to be effective, hence, we read as the goal of this new
ministry:
`Till we all come to the unity of the faith'.