EPHESIANS 4:11-19

February 22, 2021

BIBLICAL BODY BUILDING BLUEPRINT

Ephesians 4:11 (BSB) And it was He who gave some to be apostlesG652, some to be prophetsG4396, some to be evangelistsG2099, and some to be pastorsG4166 and teachersG1320 . . .

G652 ἀπόστολος apóstolos, ap-os’-tol-os; from G649; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”) (with miraculous powers):—apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

SUSAN: Earlier in this letter, Paul had discussed the fact that Jesus is the chief cornerstone, the Apostles and prophets completed the foundation, and believers fit into the building as God has gifted them (Ephesians 2:20). This is God’s blueprint for building His church. 

SUSIE: Apostles in this verse refers to the specific office of “apostle of Christ” meaning the Twelve including Matthias who replaced Judas the betrayer and the Apostle Paul, making thirteen in all. They were tasked with teaching the early church the truths they learned from Jesus, hearing and writing scripture, and confirming the Word, as the Lord, by the Holy Spirit, performed signs and miracles through them. When these apostles who were personally appointed by Jesus died, they were not replaced.

G4396 προφήτης prophḗtēs, prof-ay’-tace; from a compound of G4253 and G5346; a foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet:—prophet.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

SUSAN: The early church prophets gave or explained revelation to specific congregations. There is still a gift of prophecy, but the prophets referred to in this verse were men specifically ordained to build the early church alongside the apostles.

“Prophets: The New Testament prophets conveyed special revelation to the early church. Their functions included prediction, exhortation, encouragement, warning, and explanation (Acts 15:32; 21:9–11; 1 Cor. 14:3). The teaching of the New Testament prophets and apostles laid the foundation of the church (2:20), and certain aspects of their work related to that unique task have been discontinued.”

Reformation Study Bible

G2099 εὐαγγελιστής euangelistḗs, yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’; from G2097; a preacher of the gospel:—evangelist.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

SUSIE: Evangelists have the specific gift of sharing the gospel—the good news that salvation is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ—with unbelievers. Jesus commands all of us to share the good news, but some are particularly gifted in this area. Philip was an evangelist, and you can read how the Lord used him in Acts chapter 8.

G4166 ποιμήν poimḗn, poy-mane’; of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literally or figuratively):—shepherd, pastor.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

G1320 διδάσκαλος didáskalos, did-as’-kal-os; from G1321; an instructor (genitive case or specially):—doctor, master, teacher.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible

SUSAN: Preachers/Teachers are those who shepherd the Lord’s “sheep.” They explain the word of God so that their congregations can internalize and live out what the Bible teaches in order to be witnesses as lights in a dark world. They protect the flock by warning them about temptations, worldly appetites, and false teachers.

Ephesians 4:12 . . .  to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,

SUSAN: These gifted people were the “ingredients” for the success of the early church. They were instrumental in unifying the church into one body with all parts functioning together.

SUSIE: Have you ever made “friendship” bread? It is a sourdough type of bread made from a starter passed from one friend to another. The early church under the leadership of the Apostles and prophets was the beginning. That starter continues to be passed down through the Bible, evangelists, and pastor/teachers to build thriving congregations. The model of the early church provides that starter base for all who would build a congregation that honors the Lord. The leadership of the local congregation edifies (builds up and instructs) the believers under their care to help them ALL be faithful witnesses of the Lord Jesus. 

SUSAN: The pastor/teacher is not to be a one man or woman show. He/she is to instruct, inspire, and edify the congregants in each of their giftings that the Lord has bestowed on them for the building of the church. 

SUSIE: We are all teammates trying to reach the same goals, and the pastor/teacher is the captain/coach who helps us become proficient in the game. We all work together to witness and to disciple new believers.

Ephesians 4:13-14 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

SUSIE: We need to be rooted and grounded in the solid doctrine of the New Testament, and the pastor/teacher guides the church in that area. However, we as believers need to grow in our own knowledge of Jesus through prayer, Bible study, and obedience to what the Lord commands in His word. Note that unity is a byproduct of our individually and corporately working to mature into Christlikeness.

SUSAN:  We will not completely achieve this transformation while here in our earth-suits, but we should be maturing and becoming more Christ-like moment by moment as we surrender our wills to His, as we submit ourselves to the Lord’s pruning. The final metamorphosis to be completely like Jesus will occur when we are with Him and see Him as He is, in all His glory.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:52 (KJV)

Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in loveG26, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

SUSIE: Let’s take a look at this verse in the Amplified Classic Version:

Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Ephesians 4:15 (AMPC)

SUSIE: As mature believers—those who have walked with Jesus and have come to know Him better through His word, prayer, and obedience—we are to be living examples of the truth that He taught. Speaking the truth in love means lovingly encouraging or correcting fellow believers. It is not just that we speak truth because we care, but it is HOW we speak that truth. Once again, Paul uses the word agapē meaning Christlike, unconditional love.

SUSAN: Not only the manner in which we speak truth, but the motivation behind our addressing a fellow believer is important. We need to be sure we are coming from a position of genuine love and concern. We should not speak in any way that we would be embarrassed for Jesus to hear . . .

SUSIE: . . . because, after all, He does hear everything including our thoughts!

SUSAN: He is the Head in the sense that the body does not continue to live without a head, and the Head is of foremost importance as commanding the rest of the members of the body. All purposeful action ultimately originates with the head. Jesus is the Head, the Captain and Owner of this ship called the church. He is the one we must follow if we all want to be sailing in the right direction.

Ephesians 4:16 From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

SUSAN: As we grow in Jesus, each one of us will operate the way He intends, fulfilling our individual purposes but working together to build up the church as a “familyship” of love.

Ephesians 4:16 (VOICE) He joins and holds together the whole body with its ligaments providing the support needed so each part works to its proper design to form a healthy, growing, and mature body that builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:17-19 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.

SUSIE: Now Paul tells the Ephesians what NOT to do. He tells them not to be like unregenerate, unbelieving Gentiles as they were before. 

SUSAN: He wants them to avoid falling back into their old ways when they were ignorant of the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

SUSIE: Unbelievers are “willfully ignorant” of God’s ways, choosing to ignore all evidence of His grace and power. They choose to be slaves of their sensual desires (lasciviousness in the King James Version) rather than servants of their Creator. This might be a description of many in America today.

“LASCIV’IOUSNESS, noun

1. Looseness; irregular indulgence of animal desires; wantonness; lustfulness.

Who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lasciviousness Ephesians 4:19.”

Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language

APPLICATION:

  • Each believer should be seeking to know Jesus more by being in the word, praying, and obeying.
  • Believers need to exercise the gifts given them in order to build up the church together.
  • We need to admonish those who are slipping away but be sure it is done in an attitude of love and grace.
  • We need to continue living according to God’s word in order to prevent slipping back into the ways of the world.

ASSIGNMENT: Write out a paragraph or list of practical ways you stay connected to Jesus as the Head of the body. What disciplines do you practice daily to maintain a close relationship with the Lord, to be able to receive and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading?