Ephesians 4 · Verse 11

Ephesians 4:11

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Ephesians 4:11, King James Version

Ephesians 4:11 in other translations

BSB	And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
WEB	He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
ASV	And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
YLT	and He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as proclaimers of good news, and some as shepherds and teachers,
DARBY	and he has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers,
BBE	And he gave some as Apostles, and some, prophets; and some, preachers of the good news; and some to give care and teaching;
Webster	And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

What does Ephesians 4:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. Greek, emphatical. "Himself" by His supreme power. "It is He that gave," &c. gave some, apostles--Translate, "some to be apostles, and some to be prophets," &c. The men who filled the office, no less than the office itself, were a divine gift [Eadie]. Ministers did not give themselves. Compare with the list here, 1Co 12:10, 28. As the apostles, prophets, and evangelists were special and extraordinary ministers, so "pastors and teachers" are the ordinary stated ministers of a particular flock, including, probably, the bishops, presbyters, and deacons. Evangelists were itinerant preachers like our missionaries, as Philip the deacon (Ac 21:8); as contrasted with stationary "pastors and teachers" (2Ti 4:5). The evangelist founded the Church; the teacher built it up in the faith already received. The "pastor" had the outward rule and guidance of the Church: the bishop. As to revelation, the "evangelist" testified infallibly of the past; the "prophet," infallibly of the future. The prophet derived all from the Spirit; the evangelist, in the special case of the Four, recorded matter of fact, cognizable to the senses, under the Spirit's guidance. No one form of Church polity as permanently unalterable is laid down in the New Testament though the apostolical order of bishops, or presbyters, and deacons, superintended by higher overseers (called bishops after the apostolic times), has the highest sanction of primitive usage. In the case of the Jews, a fixed model of hierarchy and ceremonial unalterably bound the people, most minutely detailed in the law. In the New Testament, the absence of minute directions for Church government and ceremonies, shows that a fixed model was not designed; the general rule is obligatory as to ceremonies, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (compare Article XXXIV, Church of England); and that a succession of ministers be provided, not self-called, but "called to the work by men who have public authority given unto them in the congregation, to call and send ministers into the Lord's vineyard" [Article XXIII]. That the "pastors" here were the bishops and presbyters of the Church, is evident from Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:1, 2, where the bishops' and presbyters' office is said to be "to feed" the flock. The term, "shepherd" or "pastor," is used of guiding and governing and not merely instructing, whence it is applied to kings, rather than prophets or priests (Eze 34:23; Jr 23:4). Compare the names of princes compounded of "pharnas," Hebrew, "pastor," Holophernes, Tis-saphernes (compare Is 44:28).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 11. And he gave some, apostles. He gave some to be apostles. The object here is to show that he has made ample provision for the extension and edification of his church. On the meaning of the word apostles, and on their appointment by the Saviour, Mt 10:1.

And some, prophets, he appointed some to be prophets. Rom 12:6; 1Cor 12:28; 1Cor 14:1.

And some, evangelists. Acts 21:8. Comp. 2Ti 4:5. The word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. What was the precise office of the evangelist in the primitive church it is now impossible to determine. The evangelist may have been one whose main business was preaching, and who was not particularly engaged in the government of the church. The word properly means, "a messenger of good tidings;" and Robinson (Lex.) supposes that it denotes a minister of the gospel who was not located in any place, but who travelled as a missionary to preach the gospel, and to found churches. The word is so used now by many Christians; but it cannot be proved that it is so used in the New Testament. An explanation of the words which here occur may be found in Neander on the Primitive Church, in the Biblical Repository, vol. iv. p. 268, seq. The office was distinct from that of the pastor, the teacher, and the prophet; and was manifestly an office in which preaching was the main thing.

And some, pastors. Literally, shepherds--ποιμενας. Comp. Mt 9:36, 25:32, 26:31, Mk 6:34, 14:27, Lk 2:8,16,18,20, Jn 10:2, Jn 10:11,12,14,16, where it is rendered shepherd, and shepherds; also Heb 13:20, 1Pet 2:25. In Mt 26:31 Mk 6:27, Heb 13:20, 1Pet 2:25, it is applied to the Lord Jesus as the great Shepherd of the flock--the church. It is rendered pastors only in the place before us. The word is given to ministers of the gospel with obvious propriety, and with great beauty. They are to exercise the same watchfulness and care over the people of their charge which a shepherd does over his flock. Jn 21:15; Jn 21:16. The meaning here is, that Christ exercised a special care for his church by appointing pastors who would watch over it as a shepherd does over his flock.

And teachers. Rom 12:7.

(b) "he gave some" "1Co 12:28"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 11 He gave some, apostles - He established several offices in his Church; furnished these with the proper officers; and, to qualify them for their work, gave them the proper gifts. For a full illustration of this verse, the reader is requested to refer to the notes on 1Cor 12:6-10 (note), 1Cor 12:28-30 (note); and to the concluding observations at the end of that chapter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ephesians 4:7-16

Unto every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one. He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a…

Read the full comment on Ephesians 4:7-16 →

Ephesians 4:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532

αὐτὸςautosHe himselfG846

ἔδωκενedōkengaveG1325

τοὺςtoussomeG3588

μὲνmenindeedG3303

ἀποστόλους,apostolous[to be] apostles,G652

τοὺςtoussomeG3588

δὲdehoweverG1161

προφήτας,prophētasprophets,G4396

τοὺςtoussomeG3588

δὲdehoweverG1161

εὐαγγελιστάς,euangelistasevangelists,G2099

τοὺςtoussomeG3588

δὲdehoweverG1161

ποιμέναςpoimenasshepherdsG4166

καὶkaiandG2532

διδασκάλους,didaskalousteachers,G1320

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ephesians 4:11

Jeremiah 3:15
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
1 Corinthians 12:28-29
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
2 Timothy 4:5
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Romans 10:14-15
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Ephesians 4:8
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
2 Chronicles 15:3
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
1 Peter 5:1-3
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Romans 12:7
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Ephesians 3:5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

he.
8; 2:20; 3:5; Ro 10:14,15; 1Co 12:28; Jude 1:17; Re 18:20; 21:14
evangelists.
Ac 21:8; 2Ti 4:5
pastors.
2Ch 15:3; Jer 3:15; Mt 28:20; Ac 13:1; Ro 12:7; 1Co 12:29; Heb 5:12
1Pe 5:1-3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Ephesians 4:10
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:11
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Ephesians 4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Read all of Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:11 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y él mismo dió unos, ciertamente apóstoles; y otros, profetas; y otros, evangelistas; y otros, pastores y doctores;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	et lui, a donné les uns comme apôtres, les autres comme prophètes, les autres comme évangélistes, les autres comme pasteurs et docteurs;
German Elberfelder 1871	Und er hat die einen gegeben als Apostel und andere als Propheten und andere als Evangelisten und andere als Hirten und Lehrer,
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et ipse dedit quosdam quidem apostolos, quosdam autem prophetas, alios vero evangelistas, alios autem pastores et doctores,