EPHESIANS

"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ"—V. 7. If we can measure God's gift to us when he gave Christ, we can measure the grace of God toward us. God gave Christ without stint or measure. So, He likewise gave grace without measure.

"Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men"—V. 8. When Jesus went back to heaven, "Ascended on high," two different groups of people went with Him. Those who were raised after His resurrection—Matt. 27:52,53, and those who were prisoners of hope in paradise. See Luke 23:43. This was the abode of Abraham and Lazarus—Luke 16:22-25. It was in the heart of the earth—Matt. 12:40. There, Jesus went and preached to the spirits in prison when His body was in the tomb—I Pet. 3:19,20. Paul quoted from two texts in this verse—Psa. 68:18; Judges 5:12.

Paul and Jesus taught that paradise is now in heaven, and Jesus called it "The paradise of God." See Rev. 2:7; II Cor. 12:2-4.

"(Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?"—V. 9. Read Rom. 10:7 in connection with this verse. The word there translated "Deep" is the same as "Bottomless pit" in Revelation. Christ went into the lower parts of the earth, even its heart. The redeemed thief was there with Him. But while it could hold others, it could not hold Christ. He took charge of the believing dead of the past ages and led captivity captive or led a multitude of captives. As Christ descended lower than the mere surface of the earth, or lower than Joseph's new tomb, so when He ascended on high, He went higher than all heavens.

"He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)"—V. 10. After Jesus descended, He ascended far above all heavens that He might fill all things. His name is exalted above all names in this age and of those that will be in the age to come. His local presence gave way to His universal presence.

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers"—V. 11. Apostles established the church in the earth, and were the principal instruments of God to give us the written New Testament.

There were twelve apostles who will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. See Matt. 19:28; 10:2. The latter text gives their names. The twelve are named in four places—Matt. 10; Mark 3; Luke 6 and Acts 1. It is questionable whether Paul had these in mind in our text, as those mentioned before us were given by the glorified Christ, and when He called the twelve, He had not yet gone to the cross.

There were several men associated with Paul who were called apostles who had a different message and were set up for a different purpose. Note Acts 14:14; compare I Thess. 1:1 with 3:6 of the same book and observe that Timothy and Silvanus are called Apostles. We might add, that by no stretch of the imagination can Paul be called one of the twelve.

The prophets were used of God to declare new truth and to expound old truth from the Old Testament. Paul defines their ministry as one that speaks to edification, exhortation and comfort. See I Cor. 14:3. This well defines their ministry. They were also used for the living guidance of the early church or some of its members. See Acts 11:27,28; 21:4,10.

Evangelists were used of God to enlarge the building by taking the message to those who had not received Christ or heard of Him, even as the apostles and prophets were used to lay the foundation of the church. The word "Evangelist" comes from a word meaning, to announce good tidings or news. Evangelism was looked upon as a good work—II Tim. 4:5. Philip was called "The evangelist"—Acts 21:8. Evangelists had a special ministry to sinners, but are here said to be for the perfecting of the saints. They come midway between the other two sets of ministries as given in our version.

"Pastors" were the feeders, shepherds, caretakers of the flock. When Jesus speaks of Himself as the good shepherd, and when Paul and Peter speak of the great shepherd and the shepherd of your souls, they use the same word for shepherd that is here used for pastor. It is translated as shepherd, shepherds, sixteen times in the New Testament. Jeremiah used the word "Pastor" several times.

"Teachers" actually refers to one of the activities of a pastor. One prominent church leader stated that the day of the teaching pastor is past. This may be so in the circles where the Spirit of God does not have His way, but teaching is a principal function of a pastor. One translation gives, "Some to shepherd and teach." The apostles and prophets laid the foundation, the evangelists enlarged the building with new material, the pastor established and taught.