Eph 4:11-13 | TNotes | STEP | 4:11 In his letters, Paul has four different lists of God’s gifts (see also Rom 12:4-8 ; 1 Cor 12:8-10 , 28 ), none of which is comprehensive. Here the focus is on the gifts of leadership most needed for the growth of the church. • Apostles are divinely commissioned missionary evangelists. • Prophets speak messages from God for his people. • Evangelists proclaim the Good News. • Pastors (literally shepherds ) care for God’s people (see 1 Tim 3:1-7 ). • Teachers expound Scripture and God’s truths to the church. • Pastors and teachers might refer to separate ministries or to two aspects of the same ministry.

4:11 ^a In his letters, Paul has four different lists of God’s gifts (see also Rom 12:4-8 ^b; 1 Cor 12:8-10 ^c, 28 ^d), none of which is comprehensive. Here the focus is on the gifts of leadership most needed for the growth of the church.

• Apostles are divinely commissioned missionary evangelists.

• Prophets speak messages from God for his people.

• Evangelists proclaim the Good News.

• Pastors (literally shepherds) care for God’s people (see 1 Tim 3:1-7 ^e).

• Teachers expound Scripture and God’s truths to the church.

• Pastors and teachers might refer to separate ministries or to two aspects of the same ministry.
4:12 ^f God’s gifts are given so that believers will build up the church (see 1 Cor 12:7 ^g; cp. 1 Pet 2:5 ^h).

• to equip God’s people to do his work: All believers are called to active Christian service.
4:13 ⁱ The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6 ^j; 14:20 ^k; Phil 3:15 ^l; Col 1:28 ^m; 4:12 ⁿ; cp. Heb 5:14 ^o; Jas 1:4 ^p; 3:2 ^q). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29 ^r).