Ephesians 4:11
New International Version
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,

New Living Translation
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

English Standard Version
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Berean Standard Bible
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,

Berean Literal Bible
And He gave some indeed to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers,

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

New King James Version
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

New American Standard Bible
And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers,

NASB 1995
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

NASB 1977
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

Legacy Standard Bible
And He Himself gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

Amplified Bible
And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct],

Christian Standard Bible
And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

American Standard Version
And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he gave some who are Apostles and some who are Prophets and some who are Evangelists and some who are Pastors and some who are Teachers,

Contemporary English Version
Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,

English Revised Version
And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He also gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, as well as pastors and teachers as gifts [to his church].

Good News Translation
It was he who "gave gifts to people"; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.

International Standard Version
And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, and still others to be pastors and teachers,

Literal Standard Version
and He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] proclaimers of good news, and some [as] shepherds and teachers,

Majority Standard Bible
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,

New American Bible
And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,

NET Bible
It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

New Revised Standard Version
The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

New Heart English Bible
He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Webster's Bible Translation
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Weymouth New Testament
And He Himself appointed some to be Apostles, some to be Prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers,

World English Bible
He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;

Young's Literal Translation
and He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as proclaimers of good news, and some as shepherds and teachers,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Unity in the Body
10He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. 11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,…

Cross References
Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."

Acts 13:1
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul.

Acts 21:8
Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.

1 Corinthians 12:4
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

Ephesians 4:8
This is why it says: "When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men."


Treasury of Scripture

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

he.

Ephesians 4:8
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

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;

evangelists.

Acts 21:8
And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

2 Timothy 4:5
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

pastors.

2 Chronicles 15:3
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.

Jeremiah 3:15
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

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.

Jump to Previous
Apostles Appointed Care Gifts Good News Pastors Preachers Proclaimers Prophets Shepherds Teachers Teaching
Jump to Next
Apostles Appointed Care Gifts Good News Pastors Preachers Proclaimers Prophets Shepherds Teachers Teaching
Ephesians 4
1. He exhorts to unity;
7. and declares that God therefore gives various gifts unto men;
11. that his church might be edified,
16. and grow up in Christ.
18. He calls them from the impurity of the Gentiles;
24. to put on the new man;
25. to cast off lying;
29. and corrupt communication.














(11) He gave.--In the original "He" is emphatic--He and He alone, as the ascended Head of humanity. The word "gave," instead of the more obvious word set, or appointed (used in 1Corinthians 12:28), is, of course, suggested by Ephesians 4:8. They who are ministers of His gifts are themselves gifts from Him to the Church.

Some, apostles; and some, prophets . . .--With this passage we must compare 1Corinthians 12:28, "God hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings," &c.; and, perhaps, Romans 12:6-8, "Having then gifts . . . whether prophecy . . . or ministry . . . or teaching . . . or exhortation . . .," although this last passage is lass formally apposite. In all three cases there is the same general idea, first of the one body, and then of the one Spirit, guiding and animating it through various ministries. The parallel between this passage and the passage in 1 Cor. is very close; for in the latter all that follows the words "after that" may be put aside, as describing, not special offices or ministries, but special gifts. We have, therefore, in both, "first apostles, secondly prophets." Then come, in the earlier Epistle, "teachers;" and this class, in our own later Epistle, is subdivided into "evangelists" and "pastors," both being teachers--the one in conversion of those still aliens from Christ, the other in edification of those already brought into His flock.

Some, apostles.--The name "apostles" is certainly used here in its technical and restricted sense, as applying to the Twelve, whom "the Apostle" of God Himself (Hebrews 3:1) named as His Apostles (Luke 6:13), and with whom St. Paul claims equality (see 1Corinthians 9:1; 1Corinthians 15:9-11; Galatians 1:1) on the ground of his own special mission and revelation from the same Lord. It is, indeed, used in a wider sense; sometimes with words distinctly implying a derivation and human mission, as in 2Corinthians 8:23, "apostles (or, messengers) of the churches;" Philippians 2:25, "Epaphroditus, your apostle (or, messenger);" sometimes without such qualification, as in 2Corinthians 11:5; 2Corinthians 11:13; 2Corinthians 12:11-12; 1Thessalonians 2:7; and, perhaps, Romans 16:7. But such use is rare, and cannot be applied to a passage like this, which is distinctive of a special and primary class. In direct charge from the Lord, universal scope of mission, special inspiration and power of miracle, which are "the signs of an apostle" (2Corinthians 12:12), the Apostles, properly so called, stood out in office absolutely unique and supreme. What was said of the first age of the Church is true of all ages--"of the rest durst no man join himself unto them" (Acts 5:13). . . .

Verse 11. - And he gave some (to be) apostles. Coming back to the diversity of gifts (ver. 7), He enumerates some of these, as Christ (αὐτὸς, he, emphatic) bestowed them. The organization of the Church is not a mere human arrangement; its officers are of Divine appointment. The first gift is, his apostles. It is not meant that he gave to some the gifts needed to constitute them apostles, though that is true; but that, having qualified some to be apostles, he gave them to the Church. An apostle had his commission direct from Christ (Matthew 10:5); he possessed supernatural gifts (Matthew 10:8); it was necessary for him to have seen the Lord (Acts 1:22); his diocese was the whole world (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15). The apostles were the constituent body of the Church - they had all necessary gifts for setting it up, and as all Christian history has testified, they were a marvelous gift of Christ to his Church. And some, prophets. Next to the apostles in point of value, as gifts to the Church, having supernatural knowledge of God's will present and future (Acts 21:11). Prophets were indispensable before the New Testament was given as the Church's infallible guide to the will of God, but not apparently necessary after the will of God was fully recorded. And some, evangelists. The nature of this office is known only from the meaning of the term and the work of those who bore the designation (Acts 21:8; 2 Timothy 4:5) - persons not attached to a particular congregation, but who went about preaching the glad tidings, and otherwise building up the Church, but without the full powers of apostles. And some, pastors and teachers. The more ordinary settled ministers of congregations, called pastors, because they watched over the flock, trying to lead all in right ways; and teachers, because they communicated Divine knowledge. Some have thought that each expression denotes a separate office, but, coupled as they are together, it is better to regard them as indicating two functions of one office (see 1 Timothy 5:17; Acts 13:1).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[it was] He who
αὐτὸς (autos)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

gave
ἔδωκεν (edōken)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

some
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[to be] apostles,
ἀποστόλους (apostolous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

some
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[to be] prophets,
προφήτας (prophētas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.

some
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[to be] evangelists,
εὐαγγελιστάς (euangelistas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2099: An evangelist, a missionary, bearer of good tidings. From euaggelizo; a preacher of the gospel.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

some
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[to be] pastors
ποιμένας (poimenas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4166: A shepherd; hence met: of the feeder, protector, and ruler of a flock of men. Of uncertain affinity; a shepherd.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

teachers,
διδασκάλους (didaskalous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1320: A teacher, master. From didasko; an instructor.


Links
Ephesians 4:11 NIV
Ephesians 4:11 NLT
Ephesians 4:11 ESV
Ephesians 4:11 NASB
Ephesians 4:11 KJV

Ephesians 4:11 BibleApps.com
Ephesians 4:11 Biblia Paralela
Ephesians 4:11 Chinese Bible
Ephesians 4:11 French Bible
Ephesians 4:11 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: Ephesians 4:11 He gave some to be apostles (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 4:10
Top of Page
Top of Page