Ephesians 4:11

Ephesians 4:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
• New International Version (NIV)So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
• New King James Version (NKJV)And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

Context of Ephesians 4:11

9(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]). 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], 12[and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; 13until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].

Ephesians 4:11 word by word

καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους, τοὺς δὲ προφήτας, τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς, τοὺς δὲ ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• someὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
• andδέde · thenG1161
• prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
• evangelistsεὐαγγελιστήςeuaggelistēs · evangelistG2099
• pastorsποιμήνpoimēn · shepherdG4166
• teachersδιδάσκαλοςdidaskalos · teacherG1320

Cross-references for Ephesians 4:11

• Ephesians 4:8Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And He bestowed gifts on men.”
• Ephesians 2:20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone,
• Ephesians 3:5which in other generations was not disclosed to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit;
• Romans 10:14But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?
• 1 Corinthians 12:28So God has appointed and placed in the church [for His own use]: first apostles [chosen by Christ], second prophets [those who foretell the future, those who speak a new message from God to the people], third teachers, then those who work miracles, then those with the gifts of healings, the helpers, the administrators, and speakers in various kinds of [unknown] tongues.
• Jude 1:17But as for you, beloved, remember the [prophetic] words spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Revelation 18:20Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints (God’s people) and apostles and prophets [who were martyred], because God has executed vengeance for you [through righteous judgment] upon her.”
• Revelation 21:14And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Christ).
• Acts 21:8On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven [deacons], and stayed with him.
• 2 Timothy 4:5But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.
• 2 Chronicles 15:3Now for a long time Israel was without the true God and without a teaching priest, and without [God’s] law.
• Jeremiah 3:15“Then [in the final time] I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and [true] understanding.
• Matthew 28:20teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
• Acts 13:1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets [who spoke a new message of God to the people] and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch, and Saul.
• Romans 12:7if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching;
• 1 Corinthians 12:29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

Commentaries on Ephesians 4:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11He 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 1 Corinthians 12:6-10; (note), 1 Corinthians 12:28-30; (note); and to the concluding observations at the end of that chapter.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11And 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, see the notes on Matthew 10:1. And some, prophets - He appointed some to be prophets; see the Romans 12:7, note; 1 Corinthians 12:28, note; 1 Corinthians 14:1, notes. And some, evangelists - see the notes on…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-16Verses 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 measure of that fulness given…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11In his letters, Paul provides four different lists of God's gifts (see also Romans 12:4–8; 1 Corinthians 12:8–10, 28). None of these lists includes all possible gifts. This list focuses on the leadership gifts that help the church grow: Apostles are people God sends out as missionary evangelists. They travel around sharing the good news about Jesus. Prophets are people who speak messages from God to his people. Evangelists tell others the good news about…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. 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…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 4:11

• Church
• Instruction
• Minister, Christian
• Perfection
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Bitterness
• Compact
• Dark
• Elder
• Evangelist
• Forbear
• Gospels
• Grieve
• Lasciviousness
• Lowliness

Commentaries on Ephesians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings