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

Context of Ephesians 4:11

9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

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 4:8This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
• Ephesians 2:20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
• Ephesians 3:5which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
• Romans 10:14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
• 1 Corinthians 12:28And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
• Jude 1:17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.
• Revelation 18:20“Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you.”
• Revelation 21:14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
• Acts 21:8Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.
• 2 Timothy 4:5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
• 2 Chronicles 15:3For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law.
• Jeremiah 3:15Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
• Matthew 28:20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
• Acts 13:1Now 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.
• Romans 12:7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
• 1 Corinthians 12:29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work 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