And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV)

The five-fold ministry gifts are all relevant for today. Men and women who are called into these offices by God are considered gifts that train and equip the body of Christ to do the work of the ministry. Let’s look at each of them individually.

Apostle

Apostle means sent one, or to send away. Christ was sent from God. Jesus, in turn, had 12 apostles that He “sent” Then, after the original 12, there were others.

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. I Corinthians 15:7 (KJV)

Paul and Barnabas were apostles.

Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, Acts 14”14 (KJV)

Apostles are called, equipped, and sent out with a commission and mission to establish churches and work with them to mature in Christ. An apostle is dispatched much like a soldier who is sent on a mission.

Prophet

Prophet in Greek means to say before, to speak forth. Prophets are proclaimers of divine messages; ones whom God speaks to and through. They do more than foretell the future, they forth-tell it. Their words carry special power to release the plans and purposes of God in the earth. In the Old Testament, there were many prophets such as Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Daniel, and Jeremiah, just to name a few. However, prophets are also seen in the New Testament, such as Agabus, Paul, Barnabus, and others.

Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. I Corinthians 14:29 (KJV)

The office of the prophet is still active today. A prophet declares the Word of the Lord and challenges us to live for God. Prophets expose sin and reveal God and His power.

Evangelist

Evangelist in the original Greek means a messenger of good. An evangelist is a preacher, a proclaimer of the Gospel, the good news. By the Spirit of God, they bring the message of the good news of the Kingdom with signs following to confirm that what they preach is true.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:5-8 (KJV)

Signs and wonders accompany the ministry of the evangelist. While all believers are authorized to operate in signs and wonders, it is especially prevalant in the evangelist’s ministry. These things are the hallmarks of the evangelist’s ministry: they preach Christ, do miracles, cast out devils, heal the sick, impact cities, and baptize believers. They bring the lost to Christ and get them filled with the Holy Spirit.

Pastor

Pastors are shepherds who tend the flock, or the body of Christ. They feed and guide the sheep. They have oversight of the flock and are charged with its protection. The pastor must be able to teach God’s Word to grow them up for the work of the ministry. Pastors are sometimes called a bishop or elder.

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. I Peter 5:1-4 (KJV)

The pastor is probably the most common and most well-known of the five-fold ministry gifts. Their responsibility for the members of the congregation is great in God’s eyes. They must be good biblical examples for the sheep to follow.

Teacher

Teachers are God-given gifts that are able to explain and expound the Word of God so others can understand it and apply it. They stand for truth and bring forth revelation from the Scriptures to grow people up and help them mature. they defend truth and expose things contrary to God’s written Word. While an evangelist proclaims the Word, a pastor explains it.

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. II Timothy 1:11 (KJV)

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

Teacher in Greek is an instructor, master, teacher. They spend much time in the Word to ensure it is rightly divided and applied.

Summary

The five-fold ministry gifts are all still for today. God has not done away with any of them. Jesus actually operated in all five of these offices. Since we are called to be like Him, then we know that all five office are still for our current time. As the five-fold ministry is allowed to operate in the body of Christ, we can be grown up to do what God has called each of us to do.