11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds
11 filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 4:11
Commentary on Ephesians 4:7-16
(Read Ephesians 4:7-16)
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 in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven. God's children are growing, as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a man finds himself drawn out to improve in his station, and according to his measure, all that he has received, to the spiritual good of others, he may the more certainly believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart.