And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
х Autos (G846)] 'Himself,' by His supreme power. 'It is HE that gave,' etc. (the same One as HE in Ephesians 4:10.)
Gave some, apostles. Their marks were a call from Christ Himself (Galatians 1:1): the working of miracles (2 Corinthians 12:12); the superintendence of the churches in all lands (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 11:28); chiefly the eye-witnessing of Christ's resurrection (Acts 1:22; 1 Corinthians 9:1). Translate, 'gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets,' etc. Not only the office, but the men who filled it, were a divine gift. Ministers did not give themselves. Compare 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 12:28. As the apostles, prophets, and evangelists were special ministers, so "pastors and teachers" are the ordinary ministers of a flock, including, probably, superintending bishops, presbyters (1 Timothy 3:2, end; Titus 1:9), and deacons. Evangelists were itinerant missionary-preachers, as Philip the deacon (Acts 21:8); "pastors and teachers" (2 Timothy 4:5) were stationary. The evangelist founded the Church; the teacher built it up in the faith, speaking sometimes in the Spirit, at other times from his own resources.
The 'pastor' had the outward rule and guidance of the Church: the bishop: since kings are called 'shepherds' (Isaiah 44:28, Cyrus; Ezekiel 34:23, David). As to revelation, the evangelist testified infallibly of the past; 'the prophet,' also of the future. The prophet derived all from the Spirit; the evangelist, in the case of the four, recorded facts cognizable to the senses, under the Spirit's guidance. No one church polity, as permanently unalterable, is laid down in the New Testament; though the apostolical order of bishops, or presbyters, and deacons, superintended by higher overseers (called bishops after apostolic times), has the sanction of ancient usage. The Old Testament Church was bound to a fixed hierarchy and a ceremonial minutely detailed in the law. In the New Testament the absence of minute directions for church government and ceremonies shows that a fixed model was not designed; the general rule is, obligatory - " Let all things be done decently and in order" (cf. Article 34: Church of England); and that a succession of ministers be provided, not self-called, but 'called to the work by men who have public authority given unto them in the congregation, to call and send ministers into the Lord's vineyard' (Article 23:, Church of England). That the 'pastors' here are the superintending rulers and bishops or presbyters of the Church is evident from Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-2, where the bishops' and presbyters' office is said to be "to feed" the flock. The term 'shepherd,' or 'pastor,' is used of guiding and governing, not merely instructing, whence it is applied to kings, rather than prophets or priests (Jeremiah 23:4). [Compare the names of princes compounded of Pharnas, Hebrew, 'pastor:' cf. Holo-phernes, Tissa-phernes].