What is the fivefold ministry?
The fivefold ministry gifts
The fivefold ministry gifts – also known as the ascension gifts of Christ – are given by Jesus to equip and build up His body, the Church. Paul discusses these gifts explicitly in Ephesians 4.
“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
– Ephesians 4:7-16 (ESV)
Christ’s gifts to the Church
Paul opens the chapter by emphasising the importance of unity within the body of Christ – a unity that originates from God, who reigns sovereign over all (vv. 4–6).
Yet, Paul also makes it clear that maintaining and striving toward that unity is also the responsibility of each believer.
He then introduces what is commonly referred to as the fivefold ministry gifts: Christ’s gifts to the Church for its growth and maturity.
Psalm 68
Most would read Ephesians 4 and focus on what the fivefold gifts are and their role in church leadership. It is important to go a bit deeper and see the wider meaning of this passage.
Paul quotes Psalm 68: a celebration of God’s victory, power, the deliverance of Israel, as well as the conquest of Mount Bashan. This was a place understood to be the ground zero of Old Testament demonic geography. This idea is echoed in Psalm 22 where the ‘bulls of Bashan’ represent dark forces surrounding the Messiah’s crucifixion.
Gifts to strengthen His people
Against this backdrop of Christ’s victory over these powers at the cross, Paul highlights that the ascended Jesus, like a victorious leader, distributes the spoils and gives gifts… The fivefold ministry of apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist and teacher to His people.
The gifts the Lord has given to strengthen His people are gifted men and women who are called to spend themselves in the service of Christ’s church.
These are not elected officials, nor are they distinguished offices that one achieves after serving in a series of lower roles (such as in the Roman political system). They are roles fulfilled by people whom Jesus himself sovereignly chooses and enables for their service.
The Psalm 68 quote in Ephesians continues to talk about Jesus descending to the lower earthly regions, the earth. While it is a debated passage, many see this descent as a reference to Pentecost and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
The death and resurrection of Christ meant the defeat of the powers of darkness, but also the empowerment of the church through the gifts of Christ in Ephesians 4. It is also the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
The gifts empower the church
Therefore, the fivefold ministry is Christ empowering the church to continue the mission and see the Kingdom of God released. Everyone in the body of Christ is expected to minister.
What is their purpose?
So what are these gifts and what is their purpose? The fivefold ministry is to ‘equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ’ (v12).
Paul uses the metaphor of architectural completeness and of maturity (telios) to emphasise the work of the fivefold ministry. Paul has already used architectural terms in referring to apostles and prophets in Ephesians 2:2–22 with an emphasis on Christ as the cornerstone, or capstone in the building and he is continuing this imagery here.
They are building ministries, they are ministries that equip, with the end goal of the body of Christ being unified, stable and mature.
