The giving of Spiritual gifts: (4:7-11):
God gave each of us grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. The gift we get is not because we deserve it or we have worked for it. Grace is un-merited gift. God has given each believer at least one spiritual gift (1 Cor.12:1-12)and this gift is to be used for the unifying and edifying (building up) of the body of Christ. We must make a distinction between “spiritual gifts” and natural abilities. When we were born into this world God gave us certain natural abilities, perhaps in art, athletics, or music. That’s why some are more talented than others. But in the case of spiritual gifts, each believer has at least one spiritual gift no matter what natural abilities one may or may not possess. A spiritual gift is a God-given ability to serve God and other Christians in such a way that Christ is glorified and believers are edified.
- The basis: (4:7): The basis of distribution of gifts purely by His grace. The more we yield to God and submit ourselves to Him, the higher the measure of the gifts. Spiritual gifts or gifts only. We can either use them or misuse them and may not use them. It solely depends upon the individuals.
- How the giving happened? (4:8-10): The giving happened (Ps. 68:18) when Jesus ascended to heaven. It is like a king when he returns to his country sharing the spoils with his followers. Here the spoils are the sinners who were once in the clutches of sin and were redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ. The Lord shares His gifts with His follower.
When He came to the world He underwent lot of humiliation, but when He ascended i.e. when He resurrected and ascended, He was received with the greatest exaltation. He defeated Satan and even the death. Further when Apostle Paul says (4:9b) “He also fist descended into the lower parts of the earth” could mean that Jesus’s preaching to the spirits in prison or in Hades following His work on the cross. (1 Pet. 3:19, 4:6)
- What are the gifts? (4:11): Apostle Paul gave 3-lists of spiritual gifts in his different letters (1 Cor. 12:4-11, 27-31; 12:3-8; Eph. 4:11). Paul lists 4-gifts in here, they are:
- Apostleship: (4:11a): The meaning of Apostles is “one who is sent with a commission.” They are the people who personally spoke with the Lord Jesus Christ and will witness of the Resurrection (Acts. 1:15-22). They have helped in laying the foundation of the Church (2:20) and God has put His authority through special miracles and teaching (Heb. 2:1-4). Presently we do not need any more such miracles. In other words, all believers have an apostolic ministry as Jesus said: “As the Father has sent Me, even so send I you” (Jn. 20:21).
- Prophets: (2:11b): Prophets speak forth words from God in total consistency with the foundation of the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes they speak in a predictive sense, but not necessarily so, and they are always subject to the discernment and judgment of the church leadership (1 cor. 14:29). Further believers in the New Testament churches did not possess Bibles, nor was the New Testament written and completed. The Holy Spirit would empower the people possessing the gift of prophecyto speak God’s truth in the local assemblies. The purpose of prophecy is “edification, encouragement, and consolation” (1 Cor. 14:3). In the same way as the Apostles, the prophets had a foundational ministry in the early church and they are not needed today (Eph. 2:20).Christians today do not get their spiritual knowledge immediately from the Holy Spirit, but when they meditate on the Word of God the Holy Spirit would teach us.
- Evangelists: (4:11c): They are specially gifted to teach the gift of Salvation. These men need to travel from place to place to preach the Gospel. The Apostles and prophets laid the foundation of the Church, but the evangelists must build on it by winning the lost to Christ. That makes it plain that every believer must be an evangelist. A person cannot say that he has a burden for the lost people and does not involve in evangelism. Evangelists are needed in every generation to win the each generation for God.
- Pastors and teachers: (4:11d): Pastors and teachers are the 2-descriptive tiles for one office. They shepherd the flock of God through teaching of the Word of God. Teaching is an essential part of the pastoral ministry.