ACC ~ Ephesians 4 v11a

PROPHETS THEN AND NOW. MARIUS VICTORINUS: The name prophets is given to those who, having received the Spirit of God, spoke beforehand of Christ and his advent. These were the prophets who “were until Christ.” But after he arrived, was there no reason for any further prophecy? What prophets does Paul speak of here? It is obviously those who being full of the Spirit spoke of God after his coming, continuing to expound the divine teaching. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.4.11.

GIFT OF THE EVANGELIST DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHER GIFTS. MARIUS VICTORINUS: There are five ways of speaking about the Scriptures: speaking in tongues, speaking in revelation, speaking in knowledge, speaking in prophecy, speaking in teaching. … But there is another thing apart from these. It is being an evangelist. This means to relate what Christ did and announce that Christ himself is to be worshiped. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.4.11-12.

JESUS HIMSELF ORDERS THE HOUSE OF HIS MINISTRY. DIDYMUS THE BLIND: This is a house set up and ordered by Jesus. … He does not do this in a casual manner. It is with the utmost discrimination and discretion: One is assigned to the rank of an apostle, one to the place of a prophet, others to look after the flock of Christ and to work at the divine instruction of others for those saints who are prepared to learn. ON ZECHARIAH 1.228.

WHETHER THE ORDER OF THE TERMS IMPLIES PRECEDENCE. CHRYSOSTOM: “First apostles,” because these had all the gifts. “Then prophets,” for there were some who were not apostles but were prophets, like Agabus. “Third, evangelists,” those who did not travel everywhere but merely preached the gospel, like Priscilla and Aquila. “Shepherds and teachers” means all those in positions of trust. Are these shepherds and teachers of less account? Certainly it seems that those who are stationary and reside in a single place, like Timothy and Titus, [are of less account] than those who go about the world preaching the gospel. But on another reading we cannot from this passage deduce subordination and precedence but from a different letter. HOMILY ON EPHESIANS 11.4.11-12.

WHETHER THESE GIFTS ARE TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICES. AMBROSIASTER: Apostles are bishops, while prophets are interpreters of the Scriptures. … Even if they are not elders they can nonetheless preach the gospel without a chair, as Stephen and Philip are recorded to have done. Shepherds may be readers, who nourish the people who hear them by their readings. … Masters may refer to the healers in the church who constrain and chastise those who are troubled. Or they may be those who were accustomed to hearing the readings and imparting them to children, as was the Jewish custom. Their tradition was passed on to us but has by now become obsolete through neglect. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 4.12.1-2.

THE GIFTS OF THE FATHER ARE INSEPARABLY THE GIFTS OF THE SON. JEROME: From this passage Paul clearly confirms the divinity of the Father and Son. What Christ is here said to have bestowed [as in his first letter to the Corinthians] is nothing less than the gift of God…. Failing to understand this, Sabellius confused the Father and the Son, not grasping that, though distinguishable, they work together with single intent. EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 2.4.11-12.

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