What is the Pastor’s Task? – Ephesians 4:4-16
4 (4) There is one body and one Spirit—just as the calling to which you were called has one hope—(5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
(7) But to each one of us grace was given, as the gift of Christ was measured out to us. (8) This is why it says, “When he ascended into the heights, he led captivity as his captive, and gave gifts to men.” (9) (Now what does it mean that “he ascended?” It can only mean that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth. (10) The same one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, in order that he might fill all things.)
(11) He is the one who gave the apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers (12) to prepare the saints for the work of ministry for the purpose of building up the body of Christ (13) until we all attain the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, until we become a mature man, until we attain the level of the stature of having the fullness of Christ. (14) Furthermore, he gave pastors and teachers in order that we should no longer be children, being tossed back and forth and being blown about by every wind of doctrine by the cunning of men working in craftiness for the deceit inherent in error. (15) But practicing the truth in love, with regard to all things let us grow up in him, the one who is the head, that is, Christ. (16) By him the whole body, being joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, grows—building itself up in love—as each individual part does its work.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
