Jim West wrote: > > At 01:00 PM 10/7/97 +0000, you wrote: > >Hi, > > > >I have a question regarding Ephesians 4:11. In the Greek, is the "gave" > >in this verse a continuing action, or a one-time act. > > > > The verb is aorist tense. The aorits, however, does not merely function as > a punctiliar; it can also have an ingressive sense. Thus, it would be > legitimate to here translate "he continuously gives..." etc. > > >The question behind the question is: can this verse be used to support > >the idea of a present-day five-fold ministry? Or did the church at one > >time have apostles and people ministering in the office of apostle, but > >currently we have evangelists, pastors and teachers? > > > > in fact, an "apostle" is a missionary- a sent one. That the author of > ephesians thought that there were only 12 "apostles" is not correct. By the > time ephesians was written (around 70-80 a.d.) there were in fact none of > the 12 still alive- but there were plenty of "missionaries". > > >Thanks, > > > >Anton > > > > Jim > > +++++++++++++++++++++++ > Jim West > > Adjunct Professor of Bible, > Quartz Hill School of Theology > > jwest@highland.net
Hello Jim;
Is there any evidence available to suggest the 5 fold ministry were
actually recognized offices in the synagogue that could be filled by any
of the elders? I think I heard a Jewish Christian teacher named
Showalter teach that on TV but I didn't quite catch it all.
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Rev. John M. Sweigart
Box 895
Dover, Arkansas 72837
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
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