Dear Anton,
IMHO the word "gave" here is a graecisation of the Hebrew /NaThaN/, to give,
which also means to "set" or "appoint". So God *appointed* some as
"apostles... prophets... evangelists... pastors... teachers".
The Church recognised the Apostles as the eye-witnesses of the Resurrection
of Jesus Christ. Acts 1:15-26 shows how Peter and the eleven (including of
course himself) decided to appoint a replacement for Judas. They picked
Matthias; but the Holy Spirit picked Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2). As the
Apostles died out, Scriptures were needed as written records to replace the
oral evidence of the eye-witnesses (e.g. 2 Timothy 4:11-13, KAI TA BIBLIA
MALISTA TAS MEMBRANAS).
The mainstream denominations do not recognise an order of Prophets; but some
of the newer Pentecostal groups do recognise them: e.g. the "Kansas City
Prophets" in the "Vineyard" Church. Following the close of the New Testament
Canon, and the general availability of printed Scriptures, the need for an
order of "prophets" has receded in the western church.
Missionaries could be regarded as Evangelists; Church ministers are variously
Pastors and Teachers. But the duty of evangelisation is enjoined upon all
church members.
Mainstream denominations take their Church Order from the Pastoral Epistles,
and have a threefold order of DIAKONOI, PRESBUTEROI and EPISKOPOI.
Ignatius in his epistles to the Smyrnaeans and the Philadelphians built on
this (circa 115 AD), which is the basis for present practice.
The Apostles (some of them) were also the authors of the New Testament
canonical books, as the O.T. Prophets were the authors of the O.T. canonical
books: compare "[ye] are built upon the foundation of the *apostles and
prophets*, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians
2:20).
HTH
-- Revd Ben Crick, BA CF <ben.crick@argonet.co.uk> 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)