Five-Fold Gifts: Part 01 - When Christ Ascended

Today is the first of a series of posts I will make regarding the Five-fold equipping gifts. There is much to say about these gifts, and understanding and applying this knowledge is the game-changer the church (and the world, unknowingly) has been waiting for.

The Five-fold gifts we are discussing come out of Ephesians 4:11. Paul is writing here that these gifts were given by Christ Himself when he ascended (Eph. 4:8,11). What we can deduce from this truth is that these gifts were given “after” Christ called the original twelve apostles. It was also after he died and rose again and walked the earth over forty days. Indeed, it was not until he ascended that he gave these gifts. That means that these gifts, as they exist beginning in the New Testament never existed before—because they were given “when” he ascended.

Therefore, the apostles mentioned in Eph. 4:11 play a somewhat different role than the original twelve. In the same way, the New Testament (NT) prophets have a different role than the Old Testament (O.T.) prophets. And so on for shepherds (pastors). The role of evangelists and apostles beginning in the N.T. had no O.T. ministry expression as will be discussed later.