The purpose of the gifts and ministries is not to create more gifts and ministries but to bring the saints to maturity. Meanwhile the Holy Spirit assigns gifts and ministries as He will. It is the responsibility of the pastors and teachers to guide the growing Christians into the effective use of the gifts and ministries given to them by the Spirit of God. Then these maturing saints are able to build up themselves and others into the maturity God desires.

The gifts and ministries given to the ascended Christ by the Father have as their purpose the perfecting of the saints. This is the work of the ministry.

We must keep in mind that the five ministries listed here are intended to be representative. In no other passage are these five set apart from the remaining gifts given to the Body.

Compare:

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (I Corinthians 12:28)

In the above verse apostles, prophets, and teachers are placed in the same category as miracles, gifts of healings, and helps. This placement suggests that the five (possibly four) ministries named in Ephesians 4:11 are not elevated above the other gifts and ministries of the Spirit.

All the ministries and gifts given by the ascended Christ have been assigned by the Spirit of God for the purpose of forming the mature Body of Christ.

Psalms 68:18 (to which Paul is referring) when speaking of the receiving of gifts by the ascended Christ implies that the gifts of ministry are people—sometimes rebellious people. The purpose of the giving of these rebellious people to Christ is that God eventually might find rest in the perfected Body of Christ.

Philip was an evangelist. He brought the good news of salvation to people outside of the assembly of saints. People were delivered under Philip's ministry and brought into the Kingdom of God.

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. (Acts 8:5-7)

When the apostles who were in Jerusalem heard of Philip's revival they sent Peter and John to Samaria.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (Acts 8:14,15)

The Apostle Peter preached and multitudes were added to the church in Jerusalem.

The apostles established churches on the foundation, Christ. The prophets prophesied. The evangelists brought the Good News of repentance and forgiveness of sins through Christ. The pastors and teachers fed the flock of God.

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (I Peter 5:1,2)

To be continued.