Report IssueLearning Objectives Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:Apply consumer behavior identification strategies Examine the key elements of consumer behavior Identify the m
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Exegesis Research Paper Part 2 – Ephesians 4:7-16 (Spiritual Gifts)
Submitted to Dr. Paul Greer,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
RTCH 500 – B10
Research, Writing, and Ministry Preparation
by
Mawufemor Biekro
February 25, 2018
Ephesians 4:7-16
Introduction
The Essay will focus on the five spiritual gifts which Jesus Christ gave to his followers before he ascended to Heave. Ephesians 4:11 lists the various gifts “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers”. The essay will show that the spiritual gifts that were given to the apostles were not given to them for their own use, instead, it was given to them so that the body of Christ can benefit from it. The book of Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus. Paul wrote the book of Ephesians from a prison in Rome. This was a period around 60 to 66 AD. It was also e period in time when Christians were highly persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Thesis Statement
Spiritual Gifts were given to the disciples so that they can lead, edify, and build the body of Christ. The essay will list the five spiritual gifts that were given to the apostles and how each can be used uniquely to build the body of Christ. It will also show how the same spiritual gifts can be used today for evangelism and how it is used to promote spiritual growth in the body of Christ.
Literary Context
The early church began to see exponential growth during the first century. This was also a period in time where Christians faced major persecution for their faith. To understand why the spiritual gifts were given to some of the apostles, we must read the entire book of Ephesians. When we read the book of Ephesians, it tells us that Paul himself was under persecution and he wrote to encourage the church to be strong and be united.
The Meaning of the Passage
Ephesians 4:7-16 talks about spiritual gifts. Verse 7 clearly establishes the fact that Jesus Christ gave different spiritual gifts to the body of believers. Ephesians 4:7 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift”. To fully understand the meaning of the passage, we must first answer few questions regarding the passage. What gifts were given, who gave the gifts, to whom were the gifts given, and what was the purpose of the gifts. Ephesians 4:11 lists the five spiritual gifts that Paul was talking about. Paul writes “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers”. Verse 8 of Ephesians chapter 4 identifies Christ as the giver of the gifts.
The passage tells us that the body of Christ were the recipients of the gift. The body of Christ refers to the apostles or followers of Christ. This is what we will call Christians in modern terms. Finally, we must know why the gifts were given to the body of Christ in order to fully understand the passage. Within the context of the passage, it states that the gifts were given so that the saints will be equipped for the work of the ministry. Max Turner writes “The ascended Lord bas given the varieties of leadership and other service (4.12; as in 1 Cor. 12.5) that each/all together 'build up the body of Christ”. It also states that the gifts are given to edify the body of Christ so that they can come to the unity of the faith and know Jesus Christ the son of God.
Another way to better understand the passage is to look at the historical context of the passage. Paul was writing to the people in Ephesus, a period when Christians were heavily persecuted. This required the followers of Christ to be united body so that they could build each other up. The spiritual gifts that were given to them helped them to get through those difficult times. The spiritual gift also helped them with spiritual formation or spiritual growth. We see clearly after reading the passage that the spiritual gifts were given to them not for their individual benefits, but for the benefit of the whole group. The ultimate purpose of the spiritual gifts is for the saints to become like Christ. Michael Horvath writes “And this is taken a step yet further in 4.15-16, when it is amplified as growing every way into Christ who is the 'head' of his unitedly gifted 'body'. The summary statement of the meaning of the passage is that Jesus Christ gave special gifts to individuals in the body so that the gifts will benefit the group as a whole.
Bibliography
Gray, Joan. “Reclaiming preaching as spiritual gift at the approach of the new millennium”
Journal for Preachers 23, no. 4
http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=9&sid=6638d184-
(accessed February 12, 2018).
Horvath, Michael. “ Spiritual Gifts Inventories: a Psychometric Perspective” Journal of
Psychology and Christianity 32, no2 (summer 2013).
http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=6&sid (accessed
February 8th, 2018).
Kuwornu-Adjoator, Jonathan. “Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Persons, or Spiritually-gifted Persons: A
Creative Translation of 1 Corinthians” Neotestamentica 46, no 2 (2012).
http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=1&sid (accessed
February 8, 2018).
Oyemomi, Emmanuel. “Church Growth and Spiritual Gifts” Practical Logic (May, 2012).
http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=6638d184-
b22f-4022 (accessed February 15, 2018).
Phillips, Susan. “Together in Prayer: The Art and Gift of Group Spiritual Direction” Crux 49, no.
4 (winter 2013).
http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=3&sid=6638d184
(accessed February 8, 2015).
Rabens, Volker. “Power from in between: the relational experience of the Holy Spirit and
spiritual gifts in Paul's churches” The spirit and Christ in the New Testament and
Christian theology (2012).
http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=7&sid=6638d184
(accessed February 8,2018).
Stitzinger, James F. “Spiritual Gifts, Definitions and Kinds” The Master's Seminary Journal 14,
no. 2 (Fall 2003).
http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=8&sid=6638d184
(accessed February 12, 2003).
Tellbe, Mikael. “Spiritual Gifts: A sociohistorical Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 12-14” Crux
80, no.1 (2015).
http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=6638d184
(accessed February, 201
Turner, Max . “Spiritual Gifts and Spiritual Formation in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians” Journal
of Pentecostal Theology 22, no 2 (2013).
http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid (accessed
February 8, 2018).
Wilson, Andre. “Our Spiritual Gifts have an Expiration Date” Christianity Today 61, no 5 (June
2017).
http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=7&sid=f19a066a
(accessed February 4th, 2018).
