And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Not everyone will be able to situate themselves in these gifts that I call the leadership gifts (Romans 12:8).
But remember that Christ defined leadership differently; He said the leader shall be the servant of all (Mark 10:43–45).
So what does the leader do? They serve the word. Peter was told by Jesus Feed my sheep (John 21:15–17).
The feeding of the sheep is such a big deal, and in one parable we have a servant giving the responsibility for feeding the other servants their food regularly, but he was found to have been abusing his position, and when the master came back, it was not funny (Matthew 24:45–51).
When it said he himself gave some, we are talking about a special call, which creates a special demand on such lives.
There is an absoluteness to those five positions. They are the people referred to as putting their hand to the plow (Luke 9:61-62), in my opinion, with any looking back attracting severe punishment.
And it is interesting that Paul has a clear list of five here, which in my opinion is a complete list.
I don’t think we should see too much into the fact that there is not the same preface when he mentioned teachers.
For one, all elders should have the ability to teach (1 Timothy 3:2), but that does not mean they are called to be teachers in the sense of the word in the focus verse
And while many are sent by God into his vineyard to work and are uniquely empowered to do so, that does not mean everyone is an apostle
And just because we speak words from God does not mean we are prophets (in the leadership gift sense)
And because Timothy does the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5) does not make him an evangelist like Philip.
We see Paul affirm himself repeatedly in Scripture as an apostle. I write that not to cast aspersions at Paul, but Don't let that begin to make you think that you should call yourself an apostle.
Paul is everywhere, and we can see ourselves in Paul, and then begin to think we too are apostles, or whatever, like him. But note how Jesus spoke against people who love the prominent/special seats in the synagogue (Matthew 23:6), and let that occupy a good place in your mind, also.
I vehemently reject people labeling themselves as apostles. It seems to me those people are putting themselves in that prominent/special seat.
I have advocated that we rest both the title of apostle and prophets in the church because of the specialness of those offices, in my opinion.
They are no longer associated in our minds with service but rather authority. But evangelist is still associated in our minds with work; at least the evangelist should evangelize, and the pastor is still associated in our minds with work because inherent in that is the requirement to care for the flock, and the teacher is associated with that work.
If you are looking for another reason why I am calling for the resting of those titles, there you have it.
As some feel compelled to bear a title, I have not seen the widespread adoption of the title of teacher.
Maybe it is because the word is used so commonly in the education system; therefore, you cannot easily attach prestige and class to that word.
And we can do the work without bearing the title, don't you think so? But if the title is part of the formal structure in a place, that is also okay in my opinion. But my conclusion is that, regardless, titles must be held onto lightly, if at all. And again, apostles and prophets must be totally rested.
It's work, work, work, work, work, and work, not a gilded seat, not a fat check (which is not bad); but it is work. When it comes to being esteemed, the bible says we should esteem some people for their work's sake (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13).
The priority is the work, wherever God has placed you, however He has graced you; while the reward is from God at the end of the age.
“And he himself gave” tells you this is something distinct. There would therefore be a special accounting for those people.
James says, "Don't let all be teachers" (which is not the teacher-teacher in this list, but, I believe, a catch-all word for people who deliver the word and therefore especially the people on this list), because we will face stricter judgment.
“Gave some as" tells us that the gift. In other places we know all have received gifts, but these people do not just receive gifts; the grace poured out on them turns them into gifts themselves.
So He sents them to people as a gift to them.