Fivefold Ministry

 

(Eph 4:11 KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Eph 4:12 KJV) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Bishops, elders, and pastors are to:

(Acts 20:28 KJV) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

It is important that we understand what offices are required to be held by men and what roles that women are suppose to take part in.

 

Apostle - 652. apostolos, ap-os'-tol-os; from G649; a delegate; spec. an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ["apostle"] (with miraculous powers):--apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

 

Notice that it states he that is sent. The definition does not state she that is sent.

 

Prophet – 5030. nabiy', naw-bee'; from H5012; A PROPHET or (gen.) INSPIRED MAN:--prophecy, that prophesy, prophet.

 

Prophet – A prophet is not just a man of God that foretells events. In order to hold the office of a prophet the man of God must understand the language of the prophets or the language of the spirit. A prophet understands what other prophets have written because he understands their visions through their language. A prophet was called a seer in the days of old and was full of spiritual eyes to see before and after.

 

(1 Sam 9:9 KJV) (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

 

A prophet is a man and not a prophetess.

 

Evangelist - 2099. euaggelistes, yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace'; from G2097; a preacher of the gospel:--evangelist.

Just as a pastor, an elder, and a bishop all refer to the overseers in the church with specific qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7), (Titus 1:5-9), which we have already covered. Preachers or evangelists are expressly chosen by the Holy Ghost to hold this office with a specific powerful function in the church.

Some confuse the office of pastor with that of an evangelist or preacher. A pastor can preach but he is the overseer of the flock. An evangelist or preacher is ordained by the Holy Ghost to preach the gospel. Congregations can have several preachers or evangelists in it that are not ordained to be overseers because their families disqualifies them from holding these offices according to the Books of Timothy and Titus.

I believe an evangelist can be married or unmarried. Paul was an Apostle, evangelist, teacher, and a preacher but not married. An evangelist is a Holy Ghost filled preacher that preaches the word of God with power and truth.

 

(1   Tim 2:7 KJV) Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

 

Peter was married an Apostle, a preacher, teacher, and an overseer of the Israel of God in Jerusalem.

 

Preachers that are evangelists are not overseers (do not have any legislative authority) in the local congregation, as do the pastors and deacons. Evangelists are ordained by the Holy Ghost to speak the word of God with all authority.

 

(2 Tim 4:2 KJV) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

Evangelists or Preachers must speak the message boldly, with authority and power showing no respect of persons to anyone. They even have the authority to publicly rebuke any doctrine that is in error.

 

They cannot rebuke an elder by themselves but can rebuke them in public if the elder’s doctrine is false. This would be in front of two or three witnesses.

 

(1 Tim 5:19 KJV) Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. (1 Tim 5:20 KJV) Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (1 Tim 5:21 KJV) I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

 

We must understand also the definition of what a preacher is according to the word in Hebrew. The definition of a preacher in Hebrew includes men and women.

 

Preacher - 6953. qoheleth, ko-heh'-leth; fem. of act. part. from H6950; a (female) assembler (i.e. lecturer); abstr. preaching (used as a "nom de plume", Koheleth):--preacher.

 

Nom de plume means a pen name several of the Apostles names were changed to other names. Paul’s name was changed from Saul.

 

Notice according to these definitions an evangelist can be male or female. If a Bishop allows a woman to speak then she is not taking authority over the man. It is through the man that she is given power to speak.

 

I believe that Aquila and Priscilla were a husband and wife team. They did the work of evangelists. It specifically states that both Aquila and Priscilla expounded or preached the word of God unto Apollo.

 

(Acts 18:26 KJV) And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

 

I have always believed that men and women have the right to preach or prophesy. I believe an evangelist can be married or single. I believe this applies to all of the offices.

 

Paul told Timothy to do the work of an Evangelist.

 

Timothy was told by Paul not to take authority or rebuke an elder without witnesses.

 

 (1 Tim 5:1 KJV) Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren.

 

Remember an Elder is one that holds the office of a bishop or overseer. When preaching in public Timothy had all authority to preach sound doctrine before all.

 

(2 Tim 4:2 KJV) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

Phillip was a powerful evangelist, preacher, and deacon. Under Phillip’s ministry the Samaritans received Jesus Christ. Then Peter and John being Bishops went unto the Samaritans and set things in order.

 

(Acts 8:14 KJV) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

 

The bishops or Apostles, are memberS of the celestial OR HEAVENLY council, that establish order.

 

Prophetess - 4398. prophetis, prof-ay'-tis; fem. of G4396; a female foreteller or an inspired woman:--prophetess, an inspired speaker.

 

This definition falls under the same definition as a preacher. On the day of Pentecost women were inspired by the Holy Ghost and declared the wonderful works of God and his word. These women prophetesses that were Holy Ghost filled were preachers.

 

(Acts 2:11 KJV) Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

 

I do not believe that a woman can hold any other office than that of an evangelist, preacher, or prophetess. Women are very important for the perfection of the saints.

 

Pastor – 7462. ra'ah, raw-aw'; a prim. root; to tend a flock, i.e. pasture it; intrans. to graze (lit. or fig.); gen. to rule; by extens. to associate with (as a friend):-- X break, companion, keep company with, devour, eat up, evil entreat, feed, use as a friend, make friendship with, HERDMAN, keep [sheep] (-er), pastor, + shearing house, shepherd, wander, waste.

 

This states a herdsman not a herdswoman.

 

The word states a woman cannot hold the office of an overseer or rule over the man. A pastor is to look after a local congregation and to make sure that the flock is fed by him, evangelist, and other preachers.

 

Teacher – 995. biyn, bene; a prim. root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e. (gen.) understand:--attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill (-ful), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand (-ing), view, (deal) wise (-ly, MAN).

 

Men are in charge and women cannot have authority over the man to teach him. If a bishop or overseer gives the woman authority to preach or prophesy, under the anointing of the Holy Ghost, she once again is not taking authority over the man.

 

We know the elders wives are ordained to teach the younger women, to be keepers at home, dress modest, or to act like women. These wise women teach wisdom to the young women, which high standards are. These wives are also to have authority over the children of the bishop’s house teaching them wisdom. Elder’s wives teach many things that are for the perfecting of the saints. Their example is without value.

 

I am sure that many will not recognize the natural order that God has ordained in the Israel of God. They will state in the spiritual order men and women are entitled to hold the same offices. The word of God disproves these teachings.

 

Some that teach only spiritual values neglect the teachings of high morals or high standards concerning the saints of God. They believe these things bring them back under the law. If this is true then Paul taught false values.

 

Many believe there is no difference between male and female in the eyes of God period. There is no difference between men and women concerning salvation, but in the order of the church offices, Paul makes it very plain in his teachings the order that the church is to keep.

 

Children need to know the difference in the roles in the family that a woman and a man should have. Because these values are not being taught to the children the families are being destroyed by carnal minds. The same destruction is happening unto the spiritual family and the Israel of God.