some pastors and teachers." These were given for a specific purpose, and for a specified time. They were given, hence, "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Thus we are told the purpose for which the ministry that Christ established in His church was given. To this ministry belonged certain gifts, essential to their work. Paul says: "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues." These gifts, be it remembered, belonged to the New Testament ministry. That the apostles constituted that ministry is affirmed in the following: "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me worthy, putting me into the ministry." Christ put Paul into the apostleship. Therefore, ministry and apostleship were, by inspiration, interchangeable terms. The seven deacons were chosen that the apostles might give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word. As helps in this ministry the Lord gave prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The miraculous endowments belonged to this ministry. So long, hence, as this ministry continued miracles continued. If this ministry was to be perpetual, miracles would necessarily be perpetual. If however, this ministry was for a specified time, then it would cease and miracles would disappear. If we ask for the purpose of these apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, Paul says: "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." If we ask, How long was this special ministry to continue? Paul says: "Till we all come in (into) the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." See Eph. 4: 8–13.
