The ranking within the church body if there is one is found in
I Cor 12:28
Before we talk about the expression of the 5 fold ministry today, we should at least ponder the church in the 1st century.
It was primarily a citywide church, met in homes, led by appointed elders, who were appointed by Apostles, who were visited by prophets (
Acts 11:27) and interent teachers.
This pattern more or less happened wherever the Gospel spread. Also prophets released Apostles into their ministry (
Acts 13:1-2)
The giftings of the 5-Fold ministry then worked either locally within those groups of house churches that are identified by Cities, or they worked trans-locally and traveled much like the Apostle Paul did visiting the different works.
Much of the epistles were written trying to combat and qualify what these some of the false visiting ministers would teach in these meetings. Corinth, Galatia, Thessalonica each had this happen.
This was the norm.
Now in the present day, we are removed from some of that structure (sadly in my opinion), some visiting Evangelists might qualify as to be prophets but are afraid or don't realize their calling, visit the churches today along with a myrad # of teachers and exhorters.
Now for Apostles they tend to be more or less what missionaries are today, but not all missionary are Apostles and not all Apostles are missionaries.
They seem to have regional or larger vision that a local city, and lead and appoint elders and leaders in that region.
It would be great to see this realized and all these ministries function together in healthy way before Jesus comes again.
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