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

We need hardly remind our readers that punctuation, as we now know it, is of comparatively recent origin. In the Greek manuscripts there is nothing of the kind, words and sentences following one another without marks of separation. While for us this would render reading more difficult, we must not think of it as affecting or necessarily obscuring the meaning. The arrangement of words in the sentence frequently took the place of punctuation most effectually, and sometimes a change of word or particle would render the meaning clear.

A striking instance of this last will be found in the latter clause of the passage at the head of this paper. In our authorized version-most admirable, and for all ordinary purposes, exact translation-the passage stands as we have quoted it. The English reader would think that "for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,"gave us three distinct and Coordinate objects contemplated in the various gifts of Christ to the Church. He would not suppose that the word "for," thrice repeated, is a translation of two different prepositions; and yet such is the case:"For (πρoς) the perfecting of the saints, for (εις) the work of the ministry, for (εις) the edifying of the body of Christ."

The word also translated "perfecting" has perhaps a different meaning in the original. It is from the same root rendered "mending" (Matt. 4:21; Mark 1:19), "fitted" (Rom. 9:22), "prepared" (Heb. 10:5), "restore" (Gal. 6:i). The thought is not making perfect in the ordinary sense of the word, but fitting, preparing for a definite use,-as in a net, or a vessel.

Returning to the clause, having noted these points, it might be rendered, "for the preparation of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto the edifying of the body of Christ." It will be noticed that we have now removed the comma after "saints," because of the change of preposition, and instead of having these coordinate objects for which gifts were given, we have one, "the perfecting or fitting of the saints;" and this again is for the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ.

But surely our object has not been to point out some nicety of grammar or translation. We believe that the passage as it now appears will give a fresh view of a most important subject, and correct a very gave error in which the Lord’s people are constantly in danger of falling.

As the passage is ordinarily understood, there are certain "gifts" which Christ has bestowed upon the Church, men especially endowed and entrusted with the work of the ministry. The danger here is in regarding a certain limited class as entrusted with this work, so that the vast bulk of the Lord’s people are either excluded or exonerated from the activities of the body. Many introduce a safeguard in the suggestion that all have one or the other of these gifts. We believe the rendering indicated will obviate either interpretation.

There are certain clear and well defined gifts of a leading character, if we may so speak. The apostles and prophets are clearly connected with the foundation or establishment of the Church (chap. 2:20). We have them in the inspired Scriptures, and in the order of the Church as at first set up. Evangelists, pastors and teachers, are the three gifts respectively for gathering in, caring for and instructing the Lord’s people.

Now it is evident that these three gifts are entrusted to certain persons. The apostle asks in another passage, "Are all apostles, are all prophets, are all teachers? " (i Cor. 12:29). It will not do to say every Christian is an evangelist, or a pastor, or a teacher. Neither Scripture nor observation will bear this out. Evidently these gifts are special, and in a sense limited.

But if this be so, the upholder of the clerical system will say we have here our authority for a limited ministry-"a one man ministry." Notice how absolutely the Scripture guards against such an abuse. These special gifts are for "fitting the saints to the work of the ministry." It is the saints, all the saints, who are to engage in this work of the ministry, and for this they are fitted by these gifts endowed of Christ.

Next to the assumption of clerical authority even by one who has distinctly a gift, we believe that the effort to assume a gift unpossessed is unscriptural and injurious. It is not every one who can hold an audience and speak to edification, whether to saints or sinners; often the way of truth is evil spoken of because unsent men, presuming upon a "free ministry," intrude themselves where God did not intend them to go.

But worse even than this disorder is that clerical spirit so closely allied to Rome’s priesthood, that they blend together. Let us keep the even balance of truth.

Returning for a little to the passage we learn that some, not all, are evangelists, and so on. But we learn further that the special work of these fits all the saints for ministry; and how varied is that ministry. We may not be teachers, but we may in our measure be "apt to teach," able to teach or help one another; we may not have a clearly marked gift as an evangelist, but we can tell of Christ to a sinner; we may not be pastors, but we can love, care for, and help one another.

There is not a single member of the body of Christ who should not be engaged in the work of the ministry; man or woman, each has his appointed place and service. None are exempt; none dare refuse at peril of impairing the usefulness of the body.

But who denies this? we are asked; why all these truisms? We reply, Because they are not believed and not acted upon. We would call the particular attention of those who know these things to them afresh. Gifted brethren, you say, preach, teach, and visit. Ah! gifted brethren are not given that the others should fold their hands and do nothing. They are rather to furnish all for the work. A teacher who does not prepare teachers, an evangelist who does not equip evangelists, is not only half doing his work,-he is hindering, or quenching, the Spirit. In like manner the saints who remain apathetic are quenching the Spirit.

No amount of precious truth can take the place of the activities of Christ’s body. Nay, truth will lose its power, or change to error if it find no response in the ministrations of love.

What a personal matter this is! Each brother and sister can ask, Am / being used in the work of the ministry? Am I edifying the body of Christ? If not, let us remember that no one can do it in our place. If we are idle, our work is never fully done, and the body suffers. May our hearts and consciences be stirred as to these subjects during the little time that still remains.