Re-orienting the "gifts": Part IV

Ephesians 4
The discussion of the gifts here resembles the previous two passages in that there is made reference to a body which is made up of different parts. Most significantly to note is that while the same word for “gift” is used as was used in I Corinthians 12, here Paul is using it to describe the “gifted men” as the actual gift.

Though different from the other passages it seems that we may still conclude that supernatural ability is not what is meant by gifting. Indeed, this is especially clear in this passage as the believers themselves are explicitly stated to be the gifts. Also of importance is the fact that this passage makes specific mention of unity in the body. This combined with the idea that each person who is given to the church is vital and necessary for the growth and building up of the entire body leads us to understand this passage as a discussion of the way in which the body functions in relationship to itself. This is accented by the understanding that all of these things occur in a spirit of love – which not coincidentally mirrors the I Corinthians 12 passage which is followed directly by a discussion on love. We can take from this then that the roles that each individual is to play should be done in community alongside of the other believers for the mutual edification of all in addition to the glorification of God. Again, such an understanding finds a focus on roles and functions within a community as opposed to a capacity or divine enablement for service.