SUMMARY
Just as God has offered the gracious gift of salvationSalvation can mean saved from something (deliverance) or for something (redemption). Paul preached that salvation comes through the death of Christ on the cross which redeemed sinners from death and for a grace-filled life. to the Gentiles, so God also offers gifts to the Christian community aimed at helping those saved by graceGrace is the unmerited gift of God's love and acceptance. In Martin Luther's favorite expression from the Apostle Paul, we are saved by grace through faith, which means that God showers grace upon us even though we do not deserve it. to mature in the faith and attain “the full stature of Christ.”
ANALYSIS
The author borrows a text from PsalmA psalm is a song of praise. In the Old Testament 150 psalms comprise the psalter, although some of the psalms are laments and thanksgivings. In the New Testament early Christians gathered to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. 68:18 to speak of Christ as one who “gave gifts to his people.” The gifts enumerated are functions within the church: “that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Similar discussions of the body of Christ and its members’ different functions are in Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
This text may include an early list of offices of the church; if so, it is noteworthy that neither bishops nor deacons are on the list. It is also noteworthy that the offices are all aimed at “equipping the saints for ministry” (ministry is diakonia in Greek). The goal of all this work is that all should come to maturity or to the full stature of Christ. Throughout this passage, the author repeats the theme of growing or growing up into Christ.
