Eph. 4.11-12 and the ministry of the ministers

There is an interesting article in Novum Testamentum about Eph. 4.12.

It is Sydney H. T. Page, “Whose Ministry? A Re-appraisal of Ephesians 4.12,” NovT 47.1 (2005): 26-46.

Whose Ministry?

Eph. 4:12 consists of three prepositional phrases that indicate why Christ gave the Church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Recent translations take the second of the three phrases as dependent on the first, so that together the two phrases refer to the single purpose of equipping the saints for the work of ministry. However, a careful examination of the prepositions used in verse 12, the grammatical structure of the verse, the key terms found here, the literary context, and the way the text was understood by Chrysostom suggests that the three phrases ought to be seen as parallel to one another, in which case they describe three distinct purposes for the giving of the individuals mentioned in verse 11.

Are the three prepositional clauses in v. 12 co-ordinate (see Lincoln in WBC) or else is the second clause subordinate to the first (O'Brien, Martin and Best et. al). What’s the diff?

1. Co-ordinate view (= Christ gives ministers to do this ministry)

to (pros) equip the saints,
for (eis) the work of ministry,
for (eis) building up the body of Christ”

Trans: “to equip the saints, for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”

2. Subordinate (= Christ gives ministers to equip others to do ministry)

to (pros) equip the saints for (eis) the work of ministry,
for (eis) building up the body of Christ”

Trans: “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”

Issues:

1. Where do you put the comma in translation?

2. Who does the ministry?

My view: I side with Lincoln and Page since I think grammatically and contextually it makes better sense that ministry is that performed by the apostles, prophets, evangelists and teaching-pastors. I think an all church participation in ministry is guaranteed by vv. 7, 12 but I don’t think Christ gives evangelists so that other people can do the evangelism!

[Actually the translation of poimenas kai didaskalous – is another interesting issue: pastors and teachers or teaching-pastors – note they are both under the same article? Hmmm? It is a Ph.D for some brave soul!]