Understanding the Five Ministry Offices: Roles and Responsibilities Explained 4-29-26

Order of and in God’s House

Someone wrote a few weeks ago that the word office is not in the Bible. It appeared that they were referring to what is called the five fold ministry offices in Ephesians 4:11. First of all, the Word says the church  [was founded/established] having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:10).

The Bible never said the church was founded (established) on the evangelist, pastor, or teacher.

When the church was established on the Day of Pentecost (Acts, chapter 2), the apostles were functioning as pastors: Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men [deacons] of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;  but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:3-4).

Not only that didn’t Jesus tell Peter that:  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). Wasn’t Peter an apostle?

Bishop, superintendent, overseer and elder all interchangeable names and several of the five ministry offices function in those offices in the church. Therefore, when the Word of God calls them offices who has the right to dispute God’s Word. The fold is the five ministry offices which those in authority to lead the people of God righteously.

The teacher gift is always in the church body along with the pastor. The prophet functions in the church when he is not establishing churches with the apostle. In other words, any time these ministry offices are in the local church when they are not functioning outside the church, they are considered elders, just as the pastor and the teacher are.

The divine connection-  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11),  and- This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 1 Timothy 3:1).

My experience as associate minister; call of evangelist/prophetess of which both offices I functioned in a local church. I was not treated as one called in the five fold office; the deacons had more authority than I did (out of order). And, when an outside minister would come on Sunday to preach, instead of me preaching I humbly presided over the service.

For some of you who have a call and you’re not recognized for your specific call; please take notice of this. I was ordained into ministry in 2002, and suffered many hurts for approximately eight years, but I did not make a move until the Spirit spoke to me and said my time was up.

This is written to encourage you; look where God has brought me from; my ministry is reaching world wide visa the internet. It was necessary for me to go through and grow through it all by trusting in Jesus. Somebody is putting the pieces of the puzzle in the wrong place and they don’t fit! Please stop trying to make the Word of God fit into your way of thinking.

This is the Word of God for the people of God!  knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20).

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org