What's in a Name? (2) Ephesians 4

The problem with using the word “gift” is that it is used in other ways within the New Testament. The most important is in Ephesians 4:8-11. Paul writes of Jesus that,

When he ascended on high...
he gave gifts to men (Eph 4:8).

The Greek verb and noun for “gave gifts” are “didomi” and “doma”. These are the common words for “give” and “gift”. In Ephesians 4:11, Paul describes the gifts that were given.

He himself gave (didomi)
some to be apostles,
some prophets,
some evangelists,
some pastors and teachers (Eph 4:11).

There were roles in the church that Jesus called people to based on their personality. An Apostle ne
eds a particular type of personality. A pastor/teacher needs a different kind of personality. They were not manifestations of the Spirit that come and go. They were a gift that was given to a person, that existed in them, even if they abused it.

I have explained in an article called Ascension Gifts that these are abilities/callings that God gives for leadership in the church. This is very different from the phenomenon that Paul described in his letter to the Corinthians. Calling the latter gifts will lead to confusion with the former, so it should be avoided. Likewise, “gracious gift (charismata)” is a confusing term, because Paul uses it in a different way in his letter to the Romans.