“1 Cor 12:18 reads (my emphasis) “And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers...”
Mine reads “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”
Eph. 4:10-12 reads, “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
This is the same giving of gifts mentioned in Eph. 4:8, “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men” and in 1 Cor. 12:7-11, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
These are also mentioned in Romans 12 and the implication is every believer is gifted in some way ,by God for the work of the ministry, but there is no requirement that these gifts are bestowed by the laying on of hands. To the contrary, the evidence is that the laying on of hands was a recognition of the ministry that god had called individuals to and bestowed nothing but that recognition. Paul and Barnabas were set apart by god for the mission and those in the church signaled their recognition of this by the laying on of hands. The signal bestowed no power or authority; God had already given it.
“Some,” BD, doesn’t equal “everyone.”
The Greek word “men” that you translate “some” means “indeed” or “truly”. It does not limit numbers but intensifies the idea that gifts were given to everyone as is said in 1 Cor. 12.
Notice also that the gifts were to perfect the saints (members) to do the work of the ministry, i.e.the “Great Commission”. It was for the members, not the Apostles only, that were to be witnesses.
That was my typo. Obviously the verse was 28 not 18.
Notice also that the gifts were to perfect the saints (members) to do the work of the ministry, i.e.the “Great Commission”. It was for the members, not the Apostles only, that were to be witnesses.
Again, the Great Commission was given specifically to 11 Apostles (as to women we can argue about that), but it was not given to all the members. The Church established hierarchy as "God appointed" some to be apostles, prophets and teachers.