RE Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-31, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Peter 4:10-11 (day four) “He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:11-12) Old story. When the Bible was being translated by the King James committee, the translators put a comma in vs 12 after the word “saints”. It divided the sentence into two separate ideas. Clergy (apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastor/teachers) were to equip the saints, AND do the work of ministry. Years later the idea was challenged. The work of ministry does not belong exclusively (0r even mainly) to professional ministers. Paul’s original sentence should read “to equip the saints for the work of ministy”. No comma. All believers are ministers. Peter agrees. “As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace”. (1 Peter 4:10) Ministry/service (same word) is every Christian’s responsibility/privilege. To forget this is a catastrophe.
