According to Paul, one of the benefits of Christ’s ascension, along with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church is the bestowal of offices in the church for its well being. This is probably not how many Christians think of the gifts of the Spirit. We probably think of the more spectacular but temporary apostolic-era gifts described in 1Corinthians. Paul, however, had in mind not just the apostolic period, which lasted about 60 years, but the succeeding millennia, during which the church would sojourn, serving her ascended king in this world, waiting for his glorious, visible return to consummate all things.

Part 1 – Read it here

Part 2 – Read it here