Following on from the conclusions above, here are the definitions commonly given by the Church on the Fivefold Ministry. We will omit those who do not believe in the Fivefold Ministry. These definitions are therefore from those who accept the existence of the fivefold ministry.
1. The Apostle is one who is sent forth, so this ministry is found in those who are sent as missionaries to foreign lands, or to someone who plants new churches. Thus Paul was qualified as an Apostle by being sent on Missionary Journeys to various places.
2. The Prophet is a person who prophesies, so this ministry is found in those who speak forth words of prophecy in the local church. Thus the New Testament prophet is a forth-teller and sometimes also a fore-teller. Agabus is an example of a New Testament prophet who gave forth prophetic words and predicted the future.
3. The Teacher is one who through accumulated knowledge obtained in Seminary is able to dispense that knowledge to others. Such ministries are normally found largely in Bible Seminaries and are also seen in the local Church where the Pastor has a teaching ability. With the absence of any clear Teacher image in the Acts, the only one who might be used as an example of this ministry is Apollos, who was mighty in the Scriptures.
4. The Evangelist is one who goes forth preaching the gospel and bringing large numbers of people to Christ. He is always an itinerant ministry and ministers only to unbelievers. The clearest example of this is Philip the Evangelist, mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.
5. The Pastor is one who through qualification and recognition by a group of people, is called to shepherd that group in a local area. He or she is the head of the local church, having been called there to take up a role of leadership by the people or the deacons and elders of the Church. With the absence of clear pastoral images in the Acts of the Apostles, there are no persons who may be used to illustrate this role.
*** Little allowance is ever made for an overlap of ministries or for the functioning of a person in multiple ministry offices at the same time.