Note 21 at Eph. 4:12: These ministry gifts (v. 11) were to equip (see ref. a) the saints, and then the saints were to do the work of the ministry. The Amplified Bible translates this verse, "His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church)."

It is a mistake to place the burden of ministry on what we call "the clergy." Full time ministers are to minister the Word to the saints, but then the saints are to go out and reach the lost and carry the bulk of the ministry within the church. Shepherds don't have sheep. They tend the sheep and the sheep reproduce.

It has been a big mistake to "hire" ministers to do what the individual members of the church are supposed to do. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are simply leaders who equip average saints so that they can be successful in the ministries God has given them.

As explained in note 2 at Acts 2:38, p. 582, the word "for" can mean "because of, as a results of, since" or it can mean "so as to obtain." It is the latter definition which is meant here. The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers of verse 11 minister "so as to obtain" the saints being equipped so that they can do the work of the ministry, which in turn obtains the edifying of the body of Christ. The clergy doesn't do all these things. They start the process through leadership and the body edifies itself in love (v. 16).

Note 22 at Eph. 4:12: The Greek word that was translated "perfecting" here is KATARTISMOS which means, "a fitting or preparing fully." It does not denote the absence of all flaws. The Lord gave the gifted ministers listed in verse 11 to help fully prepare the saints so they could do the work of the ministry (see note 21 at this verse).