Some Working Definitions of APEST

Some working definitions and distinctions

The 5Q Collective core learning program is passionate about helping ordinary leaders uncover the full potential of the APEST gifts in a church or organization.

The following is an excerpt from 5Q and it explores some of the key terminology for culture.

For a fuller map of the fivefold, see chapter 1 of 5Q.

As a previewing glossary to each of the fivefold gifts, consider the following. These are thoroughly developed throughout the book, and so obviously not every detail is explored here. As you read the definitions, notice a couple of nuances in language and function: in communities, and the subsequent lack of any one in each movement; and the manner APEST has a natural impact on each other, and their order to build the group (inspired group, legitimizing group, social group, intellectual group).

Read more about each APEST function in our APEST assessments and training.

Apostle/apostolic

At root, the term apostle simply means “sent one.” As the name itself suggests, it is the quintessentially missional element that extends the equivalent ministry pioneered by the Person (manifestation of Christ as the primary Apostle). It is a form of guardianship over the core ideas, the original culture, and apostolic ethos.

[Borrowing the term making apostle, apostle is that which pushes the movement to mission and new contexts (1 Cor. 1:17-18).]

If you are a pioneering leader, it means you have the capacity to extend the territory and push out into uncharted territory, creating culture and movement. Without pushing out and extension, the other ministries will struggle to keep moving in that direction and can become insular and self-preoccupied with the internal integrity of the community (1 Cor. 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-12). It is often pioneer and institutional, which can create a new environment, but it is necessary for church health and mission.

Prophet/prophetic

The prophetic function relates to the abiding loyalty, faithfulness, and obedience to God above all. The prophetic function is the guardian of the covenant relationship, and the voice that calls the people back to the covenant relationship with God. In the context of society, the prophetic call is directed toward the question of injustice, to awaken institutional captivity, to listen to the cries of the poor and marginalized, and to demand obedience to the word of God (Amos 5:24, Micah 6:8).

You need a prophetic capacity to sense what God is up to and call people to follow. Without a prophetic capacity, you will wander off into idolatry and compromise.

Evangelist/evangelistic

The evangelistic function is about reproducing and spreading the good news that God has in Jesus Christ. The core message is simple: God is for us, not against us, and has reconciled us to Himself in Jesus Christ. It is a message of hope and redemption for all people. As the message is shared, people become part of the community, which then becomes a community of love and service. In other words, evangelism is about people in mission, that is, people who are involved in what God is doing through the Church.

Shepherd/shepherding

The shepherding function is about developing healthy community, maintaining community, and nurturing community and healthy relationships. This involves a commitment to create space where people feel safe and loved, where their needs are recognized and responded to. Shepherds are protectors and defenders against relational breakdown and damage. It is about fostering healthy relationships and cultivating an environment of love, care, and mutual trust.

Teacher/teaching

The teaching component is about the mediation and appropriation of wisdom and understanding. This is not necessarily a philosophical type that brings complicated answers and insights, but rather the mediation of wisdom in context. It is about understanding the Scriptures, the biblical narrative, and theological truths, and helping people understand how to live wisely in the world. Teachers are about grounding people in truth and wisdom, helping the community understand who they are and what God has called them to be, in order to make sense of the world and to lead their generation into God’s truth.

On the Distinctive use of Words in the Book

The fivefold typology provides us a lexicon of words/ideas that help us better understand the Bible, the church, and the disciple’s purpose in this world. Most importantly, as we shall see, it helps us to speak more meaningfully about the work of Christ by bringing the Body into greater conformity with its Head.

Notice that in the book, we consistently use the term APEST to designate the functions and generic capacities embedded in creation and human organization, and the term J-APEST to denote the uniquely Jesus-shaped, redemptive archetype given to the Church.

This allows us to acknowledge that all people have some capacity for these five functions because they are woven into the fabric of creation itself (General Revelation), but only through the Spirit of Christ can the church embody the true redemptive expression of APEST as seen in the life and ministry of Jesus (Special Revelation).

In other words, while organizations and people can exhibit apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding, and teaching characteristics in a general sense, it is in Christ that these functions find their true redemptive fulfillment and power.

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