Of these gifts for service, left by Christ for His church, the apostle Paul wrote: SPIAM 7.4
“When He ascended up on high, He ...gave gifts unto men.... He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:8-12. SPIAM 7.5
To “edify” is to “build up,” and so the Revised Version renders it: “Unto the building up of the body of Christ,” the church. The story of the advent movement bears witness to the presence of these gifts building solidly on the gospel foundation. True men of God, called from all walks of life in those days of 1844 and onward, had evidently these gifts represented among them. In no other way can we account for the wisehearted, sure way in which they built in the pioneering days. Those years were times of stress and confusion in the religious world, and all manner of curious and eccentric and often fanatical cults were springing up. By the gifts bestowed,—of apostleship and teaching of the Spirit of prophecy,—the early workers laid down a system of truth, drawn from the word of Holy Writ, that we stand for today in all the world. It is our defense and stay. SPIAM 7.6