The Apostle Paul told the Ephesian saints they were established upon the foundation of apostles and prophets.
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." (Ephesians 2: 19, 20).
He had reference in these words to the church of Christ.
THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A MAN'S BODY.
He again likened the church to the body of a man. (I Corinthians 12). He showed that the members of the church were like the members of a man's body, and altogether they made a complete whole.
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles." (I Corinthians 12: 12, 13).
St. Paul continues by explaining that all the members of the body of Christ, or officers of the church of Christ, are dependent upon each other, and each is needed in his place. One cannot do without the other, any more than a man's body can be complete without every limb and organ.
OFFICERS NAMED.
This same apostle names some of the officers of the church of Christ. He also names in the same connection some of the gifts that are always to be found in that church.
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." (I Corinthians 12: 28).