Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it. The first three recipients of the gifts are set off from the others by being numbered and personalized. A hierarchy is shown because the Church is, by divine will, a hierarchical institution. Prophecy is defined by its effect on the community. Teachers - Revelation in the sense of a new insight into the mystery of salvation is actualized in pastoral guidance and instruction.
Hierarchy means holy government and sacred order.
Paul has placed the apostles at the head of the church. There are two types of prophets, those who predict the future and those who interpret the Scriptures. The apostles are also prophets, because the top rank has all the others subordinated to it. Teachers are those who instructed boys in the synagogue, a practice which has come down to us as well. He was a physician by profession, a man of culture with perfect Greek.