Topical Bible: Ministers

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In the context of the Bible, the term "minister" refers to individuals who serve in various capacities within the Christian community, often with a focus on spiritual leadership, teaching, and pastoral care. The role of a minister is deeply rooted in the teachings of the New Testament and is integral to the functioning of the Church.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of ministry is grounded in the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, who is often referred to as the ultimate servant-leader. In Mark 10:45 , Jesus states, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." This verse underscores the essence of ministry as service to others, following the model of Christ.

Qualifications and Responsibilities

The Apostle Paul provides detailed qualifications for ministers, particularly in his pastoral epistles. In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 , Paul outlines the qualifications for overseers, a term often synonymous with ministers or elders: "Now the overseer is to be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." These qualifications emphasize moral integrity, teaching ability, and a lifestyle that reflects Christian values.

Ministers are tasked with various responsibilities, including preaching the Word, shepherding the flock, and equipping the saints for the work of ministry. Ephesians 4:11-12 states, "And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ." This passage highlights the diverse roles within ministry and the ultimate goal of edifying the Church.

Spiritual Gifts and Calling

The New Testament teaches that ministers are endowed with spiritual gifts that enable them to fulfill their calling. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 , Paul writes, "There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." This indicates that while ministers may have different gifts and functions, they all serve the same purpose of building up the body of Christ.

Examples of Ministers in the Early Church

The early Church provides numerous examples of ministers who played pivotal roles in spreading the Gospel and nurturing the fledgling Christian communities. The Apostles, particularly Peter and Paul, are prominent figures who exemplified the ministerial role through preaching, teaching, and establishing churches. Acts 6:1-4 describes the appointment of the first deacons, who were chosen to assist with the practical needs of the community, allowing the Apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word.

The Role of Women in Ministry

The New Testament also acknowledges the contributions of women in ministry. Phoebe is mentioned as a deacon in Romans 16:1 , "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchreae." Additionally, Priscilla, alongside her husband Aquila, is noted for her role in teaching Apollos, a learned man, more accurately about the way of God (Acts 18:26).

Conclusion

Ministers play a vital role in the life of the Church, serving as shepherds, teachers, and leaders who guide the spiritual growth of believers. Their work is characterized by service, dedication, and a commitment to the teachings of Christ, as they strive to build up the body of Christ and advance the Kingdom of God.

Greek

3011. leitourgos -- a public servant, a minister, a servant
... Word Origin from laos and ergon Definition a public servant, a minister, a servant
NASB Word Usage minister (3), ministers (1), servants (1). minister. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3011.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

8334. sharath -- to minister, serve
... Word Usage assist (1), attendant (4), attended (2), became his personal servant
(1), minister (26), ministered (4), ministering (15), ministers (17), personal ...
/hebrew/8334.htm - 6k

3548. kohen -- priest
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition priest NASB Word Usage chief ministers
(1), priest (425), priest and the priests (2), priest's (9), priestly (2 ...
/hebrew/3548.htm - 6k

Library

To Ministers.
... LXVIII."To Ministers. Exercise the mystery of Christ, O deacons, with
purity; therefore, O ministers, do the commands of your ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/lxviii to ministers.htm

Of the Teachers and Ministers of the Church. Their Election and ...
... BOOK FOURTH. OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH CHAPTER 3. OF THE TEACHERS AND MINISTERS
OF THE CHURCH. ... OF THE TEACHERS AND MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 3 of the teachers.htm

Whether the Vestments of the Ministers are Fittingly Instituted in ...
... OF THE THINGS ANNEXED TO THE SACRAMENT OF ORDER (SEVEN ARTICLES) Whether the vestments
of the ministers are fittingly instituted in the Church? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the vestments of the.htm

Of the Ministers by whom the Sacrament of Baptism is Conferred ...
... OF THE MINISTERS BY WHOM THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM IS CONFERRED (EIGHT ARTICLES).
We have now to consider the ministers by whom the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the ministers by whom.htm

Training of Ministers and Teachers Neglected.
... TRAINING OF MINISTERS AND TEACHERS NEGLECTED. 56. Parish Schools
Cultivated."One cannot possibly say too much in praise of the ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/training of ministers and teachers.htm

Prayer for Ministers.
... II. ORDINANCES. Hymn 50 Prayer for ministers. John Newton 8,6,8,6. Prayer for ministers.
Chief Shepherd of thy chosen sheep,. From death and sin set free; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 50 prayer for ministers.htm

For a Meeting of Ministers.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCCVI. For a Meeting of Ministers. 8.8.8.8 James Montgomery.
For a Meeting of Ministers. Pour out Thy Spirit from on high; ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn cccvi for a meeting.htm

The Ministers, Elders, and Deacons...
... Article XXXI The Ministers, Elders, and Deacons? The Ministers, Elders,
and Deacons We believe that the ministers of Gods Word ...
/.../various/the belgic confession /article xxxi the ministers elders.htm

The Order of Ministers in the Church.
... Chapter XLII."The order of ministers in the Church. The apostles have preached
the Gospel to us from [178] the Lord Jesus Christ ...
/.../chapter xlii the order of ministers.htm

The Order of Ministers in the Church.
... The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Chapter XLII."The Order
of Ministers in the Church. The apostles have preached ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter xlii the order of ministers.htm

Thesaurus

Ministers (49 Occurrences)
...Ministers (49 Occurrences). ... Romans 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for
they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. ...
/m/ministers.htm - 21k

Presbytery (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A judicatory consisting of all the ministers within a certain district,
and one layman, who is a ruling elder, from each parish or church, commissioned ...
/p/presbytery.htm - 14k

Ministrant (15 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Performing service as a minister; attendant on service; acting under command;
subordinate. 2. (n.) One who ministers. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/m/ministrant.htm - 11k

Drink-offering (33 Occurrences)
... (Root in JPS ASV DBY WBS). Joel 1:9 The meal-offering and the drink-offering are
cut off from the house of Jehovah; the priests, Jehovah's ministers, mourn. ...
/d/drink-offering.htm - 18k

Overwhelmed (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:5 and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the
attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, and his cup bearers, and his ...
/o/overwhelmed.htm - 15k

Withholden (12 Occurrences)
... Joel 1:13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar:
come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat ...
/w/withholden.htm - 10k

Transform (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to ...
/t/transform.htm - 8k

Transformed (5 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed
as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to ...
/t/transformed.htm - 8k

Bearers (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:5 and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the
attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, and his cup bearers, and his ...
/b/bearers.htm - 9k

Cupbearers (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the
attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ...
/c/cupbearers.htm - 7k

Resources

What does the Bible say about women music ministers / worship leaders? | GotQuestions.org

What is a cleric? | GotQuestions.org

Why do so many preachers' kids walk away from the faith? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Ministers (49 Occurrences)

Luke 1:2
Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
(KJV ASV WBS RSV)

Romans 13:6
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
(KJV WEY ASV WBS RSV)

1 Corinthians 3:5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
(KJV ASV WBS)

1 Corinthians 4:1
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
(KJV ASV WBS)

2 Corinthians 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 6:4
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

2 Corinthians 11:15
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

2 Corinthians 11:23
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Galatians 3:5
He therefore who ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, is it on the principle of works of law, or of the report of faith?
(DBY)

Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Christ Jesus: To all God's people in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the ministers of the Church and their assistants.
(WEY DBY)

1 Timothy 3:8
Ministers, in like manner, grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not seeking gain by base means,
(DBY)

1 Timothy 3:12
Let the ministers be husbands of one wife, conducting their children and their own houses well:
(DBY)

Hebrews 1:7
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Hebrews 8:2
and ministers in the Holy place and in the true tabernacle which not man, but the Lord pitched.
(WEY)

Hebrews 9:9
And this is a figure--for the time now present--answering to which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, unable though they are to give complete freedom from sin to him who ministers.
(WEY)

Hebrews 13:10
We Christians have an altar from which the ministers of the Jewish Tent have no right to eat.
(WEY)

Revelation 1:20
the secret meaning of the seven stars which you have seen in My right hand, and of the seven lampstands of gold. The seven stars are the ministers of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches.
(WEY)

Exodus 28:35
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister; and the sound thereof shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 8:18
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers.
(WEB JPS ASV YLT NAS)

1 Kings 10:5
and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, and his cup bearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in her.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Kings 10:19
Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all of his worshippers, and all of his priests. Let none be absent; for I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever is absent, he shall not live." But Jehu did it in subtlety, intending that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 10:21
Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn't come. They came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 10:22
He said to him who was over the vestry, "Bring out robes for all the worshippers of Baal!" He brought robes out to them.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 10:23
Jehu went with Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal. Then he said to the worshippers of Baal, "Search, and look that there are here with you none of the servants of Yahweh, but the worshippers of Baal only."
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 16:4
And he putteth before the ark of Jehovah, of the Levites, ministers, even to make mention of, and to thank, and to give praise to Jehovah, God of Israel,
(YLT NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 9:4
and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their clothing, his cup bearers also, and their clothing, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of Yahweh; there was no more spirit in her.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS)

2 Chronicles 22:8
And it cometh to pass, in Jehu's executing judgment with the house of Ahab, that he findeth the heads of Judah and sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, ministers of Ahaziah, and slayeth them.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 29:11
My sons, don't be negligent now; for Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him, to minister to him, and that you should be his ministers, and burn incense.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Ezra 8:17
I sent them forth to Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should tell Iddo, and his brothers the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our God.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Esther 2:2
and servants of the king, his ministers, say, 'Let them seek for the king young women, virgins, of good appearance,
(YLT)

Esther 6:3
And the king saith, 'What honour and greatness hath been done to Mordecai for this?' And the servants of the king, his ministers, say, 'Nothing hath been done with him.'
(YLT)

Job 12:19
Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.
(YLT)

Psalms 103:21
Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Psalms 104:4
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Proverbs 29:12
A ruler who is attending to lying words, All his ministers 'are' wicked.
(YLT NAS)

Isaiah 61:6
But you shall be named the priests of Yahweh; men will call you the ministers of our God: you will eat the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their glory.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 33:21
then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 33:22
As the host of the heavens is not numbered, Nor the sand of the sea measured, So I multiply the seed of David My servant, And the Levites My ministers.'
(YLT)

Ezekiel 44:11
Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house, and ministering in the house: they shall kill the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them. Joel
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 45:4
It is a holy portion of the land; it shall be for the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, who come near to minister to Yahweh; and it shall be a place for their houses, and a holy place for the sanctuary.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS)

Ezekiel 45:5
Twenty-five thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth, shall be to the Levites, the ministers of the house, for a possession to themselves, for twenty chambers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS)

Ezekiel 46:24
Then said he to me, These are the boiling houses, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS)

Daniel 3:24
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, TRUE, O king.
(See JPS)

Daniel 3:27
And the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their hosen changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them.
(See JPS)

Daniel 4:36
At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.
(See JPS)

Daniel 6:7
All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
(See JPS)

Joel 1:9
The meal offering and the drink offering are cut off from Yahweh's house. The priests, Yahweh's ministers, mourn.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Joel 1:13
Put on sackcloth and mourn, you priests! Wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God, for the meal offering and the drink offering are withheld from your God's house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Joel 2:17
Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, "Spare your people, Yahweh, and don't give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples,'Where is their God?'"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Ministers

Ministers are Bound to Build up the Church

Ministers are Bound to Comfort

Ministers are Bound to Convince Gainsayers

Ministers are Bound to Endure Hardness

Ministers are Bound to Exhort

Ministers are Bound to Feed the Church

Ministers are Bound to Pray for Their People

Ministers are Bound to Preach the Gospel to All

Ministers are Bound to Rebuke

Ministers are Bound to Strengthen the Faith of Their People