Ministration, in the biblical context, refers to the act of serving or attending to the needs of others, particularly within the framework of Christian service and worship. This concept is deeply rooted in the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the importance of service as a reflection of faith and obedience to God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, ministration is often associated with the duties of the Levites and priests who served in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. Their responsibilities included offering sacrifices, maintaining the sacred space, and teaching the Law to the people. The book of Numbers outlines these duties, highlighting the importance of their service in maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Numbers 18:6 states, "Behold, I Myself have taken your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD to perform the service for the Tent of Meeting."

New Testament Context

The New Testament expands the concept of ministration beyond the Levitical priesthood to include all believers, emphasizing the priesthood of all Christians. Jesus Christ exemplified the ultimate model of service, as seen in His life and teachings. In Mark 10:45 , Jesus declares, "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 statement underscores the sacrificial nature of true ministration.

The early Church embraced this model of service, as seen in the appointment of deacons to assist with the distribution of food and resources to widows and the needy. Acts 6:1-4 describes this development: "In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, 'It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.'"

Spiritual Gifts and Ministration

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on the concept of ministration through the discussion of spiritual gifts. 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." Here, ministration is seen as a diverse expression of the Holy Spirit's work within the body of Christ, intended for the edification and unity of the Church.

Ministration in Worship and Daily Life

Ministration is not limited to formal roles within the Church but extends to everyday acts of kindness and service among believers. Romans 12:1 exhorts Christians, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." This passage highlights the call for believers to live lives characterized by service, reflecting their devotion to God in all aspects of life.

Conclusion

Ministration, as depicted in the Bible, is a fundamental aspect of Christian life, rooted in the example of Christ and the teachings of Scripture. It encompasses both formal roles within the Church and the daily acts of service that demonstrate love and obedience to God. Through ministration, believers participate in the work of the Kingdom, serving one another and glorifying God in their actions.(n.) The act of ministering; service; ministry.1248. diakonia -- service, ministry
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: diakonia Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ak-on-ee'-ah) Short
Definition: waiting at table, service, ministration Definition: waiting at ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1248.htm - 7k

484. antilempsis -- a laying hold of, help
... of, help. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: antilempsis Phonetic Spelling:
(an-til'-ape-sis) Short Definition: help, ministration Definition: help ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/484.htm - 7k

3009. leitourgia -- a service, a ministry
... significant impact on the . 3009 ("sacred ministry, service") later focuses
on , ministration.]. Word Origin from leitourgeo Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3009.htm - 7k

2999. latreia -- service
... divine service, worship. From latreuo; ministration of God, ie Worship -- (divine)
service. see GREEK latreuo. (latreia) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2999.htm - 7k

3010. leitourgikos -- of or for service
... Transliteration: leitourgikos Phonetic Spelling: (li-toorg-ik-os') Short Definition:
ministering Definition: given to serving (ministration), ministering. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3010.htm - 6k

The Ministration of the Spirit and Prayer
... CHAPTER II The Ministration of the Spirit and Prayer. ... The whole ministration of the
Spirit is ruled by the one great law: God must give, we must ask. ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter ii the ministration of.htm

The New Covenant: a Ministration of the Spirit
... Chapter VII. The New Covenant: A Ministration of the Spirit. "Ye are an
epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink ...
/.../murray/the two covenants/chapter vii the new covenant .htm

The Passage in Corinthians.
... But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious,
so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 the passage in corinthians.htm

The Old Law Ministers Death; the New, Righteousness.
... law was added because of transgression," [840] meaning the law which is written
externally to man, he therefore designates it both as "the ministration of death ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 31 xviii the old law.htm

The Judges Said: Speak to those Points, Archelaus, which He Has ...
... one and the same thing, and alleges that the law has been given by that being, on
the ground of the scriptural statement that it is "the ministration of death ...
/.../30 the judges said speak.htm

The Ministry of the New Covenant
... WE have seen that the New Covenant is a ministration of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit
ministers all its grace and blessing in Divine power and life. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/murray/the two covenants/chapter xvi the ministry of.htm

God's Law Immutable.
... In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle, which served "unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things," this apartment was opened only upon the great day ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /25 gods law immutable.htm

God's Law Immutable
... In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle, which served "unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things," this apartment was opened only upon the great Day ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 25 gods law immutable.htm

Whether the New Law Justifies?
... xviii), "the Apostle calls this letter which is written outside man, a ministration
of death and a ministration of condemnation: whereas he calls the other ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the new law justifies.htm

Wish You to Know, Most Pious Father, that in These Days There Has ...
... But if the ministration of death, engraven in letters on the stones, [1882] was
made in glory, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the ...
/.../the acts of the disputation with the heresiarch manes/40 i wish you to.htm

Ministration (33 Occurrences)
...Ministration (33 Occurrences). Luke 1:23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the
days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. ...
/m/ministration.htm - 15k

Experiment (3 Occurrences)
... eks-per'-i-ment (dokime, "approvedness," "tried character"): "The experiment of
this ministration" (2 Corinthians 9:13 the King James Version, the Revised ...
/e/experiment.htm - 8k

Condemns (11 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 3:9 for if the ministration of the condemnation 'is' glory, much more
doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory; (See NIV). ...
/c/condemns.htm - 9k

Rather (176 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). 2 Corinthians 3:8 How shall not the
ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? (KJV ASV DBY WBS). ...
/r/rather.htm - 36k

Ministrants (18 Occurrences)

/m/ministrants.htm - 11k

Ministry (44 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of ministering; ministration; service;
also (in some countries) a government agency, as the Ministry of Defense. ...
/m/ministry.htm - 51k

Venturing (2 Occurrences)
... 2:30 because for the sake of the work he drew near even to death, venturing his
life that he might fill up what lacked in your ministration toward me. (DBY). ...
/v/venturing.htm - 7k

Nicanor (1 Occurrence)
... S. Angus. NICANOR (2). (Nikanor): One of "the seven" chosen to superintend "the
daily ministration" of the poor of the Christian community at Jerusalem (Acts 6: ...
/n/nicanor.htm - 14k

Nicolas (1 Occurrence)
... nik-o-la'-us (English Versions of the Bible), nik'-o-las (Nikolaos): One of "the
seven" chosen to have the oversight of "the daily ministration" to the poor of ...
/n/nicolas.htm - 8k

Nicolaus (1 Occurrence)
... nik-o-la'-us (English Versions of the Bible), nik'-o-las (Nikolaos): One of "the
seven" chosen to have the oversight of "the daily ministration" to the poor of ...
/n/nicolaus.htm - 7k

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