Dictionary of Bible Themes All creatures owe their Creator a ministry of service to him and to humanity. The example and teaching of Jesus Christ illustrate this. Romans 1:25All human beings owe a ministry of service to God The debt owed by the creature to the Creator Psalms 148:7-11See also The service of the nations and their rulers Jeremiah 3:17Joel 3:1-2 Revelation 15:4 Ezra 1:1-2 Examples of the service of rulers Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6; 43:10Cyrus of Persia Nebuchadnezzar: Romans 13:4,61 Peter 2:13-14 The Roman emperor and other authorities: Exodus 19:6The ministry of the people of God See also In the OT Isaiah 61:61 Peter 2:5,9 See also In the NT Revelation 1:6; 20:6resurrected martyrs The ministry of priests, kings and prophets in the OT Exodus 28:35The priests Numbers 18:2Aaron: Deuteronomy 17:121 Chronicles 15:2 Jeremiah 33:22 The Levites: Ezra 2:63Hebrews 9:6; 13:10 2 Samuel 3:18 The rulers Psalms 78:70David: Luke 1:69Acts 4:25 Haggai 2:23 Zerubbabel, governor of Judah Numbers 12:7-8The prophets Joshua 12:6Moses: 2 Corinthians 3:7Hebrews 3:5 1 Samuel 2:18 2 Kings 9:36; 10:10 the young Samuel 1 Chronicles 25:1Elijah: Isaiah 20:3Isaiah 42:1-4 Jeremiah 7:25; 25:4 Isaiah 1 Peter 1:12Revelation 10:7; 11:18 1 Corinthians 12:28 The ministry of those specially set aside by the church 1 Timothy 3:10Titus 1:5 Deacons 1 Peter 5:2Elders Ephesians 4:11Overseers Matthew 12:18Jesus Christ fulfils the OT understanding of ministry See also His ministry as servant Isaiah 42:1Matthew 20:28 Acts 3:13,26; 4:27,30 pp Mk 10:45 John 10:11; 13:13Acts 3:22 His ministry as shepherd, teacher and prophet Hebrews 6:20See also His ministry as priest Hebrews 8:6John 18:37 His ministry as king Matthew 20:26-28NT ministry follows the pattern of Jesus Christ In servanthood See also pp Mk 10:43-45 Matthew 23:11pp Lk 22:26-27 Matthew 28:20pp Mk 10:43 In teaching John 21:15-17In shepherding Philippians 2:171 Timothy 2:1 In priesthood by self-sacrifice and intercession in prayer See also 1 Peter 2:5John 15:20 Jesus Christ's servants can expect the same response that he received Hebrews 1:7,14The ministry of angels Revelation 19:10; 22:9Angels are both ministers to God's people and fellow-servants with them: See also 2306 Jesus Christ, as high priest2312 Christ as king 2321 Christ as redeemer 2327 Jesus Christ, as servant 2330 Christ as shepherd 5369 kingship, divine 5520 servants 7203 ark, Noah's 7412 priesthood 7447 slavery, in OT 7773 prophets, role 8342 servanthood |
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