God, who calls his people to minister, also equips his people. The chief qualifications are a response to God's call, faithfulness, godliness and Christlikeness.

Deuteronomy 7:7-8

God calls people to minister

See also

Qualification is by call, not gifting or achievement

Deuteronomy 9:4-5
1 Corinthians 1:27-29

God calls those who the world regards as weak or foolish

Exodus 3:11

Feelings of inadequacy to God's call are common

Judges 6:15

Moses

1 Samuel 9:21

Gideon

1 Samuel 18:18

Saul

1 Kings 3:7

David

Isaiah 6:5

Solomon

Jeremiah 1:6

Isaiah

Jeremiah

1 Samuel 3:10

Responding to God's call to minister

Isaiah 6:8

Readiness and availability

Hebrews 11:1-2

See also

Faith, rather than natural talent or moral perfection, is required

Genesis 27:19-24
Numbers 27:12-14

Jacob was a deceiver

2 Samuel 11:4,14-15

Moses and Aaron disobeyed God.

1 Kings 11:9-13

David committed adultery and murder:

Solomon disobeyed God's command.

Matthew 10:1-4

NT ministers are recognised by call rather than their achievement

The Twelve

pp Mk 3:14-19

pp Lk 6:12-16

Acts 9:15; 26:6

The Twelve, including Peter and Judas, failed Jesus Christ at critical times.

2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 12:7

Paul

1 Timothy 1:16

Though greatly gifted, Paul was kept humble by his sense of unworthiness, difficulties and disappointments and his "thorn in the flesh"

Romans 1:9

Ministry in the NT is described as service

James 1:1

Serving God

Romans 1:1
Jude 1:1

Serving Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:1
Ephesians 3:7
Colossians 1:23

Serving the gospel

Romans 15:31; 16:1
1 Corinthians 16:15

Serving the church

2 Corinthians 9:1
Ephesians 6:21
Colossians 1:7,25

Ministry is described in terms of its source, content or nature

2 Corinthians 3:6,8

Its source

2 Corinthians 4:1

It is of the Spirit:

Acts 6:2-4

It is from God.

Its content

2 Corinthians 5:18

the word of God

reconciliation

Acts 1:25

Its nature

Galatians 2:8

Apostolic:

Romans 15:16

priestly

Acts 1:21

Various ministries are equally linked by qualifications of character

Acts 6:3

the replacement for Judas

1 Timothy 3:2-7

the Seven

Titus 1:7-9

Overseers:

1 Timothy 3:8-13
1 Timothy 6:11

deacons

Timothy

1 Timothy 6:11-14

The personal qualifications for ministry

Faithfulness

2 Timothy 4:7

Timothy

Colossians 1:7; 4:7

Paul's claim for his own ministry

"faithful" is the sole description of the ministries of Epaphras and Tychicus:

Acts 8:21

Godliness

1 Timothy 6:11,20-21

Simon was not right with God.

Timothy:

Acts 1:21-22

Christlikeness

See also

The replacement apostle for Judas had to have been with Jesus Christ from the beginning.

5933 restlessness
6622 choice
7724 evangelists
8020 faith
8206 Christlikeness
8248 faithfulness
8265 godliness
8421 equipping, physical