7942 ministry, nature of
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7900 The life of the church  »  7939 ministry  »  7942 ministry, nature of

All creatures owe their Creator a ministry of service to him and to humanity. The example and teaching of Jesus Christ illustrate this.

All human beings owe a ministry of service to God

The debt owed by the creature to the Creator

Romans 1:25

The service of the nations and their rulers

Psalm 148:7-11 See also Jeremiah 3:17; Joel 3:1-2; Revelation 15:4

Examples of the service of rulers

Ezra 1:1-2 Cyrus of Persia

Nebuchadnezzar:

Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 43:10

The Roman emperor and other authorities:

Romans 13:4,6; 1 Peter 2:13-14

The ministry of the people of God

In the OT

Exodus 19:6 See also Isaiah 61:6

In the NT

1 Peter 2:5,9 See also Revelation 1:6; Revelation 20:6 resurrected martyrs

The ministry of priests, kings and prophets in the OT

The priests

Aaron:

Exodus 28:35; Numbers 18:2 Deuteronomy 17:12

The Levites:

1 Chronicles 15:2; Jeremiah 33:22 Ezra 2:63; Hebrews 9:6; Hebrews 13:10

The rulers

David:

2 Samuel 3:18; Psalm 78:70; Luke 1:69; Acts 4:25 Haggai 2:23 Zerubbabel, governor of Judah

The prophets

Moses:

Numbers 12:7-8; Joshua 12:6; 2 Corinthians 3:7; Hebrews 3:5 1 Samuel 2:18 the young Samuel

Elijah:

2 Kings 9:36; Kings 10:10 1 Chronicles 25:1; Isaiah 20:3 Isaiah; Isaiah 42:1-4; Jeremiah 7:25; Jeremiah 25:4; 1 Peter 1:12; Revelation 10:7; Revelation 11:18

The ministry of those specially set aside by the church

1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Timothy 3:10 Deacons; Titus 1:5 Elders; 1 Peter 5:2 Overseers; Ephesians 4:11

Jesus Christ fulfils the OT understanding of ministry

His ministry as servant

Matthew 12:18 See also Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 20:28 pp Mark 10:45; Acts 3:13,26; Acts 4:27,30

His ministry as shepherd, teacher and prophet

John 10:11; John 13:13; Acts 3:22

His ministry as priest

Hebrews 6:20 See also Hebrews 8:6

His ministry as king

John 18:37

NT ministry follows the pattern of Jesus Christ

In servanthood

Matthew 20:26-28 pp Mark 10:43-45 pp Luke 22:26-27 See also Matthew 23:11 pp Mark 10:43

In teaching

Matthew 28:20

In shepherding

John 21:15-17

In priesthood by self-sacrifice and intercession in prayer

Philippians 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:1 See also 1 Peter 2:5

Jesus Christ's servants can expect the same response that he received

John 15:20

The ministry of angels

Angels are both ministers to God's people and fellow-servants with them:

Hebrews 1:7,14; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:9

See also

2306  Christ, high priest
2312  Christ as king
2318  Christ as prophet
2327  Christ as servant
2330  Christ as shepherd
5368  kingship
5520  servants
7160  servants of the Lord
7412  priesthood
7446  slavery
7772  prophets
8342  servanthood



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