The Humble Service of Preachers
by Brian R. Kenyon

Have You Ever Wondered?

Why is it that some preachers say “pastoral oversight” is unbiblical, yet, for all practical purposes, these same preachers “run” the congregations of which they are members? Why is it that some members of the church have such a high regard for the preacher that they blindly follow him, even when the church splits and he starts another church across town? Why is it that some churches of Christ, especially those without elders, are in constant turmoil, divided, and/or have little cooperation from the members? Why is it that some preachers who are having business cards or stationary made want to avoid the term “minister” as their description? The answer to these questions is found in the misunderstanding of the preacher’s role of humble service.

The Problem In Corinth

In the midst of his discussion concerning division within the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 1-4), Paul clarified the role of preachers by stating their work within the framework of God’s team. By stating these roles, Paul addressed two faults the Corinthians possessed that contributed to their division. First, the Corinthians had a warped view of the role of preachers. Paul wrote, “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:11-13). Initially, we must realize that it is not always the preacher’s fault that members of the church put him on a pedestal. Sometimes it is, but surely we would not blame Paul, Apollos, or Peter for the Corinthians’ misguided thinking that these men were their head. This unbiblical view was the result of this next serious fault.

Second, the Corinthians were very carnal. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (1 Cor. 3:1-4). The word “carnal” is translated from a word that means fleshly, belonging to the realm of flesh, or simply put: worldly. All of us are “babes in Christ” when first converted, but what a tragedy it is to remain spiritually immature (Heb. 5:12-14; Eph. 4:14-16)! Being carnal prevents us from a deeper understanding of truth and results in “envying [jealousy, ASV]...strife...divisions.” In order for us not to imitate these faults of the Corinthians, we must truly understand the humble service of faithful preachers.

Preachers Are Servants

Paul wrote, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” Instead of placing preachers on a pedestal, Paul informed the Corinthians that preachers are actually toward the “bottom rung of the ladder.” The word “ministers” is from diakonos (διάκονος). In its etymology, the word once referred to a table waiter, and by the time the New Testament was written, it referred to “one who executes the commands of another; esp. of a master; a servant, attendant, minister.” 1 The Greek word is found thirty times in the New Testament and generally refers to a servant, although in three verses it refers to the special servants of the church, “deacons” (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8, 12). Paul was saying to the Corinthians that far from being head honchos, he and Apollos were merely servants of the Lord (cf. 2 Cor. 6:4; Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23)!

Preachers Are Helpers

Paul wrote, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ” (1 Cor. 4:1). In this context, the term “ministers [servants, NKJ]” is from hupertes (υπηρέτης), which is a different word than First Corinthians 3:5. The word here means an attendant, assistant, helper, or servant. This word originally referred to an “under-rower,” one who rowed in the lower part of a ship, and then came to mean one who served a master and/or superior. 2 This word was used of Paul elsewhere. When recounting his call on the Damascus Road, Jesus said to him, “I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister [servant, ESV]...” (Acts 26:16). While preachers cannot do everything, they must be helpers in advancing the Gospel. Preachers, are we willing to help, or do we have the attitude, “Unless I’m in charge, it’s not worth doing”?

Preachers Are Stewards

In the same context where Paul referred to himself as a helper,he also wrote, “Let a man so account of us, as...stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1). A “steward” is simply one who is entrusted with another’s property (cf. Lk. 16:1-2). He is in essence a manager of someone else’s belong-ings. In this case, Paul was a steward of the “mysteries of God,” which is another term for the Gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 2:7). To rightly fulfill the task, Paul said that “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). “Faithful” means that the steward must be trustworthy and reliable (cf. Heb. 3:5). As it concerns preaching, this would certainly include “handling aright the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15, ASV). The summary of a faithful preacher/steward is also found in Paul’s words to Timothy: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16); “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5). Preachers, are we good stewards?

Conclusion

Like Paul and Apollos, all preachers are merely instruments of God who must rely on Him (1 Cor. 3:6-7 cf. 2 Cor. 4:7). Paul planted the seed in Corinth (Acts 18:1-8 cf. Rom. 15:19-20), and Apollos instructed them in the faith (Acts 18:24-19:1), but neither made the harvest grow—“God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6)! Preachers should not place themselves on a pedestal, nor should members of the church—God should be the one we regard the highest and desire to humbly serve!

Endnotes

1 Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1885; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975) 138.
2 Leon Morris, The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary, rev. edition (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985) 71.

 

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