Christian Career Options in Ministry and Service
The concept of Christian ministry encompasses various forms of service within the church and the broader world, rooted in biblical teachings and developed through theological reflection. The term "ministry" itself derives from a word meaning "service" or "religious ministry," particularly service in the tabernacle [1].
The New Testament provides foundational insights into the nature and roles of ministry. For instance, 1 Timothy 3:13 states that "they who have ministered well, a good degree for themselves, are acquiring, and great freedom of speech in the faith that is in Christ Jesus" [2]. This verse suggests that faithful service in ministry leads to commendation and confidence in one's faith. The epistles to Timothy and Titus are particularly significant, offering a "scripture-plan of church-government" and direction for ministers [4]. These letters indicate that ministry is a divinely appointed function within the Christian community.
John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, emphasizes the necessity and dignity of the Christian ministry, explaining that God uses the ministry of human beings in governing the church [5]. This perspective highlights that while God is sovereign, He chooses to work through human agents to accomplish His purposes. Calvin's view underscores the importance of the "teachers and ministers of the church," their election, and their office [5].
The call to ministry is understood as originating from Christ. Matthew Henry notes that "it is Christ's work to put men into the ministry," and those whom He calls, He also qualifies [8]. This idea is echoed by John Gill, who, commenting on 1 Timothy 1:12, states that the apostle Paul considered his call to the ministry and his fitness for it to be a "special favour bestowed upon him," attributing his gifts and abilities to the "free grace of God, and favour of Christ" [10]. This suggests that ministry is not a self-appointed role but a divine appointment, requiring divine enablement.
While the New Testament speaks of specific offices, such as bishops (often equated with presbyters) [4], the broader concept of ministry extends to various forms of service. John Gill, commenting on Luke 17:9, applies the parable of the servant to disciples of Christ, whether they are ministers or private believers. He describes the employment of ministers as involving "reading, prayer, meditation, and study; in preaching the word, and administering the ordinances," while every private believer also has "business to do, which lies in the exercise of grace" [6]. This indicates that while there are distinct ministerial roles, all believers are called to some form of service.
The primary duties of a Gospel minister, according to John Gill on Acts 6:4, include giving themselves "continually to prayer" and "to the ministry of the word" [9]. These two activities—prayer and preaching—are considered the "principal employment of a Gospel minister" [9]. This emphasis highlights the spiritual and communicative aspects of ministerial work.
The distinction between the Old Testament priesthood and the New Testament ministry is also important. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on Hebrews 5:4 clarifies that the Mosaic law restricted the high priesthood to the family of Aaron. While some interpret this as supporting an "apostolic succession of ordination in the Christian ministry," the commentary argues that the reference is specifically to the priesthood, not the Christian ministry. Nevertheless, it draws an analogy, suggesting that ministers are separated by God to serve Him and His house, similar to how the Levites were separated [3]. This implies a divine setting apart for service, even if the specific structures differ between the Old and New Covenants.
Beyond formal ministerial roles, the concept of Christian service extends to the everyday actions of believers. John Gill, in his commentary on Revelation 2:19, speaks of "good works" and "charity," which he defines not merely as relieving the poor or condoning errors, but as "the divine grace of love to God and Christ, and the saints" [7]. This broader understanding of "works" and "charity" as expressions of love underscores that service is an outflow of one's spiritual state and commitment to Christ.
Sources
- STEPBible TBESG “[H8335] H8335 = (H8335) — ministry, religious ministry, service in the tabernacle”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 3:13 (Rotherham) — For, they who have ministered well, a good degree for themselves, are acquiring, and great freedom of speech in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 5:4: no man--of any other family but Aaron's, according to the Mosaic law, can take to himself the office of high priest. This verse is quoted by some to prove the need of an apostolic succession of ordination in the Christian ministry; but the reference here is to the priesthood, not the Christian ministry. The analogy in our Christian dispensation would warn ministers, seeing that God has separated them from the congregation of His people to bring them near Himself, and to do the service of His house, and to minister (as He separated the Levites, Korah wi”
- 1 Timothy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 3:1: The two epistles to Timothy, and that to Titus, contain a scripture-plan of church-government, or a direction to ministers. Timothy, we suppose, was an evangelist who was left at Ephesus, to take care of those whom the Holy Ghost had made bishops there, that is, the presbyters, as appears by Act 20:28, where the care of the church was committed to the presbyters, and they were called bishops. It seems they were very loth to part with Paul, especially because he told them they should see his face no more (Act 20:38); for their church was but newly planted, they w”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 85: 2315 CHAPTER 3. OF THE TEACHERS AND MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH. THEIR ELECTION AND OFFICE. The three heads of this chapter are,—I. A few preliminary remarks on Church order, on the end, utility, necessity, and dignity of the Christian ministry, sec. 1-3. II. A separate consideration of the persons performing Ecclesiastical functions, sec. 4-10. III. Of the Ordination or calling of the ministers of the Church, sec. 10-16. Sections . 1. Summary of the chapter. Reasons why God, in governing the Church, uses the ministry of men. 1. To dec”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 17:9: So likewise ye,.... This is the accommodation and application of the parable to the disciples of Christ, who whether ministers or private believers, are as servants, and should be as laborious as the ploughman, and the shepherd; and as their condition is, so their conduct should be like theirs: the employment of the ministers of the word lies in reading, prayer, meditation, and study; in preaching the word, and administering the ordinances; and in performing other duties of their office: and every private believer has business to do, which lies in the exercise of grace,”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 2:19: I know thy works,.... Good works, as appears from the particular enumeration of them afterwards, and the commendation of proficiency in them, the last being more than the first, and the distinction from the evil ones in Rev 2:20; this is said to the faithful followers and professors of Christ in this interval: and charity; by which is meant not a relieving the wants of the poor; much less such a charity as connives at the errors and heresies of men; but the divine grace of love to God nod Christ, and the saints, without which a profession of religion is a vain t”
- 1 Timothy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Timothy 1:12: Here the apostle, I. Returns thanks to Jesus Christ for putting him into the ministry. Observe, 1. It is Christ's work to put men into the ministry, Act 26:16, Act 26:17. God condemned the false prophets among the Jews in these words, I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied, Jer 23:21. Ministers, properly speaking, cannot make themselves ministers; for it is Christ's work, as king and head, prophet and teacher, of his church. 2. Those whom he puts into the ministry he fits for it; whom he calls he qualifies. ”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 6:4: But we will give ourselves continually to prayer,.... Both in private for themselves, and the church; and in the houses and families of the saints, with the sick and distressed;. and in public, in the temple, or in whatsoever place they met for public worship: and to the ministry of the word; the preaching of the Gospel, to which prayer is absolutely prerequisite, and with which it is always to be joined. These two, prayer and preaching, are the principal employment of a Gospel minister, and are what he ought to be concerned in, not only now and then, but what he shoul”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 1:12: And I thank Jesus Christ our Lord, &c. l The subject matter of this thanksgiving being the apostle's call to the ministry of the word, and his furniture and fitness for it, shows, that while others were fond of being teachers, and called doctors of the law, he esteemed it an high honour and special favour bestowed upon him, that he was a preacher of the Gospel; and that all his gifts and abilities for it were not of himself, nor from men, but were owing to the free grace of God, and favour of Christ; wherefore he gloried not in them, as if he had not received them,”