- Called by God Ex 28:1; Heb 5:4
- Qualified by God Isa 6:5-7; 2Co 3:5,6
- Commissioned by Christ Mt 28:19
- Sent by the Holy Spirit Ac 13:2,4
- Have authority from God 2Co 10:8; 13:10
- Authority of, is for edification 2Co 10:8; 13:10
- Separated to the gospel Ro 1:1
- Entrusted with the gospel 1Th 2:4
- DESCRIBED AS
- Ambassadors for Christ 2Co 5:20
- Ministers of Christ 1Co 4:1
- Stewards of the mysteries of God 1Co 4:1
- Defenders of the faith Php 1:7
- The servants of Christ's people 2Co 4:5
- Specially protected by God 2Co 1:10
- Necessity for Mt 9:37,38; Ro 10:14
- Excellency of Ro 10:15
- Labours of, vain, without God's blessing 1Co 3:7; 15:10
- Compared to earthen vessels 2Co 4:7
- SHOULD BE
- Pure Isa 52:11; 1Ti 3:9
- Holy Ex 28:36; Le 21:6; Tit 1:8
- Humble Ac 20:19
- Patient 2Co 6:4; 2Ti 2:24
- Blameless 1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:7
- Willing Isa 6:8; 1Pe 5:2
- Disinterested 2Co 12:14; 1Th 2:6
- Impartial 1Ti 5:21
- Gentle 1Th 2:7; 2Ti 2:24
- Devoted Ac 20:24; Php 1:20,21
- Strong in grace 2Ti 2:1
- Self-denying 1Co 9:27
- Sober, just, and temperate Le 10:9; Tit 1:8
- Hospitable 1Ti 3:2; Tit 1:8
- Apt to teach 1Ti 3:2; 2Ti 2:24
- Studious and meditative 1Ti 4:13,15
- Watchful 2Ti 4:5
- Prayerful Eph 3:14; Php 1:4
- Strict in ruling their own families 1Ti 3:4,12
- Affectionate to their people Php 1:7; 1Th 2:8,11
- Ensample to the flock Php 3:17; 2Th 3:9; 1Ti 4:12; 1Pe 5:3
- SHOULD NOT BE
- Lords over God's heritage 1Pe 5:3
- Greedy of filthy lucre Ac 20:33; 1Ti 3:3,8; 1Pe 5:2
- Contentious 1Ti 3:3; Tit 1:7
- Crafty 2Co 4:2
- Men-pleasers Ga 1:10; 1Th 2:4
- Easily dispirited 2Co 4:8,9; 6:10
- Entangled by cares Lu 9:60; 2Ti 2:4
- Given to wine 1Ti 3:3; Tit 1:7
- Should seek the salvation of their flock 1Co 10:33
- Should avoid giving unnecessary offence 1Co 10:32,33; 2Co 6:3
- Should make full proof of their ministry 2Ti 4:5
- ARE BOUND TO
- Preach the gospel to all Mr 16:16; 1Co 1:17
- Feed the Church Jer 3:15; Joh 21:15-17; Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:2
- Build up the Church 2Co 12:19; Eph 4:12
- Watch for souls Heb 13:17
- Pray for their people Joe 2:17; Col 1:9
- Strengthen the faith of their people Lu 22:32; Ac 14:22
- Teach 2Ti 2:2
- Exhort Tit 1:9; 2:15
- Warn affectionately Ac 20:31
- Rebuke Tit 1:13; 2:15
- Comfort 2Co 1:4-6
- Convince gainsayers Tit 1:9
- War a good warfare 1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 4:7
- Endure hardness 2Ti 2:3
- SHOULD PREACH
- Christ crucified Ac 8:5,35; 1Co 2:2
- Repentance and faith Ac 20:21
- According to the oracles of God 1Pe 4:11
- Everywhere Mr 16:20; Ac 8:4
- Not with enticing words of man's wisdom 1Co 1:17; 2:1,4
- Not setting forth themselves 2Co 4:5
- Without deceitfulness 2Co 2:17; 4:2; 1Th 2:3,5
- Fully, and without reserve Ac 5:20; 20:20,27; Ro 15:19
- With boldness Isa 58:1; Eze 2:6; Mt 10:27,28
- With plainness of speech 2Co 3:12
- With zeal 1Th 2:8
- With constancy Ac 6:4; 2Ti 4:2
- With consistency 2Co 1:18,19
- With heedfulness 1Ti 4:16
- With good will and love Php 1:15-17
- With faithfulness Eze 3:17,18
- Without charge, if possible 1Co 9:18; 1Th 2:9
- Woe to those who do not preach the gospel 1Co 9:16
- WHEN FAITHFUL
- Approve themselves as the ministers of God 2Co 6:4
- Thank God for his gifts to their people 1Co 1:4; Php 1:3; 1Th 3:9
- Glory in their people 2Co 7:4
- Rejoice in the faith and holiness of their people 1Th 3:6-9
- Commend themselves to the consciences of men 2Co 4:2
- Are rewarded Mt 24:47; 1Co 3:14; 9:17,18; 1Pe 5:4
- WHEN UNFAITHFUL
- Described Isa 56:10-12; Tit 1:10,11
- Deal treacherously with their people Joh 10:12
- Delude men Jer 6:14; Mt 15:14
- Seek gain Mic 3:11; 2Pe 2:3
- Shall be punished Eze 33:6-8; Mt 24:48-51
- THEIR PEOPLE ARE BOUND, TO
- Regard them as God's messengers 1Co 4:1; Ga 4:14
- Not to despise them Lu 10:16; 1Ti 4:12
- Attend to their instructions Mal 2:7; Mt 23:3
- Follow their holy example 1Co 11:1; Php 3:17
- Imitate their faith Heb 13:7
- Hold them in reputation Php 2:29; 1Th 5:13; 1Ti 5:17
- Love them 2Co 8:7; 1Th 3:6
- Pray for them Ro 15:30; 2Co 1:11; Eph 6:19; Heb 13:18
- Obey them 1Co 16:16; Heb 13:17
- Give them joy 2Co 1:14; 2:3
- Help them Ro 16:9; Php 4:3
- Support them 2Ch 31:4; 1Co 9:7-11; Ga 6:6
- Pray for the increase of Mt 9:38
- Faithful-Exemplified
- The Eleven Apostles Mt 28:16-19
- The seventy Lu 10:1,17
- Matthias Ac 1:26
- Philip Ac 8:5
- Barnabas Ac 11:23
- Simeon, &c Ac 13:1
- Paul Ac 28:31
- Tychicus Eph 6:21
- Timothy Php 2:22
- Epaphroditus Php 2:24
- Archippus Col 4:17
- Titus Tit 1:5
The New Topical Text Book
Ministers
The New Topical Text Book, R. A. Torrey (1897). Public domain, from the CrossWire SWORD module.