Servants and Stewards: A Two-Fold View of Ministry

The New Testament has no shortage of imagery for the pastorate. A simple survey reveals several passages describing the work and person of the pastor (1 Tim 3:1-16; Titus 1:5-9; Lk 22:25-27; 1 Pet 5:3; Acts 20:28). Still others (and, in my view, rightly) view Christ’s offices of Prophet, Priest, and King as a view of the pastor’s work. However, an oft-overlooked passage when considering the work of the pastorate is 1 Corinthians 4:1-2. In the passage, Paul describes pastors as being both servants and stewards:

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

Of course, in the immediate context of 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, Paul was speaking of himself and the other apostles. The apostles of the early church were to be regarded as both servants and stewards. But an application of this passage can be applied to churches today, and particularly to pastors. Pastors, as the biblical leaders of the church, are to act as both servants and stewards. I think this is a faithful application of this text, as pastors are to emulate the apostles in their leadership, though some things are obviously different.

But, we ought not to pass over 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 when considering the work of the pastor. 

Servants of Christ

A pastor ought to work hard to be a servant of Christ. What does this mean? In the Greek, the phrase is ὑπηρετας Χριστου, a servant of Christ. This differs from the more popular construction used elsewhere, using the base word δουλος. I think the difference is significant: When δουλος is used in connection with the idea of servanthood, the author is communicating a sense of bond, like a slave or bondservant. For example, Paul refers to himself as a servant of Christ in Romans 1:1 (δουλος Ἰησου Χριστου). In this verse, Paul is communicating that he is a slave to Christ; he has been bought with a Christ and will live out his days belonging to and serving Christ. In 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, the idea is more like a helper who is subordinate to the one being helped, or an assistant. For Paul, he and the apostles could certainly be described with the “bondservant” language, but also applied the “assistant” language when talking about ministry.

In the application to pastoral ministry, pastors ought to consider themselves in the same way: A subordinate to Christ, but an assistant in the work of the ministry. An assistant is employed in order to help someone accomplish work. Christ employs pastors to do gospel work in the world. Pastors are to be Spirit-empowered assistants of Christ in accomplishing the great work of Christ’s commission: To take the gospel to the nations. This is no dogged work, either. Rather, this is a beautiful truth: God in his wisdom calls sinful and unworthy men to the pastorate, and Christ gives them the assignment to call other sinners to repentance and faith. The role of assistant to Christ isn’t drudgery; it’s the King of Kings giving his chosen instruments a role in the kingdom! We must view the pastorate in this way: Working as an assistant to Christ, so that God’s glory continues to cover the earth through our gospel proclamation.

Stewards of God’s Mysteries

Paul also uses the phrase “stewards of the mysteries of God” (“οἰκονομους μυστηριων θεου”). “Steward” is a compound word from “house” (“οἰκος”) and “manage”(“νεμω”). A steward, then, is one who would manage a house from a subordinate position. An estate owner would employ a steward while he was away to oversee the management and upkeep of the house. It’s clear to see the pastoral implications here.

After Christ’s Ascension, the promised Holy Spirit descended upon the believers at Pentecost. Subsequently, all believers are baptized into the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. The Holy Spirit is the down payment or the guarantor of the presence of God in the lives of the believers. One role, then, of the Holy Spirit is to empower ministry in the churches. How does that happen? On one level—the most basic and fundamental level—the Holy Spirit lives within each believer and illumines the truth of Scripture to them, convicts them of sin, and leads them in truth. But on the corporate, gathered level, the Holy Spirit works in the public proclamation of the Word. This happens when pastors preach the Bible week in and week out.

So while Christ is not physically present with the church anymore, he has given to the church faithful men to manage his house concerning the mysteries of God. This happens when Spirit-empowered pastors open the Bible and preach it. Preaching God’s redemption of sinful people through Christ (a profound mystery!) to a congregation week in and week out and centering that church’s ministry focus on the gospel is stewardship of the gospel. Pastors are to manage, oversee, and take care of the gospel in their congregations. Pastors have been entrusted with the gospel (1 Thes 2:4) and are to steward that entrustment by faithfully and rightly dividing it (2 Tim 2:15).

Christ is actively working among his people in the church. What a blessing it is that he has given some to come alongside him as pastors, to serve him by working hard in this high and holy calling as his assistants! The main thrust of that is as a steward, an overseer, and protector of the gospel message until he returns. Servants and stewards: the gospel ministry in two words.