To Affirm and Use Biblical Terminology concerning Ministry

Official Workbook overture source text

9-48 
To Affirm and Use Biblical Terminology 
concerning Ministry 
WHEREAS, The Word of God, “the prophetic and apostolic 
Scriptures of the Old and of the New Testament” is “the sole rule 
and standard according to which all dogmas together with [all] 
teachers should be estimated and judged” (FC Ep, Summary 
Content, 1, Triglotta); and 
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod is made up 
of local churches, their ministers, and various organizations and 
their workers to promote the God -given work of the churches and 
the kingdom of God; and 
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HEREAS, It is desirable to use the language of the Holy 
Scriptures to describe and define the work of our churches and 
Synod, in order to conform our actions to the Word of God and to 
protect us from false teaching and sins (which result from the 
temptations of the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh); and 
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HEREAS, God instituted an office in Christ’s Church, with 
various responsibilities, variously called: 
apostles: ἀποστόλους, men sent on a mission, Matt. 10:2; 
Acts 1:2; 15:2, 4, 6, 22; Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1; 9:1, 5; 
12:28; 15:7, 9; 2 Cor. 1:1; 12:11; Gal. 1:1, 17, 19; Eph. 
1:1; 2:20; 3:5; 4:11; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11; Titus 
1:1; 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 17; Rev. 2:2; 18:20; 
21:14; perhaps 2 Cor. 8:23; and Phil. 2:25 (though most 
translations call these men a “messenger” or “envoy” 
from their churches); Jesus Himself is called “the apostle 
and high priest of our confession,” Heb. 3:1; an office of 
“apostleship,” ἀποστολή, is mentioned in Rom. 1:5; 1 
Cor. 9:2; Gal. 2:8;  
prophets: προφήτας, Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 2:20; 3:5; 
4:11; Rev. 18:20;  
evangelists: εὐαγγελιστάς, Acts 21:8; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5; 
verb εὐαγγελίζω, “evangelize,” tell the good message, 
Acts 5:42; 8:4, 12, 25, 35, 40; 14:7, 15, 21; 15:35; et al.; 
Rom. 1:15; 15:20; 1 Cor. 1:17; 9:16, 18; 15:1; Gal. 1:8, 
11, 16, 23; Eph. 3:8; 1 Peter 1:12, 25; done also by Jesus 
and angels, e.g., Matt. 11:5; Luke 1:19; 2:10; 3:18; 
16:16; Rev. 14:6;  
pastors or shepherds: ποιμένας, Eph. 4:11; a term used for 
Jesus in John 10:11, 14, 16; Heb. 13:20; and 1 Peter 
2:25; the verb ποιμαίνω is used in Acts 20:28 and 1 
Peter 5:2;  
teachers: διδασκάλους, Latin magister or doctor, Acts 13:1; 
1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11; James 
3:1; this term is used by Jesus for Himself, e.g., Matt. 
26:18; John 13:13; their work is διδασκαλία, “teaching,” 
1 Tim. 5:17; verb διδάσκω, “teach,” Acts 15:35, also 
describes Jesus’ work, e.g., Luke 20:1; Acts 5:42;  
overseers or bishops: ἐπισκόπους, Acts 20:28; Phil. 1:1; 1 
Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7; their work is ἐπισκοπή, “oversight,” 
Acts 1:20; 1 Tim. 3:1; verb ἐπισκοπέω, 1 Peter 5:2; 
forms applied to Jesus in 1 Pet 2:25; Luke 19:44;  
elders: πρεσβυτέρους, Acts 14:23; 20:17; 21:18; 15:2, 4, 6, 
22; 16:4; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:17, 19; Titus 1:5; James 5:14; 1 
Peter 5:1; 2 John 1; Rev. 4:4;  
ministers: λειτουργοὺς, “of Christ Jesus,” Rom. 15:16;  
co-workers: συνεργούς, Rom. 16:21; 2 Cor. 8:23; “God’s co-
worker,” 1 Cor. 3:9;  
servants or slaves: διακόνους, 1 Cor. 3:5; Col. 4:7; “of a new 
testament,” 2 Cor. 3:6; “of God,” 2 Cor. 6:4; “of Christ,” 
2 Cor. 11:23; Eph. 3:7; “of the Gospel,” Col. 1:7, 23; 1 
Tim. 4:6; “in the Lord,” Eph. 6:21; “of [Christ’s] body, 
which is the church,” Col. 1:24–25; συνδούλους, 
“beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow-slave in 
the Lord,” Col. 4:7;  ὑπηρέτας, “servants,” “of Christ and 
stewards [οἰκονόμους, “managers”] of the mysteries of 
God,” 1 Cor. 4:1;  δούλους, “slave,” “of Jesus Christ,” 
Rom. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1; Gal. 1:10; 
referring to Christians, 1 Cor. 7:22; Eph. 6:6; Col. 4:12; 
“for Jesus’ sake,” 2 Cor. 4:5; “of God,” Titus 1:1; “of 
God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,” James 1:1;  
preachers: κῆρυκας, those who deliver proclamations, 
German Prediger, 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11; and 
stewards: οἰκονόμους, “of God,” Titus 1:7;  
and 
WHEREAS, The New Testament uses various words to refer to 
other workers among God’s people in Christ’s kingdom, who were 
not specifically in offices instituted or mandated by God, such as: 
servants or deacons: διακόνους, Matt. 20:26; 23:11; John 
12:26; Rom. 13:4 (government rulers); 16:1 (female); 
Phil. 1:1; and 1 Tim. 3:8–13 (in contrast to a “bishop” 
vs. 1–7), noting, “these also should be examined first; 
then they may serve as deacons, if they are without 
charges”; 1 Tim. 3:10; also the verb διακονέω,  Matt. 
8:15 (household service); 25:44; 27:55; Luke 8:3; 10:40; 
also the noun διακονία, Acts 6:2; 1 Tim. 3:10, 13; 
Philemon 13; 1 Peter 4:10f.;  
rulers: ἄρχοντας, Acts 4:5, 8, of the Jews; 
elders: πρεσβυτέρους, Acts 4:5, 8, of the Jews; 11:30 and 
perhaps 15:2, of Christians;  
co-workers: συνεργούς, “in Christ,” Rom. 16:3, 9; “co-
worker,” Rom. 16:21; Phil. 4:3; Col. 4:11; “God’s co-
worker,” Romans 16; 1 Thess. 3:2; Philemon 24; “co-
worker and fellow-soldier (συστρατιώτην) and … 
minister (λειτουργὸν) for my needs,” Phil. 2:25;  
workers:  ἐργάτας, 2 Tim. 2:15; and  
stewards: οἰκονόμους, “good stewards of God’s varied 
grace,” 1 Peter 4:10;  
and 
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HEREAS, One biblical Greek word for servant  (διάκονος) has 
entered the English language in three ways: by translating it as 
servant, by anglicizing the Greek word as deacon or deaconess, and 
by using the Latin translation as  minister , and this Greek word 
refers to servants generally (Matt. 23:11), including household 
servants (Matt. 22:13; Mark 9:35; 10:43; John 2:5, 9), government 
rulers/authorities (Rom. 13:1 –4), servants in the church (cited 
above), Christ Himself (Rom. 15:8), and even servants of Satan (2 
Cor. 11:14–15) or servants of sin (Gal. 2:17); and 
WHEREAS, Over time the English word minister  has largely lost 
the denotation of servant to others (who are their lords), and has 
taken on the connotation of a higher position than that of others 
(e.g., ministers as heads of various government agencies in the 
British empire, under the prime minister , who is no longer seen as 
the first of servants of the king and of the people but as the head of 
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