A Pauline Theology of Church Leadership

A Pauline Theology of Church Leadership
Author: Andrew D. Clarke
Publisher: A&C Black
Total Pages: 221
Release: 2008-01-29
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0567045609

Scholarly studies consider Paul's views on leadership tend to fall into one of three camps: 1) the historical development view, which in large measure identifies developments in church practice with developments in Pauline and deutero-Pauline ecclesiology; 2) the synchronic, historical reconstruction, typically making use of Graeco-Roman, social context sources, or social-scientific modelling, focusing on a single congregation, and sometimes distinguishing between the situation to which Paul was responding and the pattern he sought to impose; and 3) the theological/hermeneutical analysis, identifying Paul's particular approach to power and authority, often independently of any detailed reconstruction of the situations to which Paul was responding. Andrew Clarke has explored in an earlier work, Serve the Community of the Church (Eerdmans, 2000), the distinctive, local and historical situations in the various Pauline communities and concluded that there is no evidence that they organised themselves according to a common set of governmental structures which clearly developed with the passage of time. Rather each community was influenced by its own localized, social and cultural context. The present project builds on this, and necessarily focuses on leadership style rather than church order. It seeks to recover from Paul's critical responses, his generic ethos of church leadership, including the ideal qualities, characteristics and task of leaders and the nature of appropriate interaction and engagement with church members. In the light of current, theoretical discussions about power and gender, the study focuses particularly on Paul's attitude towards hierarchy, egalitarianism, authority, responsibility and privilege.

Pauline Theology

Pauline Theology
Author: E. Earle Ellis
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 199
Release: 2005-02-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1597520918

The book should provide a lively counterpoint to both the standard liberal and conservative treatments in courses on Paul's view of ministry. - Theology Today Ellis' judicious treatment and penetrating analysis of the relevant biblical material will force many of us...to think more precisely about the concept of ministry in Paul's writings, how ministry manifested itself in the churches of his day, and what are its implications for us today. - Westminster Theological Journal Ellis gives a sound critique of liberation theology and sociopolitical action as ministry. He gives a balanced view of the gifts and the fruit of the Spirit and, on biblical grounds, he defends the ordination of single and, with qualifications, married women. Challenging, but meant for the intelligent church member. -Librarian's World It's a gem. It is a delightful summary in popular form of themes that Ellis has been at work on throughout his years of productive scholarship. It is 'copiously footnoted...with concise bibliographies on the points at hand...Hence, this short book becomes encyclopedic. - Calvin Theological Journal A splendid tour de force in the best sense. - James G. D. Dunn These essays...represent in many respects a valuable corrective to much of what passes for biblical theology in our times. - Paul J. Achtemeier

Emerging Leadership in the Pauline Mission

Emerging Leadership in the Pauline Mission
Author: Jack Barentsen
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 389
Release: 2011-08-04
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1630878138

Where did Paul find leaders for his new churches? How did he instruct and develop them? What processes took place to stabilize the churches and institute their new leadership? This book carves a fresh trail in leadership studies by looking at leadership development from a group-dynamic, social identity perspective. Paul engages the cultural leadership patterns of his key local leaders, publicly affirming, correcting, and improving those patterns to conform to a Christlike pattern of sacrificial service. Paul's own life and ministry offer a motivational and authoritative model for his followers, because he embodies the leadership style he teaches. As a practical theologian avant la lettre, Paul contextualizes key theological themes to strengthen community and leadership formation, and equips his church leaders as entrepreneurs of Christian identity. A careful comparison of the Corinthian and Ephesian churches demonstrates a similar overall pattern of development. This study engages Pauline scholarship on church office in depth and offers alternative readings of five Pauline epistles, generating new insights to enrich dogmatic and practical theological reflection. In a society where many churches reflect on their missional calling, such input from the NT for contemporary Christian leadership formation is direly needed.

One New Man

One New Man
Author: Jarvis Williams
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2010
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0805448578

Author Jarvis Williams provides Christians with a biblical worldview of race and race relations by focusing on the biblical writings of Paul.

Entrusted with the Gospel

Entrusted with the Gospel
Author: Andreas J. Köstenberger
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Total Pages: 354
Release: 2010
Genre: Bible
ISBN: 0805448411

Evangelical essayists explore the history of scholarship on 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus and thoroughly examine Paul's theology in the Pastoral Epistles.

Pauline Theology and Mission Practice

Pauline Theology and Mission Practice
Author: Dean S. Gilliland
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 311
Release: 1996-08-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1579100058

Not since Roland Allen's book in 1912 has there appeared such a thorough study of the Apostle Paul's mission theology and methodology. "The value of this comprehensive survey," writes Harry R. Boer in the foreword, lies in part in its grounding in "careful expository studies of Paul's ministry as revealed in Acts and in the corpus of the Pauline epistles." Again and again the author illustrates the abiding relevance of Paul's first-century insights for missionary thought and practice in the twentieth century. He draws not only on Scripture, but also on personal insights and illustrations arising from two decades of missionary service. And he enters into significant dialogue with representative missionary literature of the modern period. The book's five parts cover theology (the sources and nature of Paul's theology and his theological assumptions for mission), conversion (Paul's conversion in Acts; conversion as reality, experience, and process; and conversion and the real world), the convert's new life (what its spiritual basis is and how to live it) the church (its oneness, diversity, and contextuality; its leadership, worship, discipline, and finance), and the missionary (his or her credentials and ministry). "Paul's theology was irresistible because it was energized by a fresh, life-changing experience and supported by a new love for all people," writes the author in the introduction. He then elaborates on four characteristics of that theology: it is dynamic, evangelical, pastoral, and holistic. "The absolute commitment of mind and body, soul and spirit, that was Paul's, his love for the Lord Jesus and lost people everywhere," concludes the author in the epilogue, "must be the very heart of the church."

Servants of the Servant

Servants of the Servant
Author: Don N. Howell Jr.
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2003-11-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1498273041

Leadership is a subject that has gained impressive visibility in the past two decades. The number of books, monographs and articles, as well as seminars, devoted to the development of one's leadership skills has been almost exponential growth. This study is an attempt to forge a full-orbed theology of Christian leadership grounded in the teaching of Scripture. What emerges from tracing the theme of leadership through the biblical record is a servanthood pattern, one that is wholly distinct from prevailing secular models. Our exposition begins with the biblical language of the servant, the term of choice for those great leaders used of God to further his saving purposes in the world. Eleven Old Testament and five New Testament leaders are profiled. The portrait of Jesus Christ focuses on three motifs that governed his training of the twelve for kingdom ministry. The Pauline letters are mined for those convictions that governed Paul's practice of leadership, both of his mission team and of the faith communities that emerged from that mission. The treatment of each leader, from Joseph to Paul, begins with a series of preliminary questions and concludes with a mini-profile that correlates the biblical data with these questions. The final chapter offers a summary profile of the servant leader, one whose character, motives and agenda align with the divine purposes. Though designed as a textbook for upper level college and seminary courses on leadership, the book's readable format is ideal for churches and parachurch organizations in their leadership training programs. The author's prayer is that this work will serve as a catalyst to call God's people back to Scripture and thereby raise up a whole new generation of authentic servant-leaders.

Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ

Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ
Author: Thomas R. Schreiner
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Total Pages: 581
Release: 2020-01-07
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0830854126

How should students of Scripture engage with discerning the shape of Paul's thought? In this second edition of a trusted resource, Thomas R. Schreiner seeks to unearth Paul's worldview by observing what Paul actually says in his writings and laying out the most important themes and how they are connected. While thoroughly informed by contemporary Pauline studies, Schreiner offers an accessible account of Paul's theology.

Servant Leadership

Servant Leadership
Author: Efrain Agosto
Publisher: Chalice Press
Total Pages: 260
Release: 2012-11
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780827235069

Servant Leadership addresses a fundamental concern of the contemporary church by asking pertinent questions of the New Testament: Who became a leader in the Jesus movement and in Pauline Christianity? What was the social status of these leaders in the outside world as compared to the importance of such social status within the faith community? What practices characterized their leadership within the communities they served? The book explores models of leadership in the New Testament s two prime exemplars, Jesus and Paul, and in their respective communities of faith. It studies both Paul s statements and actions with regard to leadership issues with specific church communities, using Thessalonians, the Corinthians, the Galatians, and the Philippians correspondence as case studies in the practice of leadership. It concludes with a discussion of leadership challenges in the modern church and how a Pauline or Deutero-Pauline model can work for us today. The author shows how understanding one s followers, as well as the goals and purposes of the group one leads, is a fundamental function of leadership today, even in the corporate world. Similarly, although we expect Christian leadership to be confrontational and assertive at times, it must also be open to creating opportunities for others to exercise their gifts and, therefore, their leadership. Good leaders move others to respond to their own personal calls and commitments.

Man and Woman, One in Christ

Man and Woman, One in Christ
Author: Philip Barton Payne
Publisher: Zondervan Academic
Total Pages: 514
Release: 2015-05-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310525322

Does Paul teach a hierarchy of authority of man over woman, or does he teach the full equality of man and woman in the church and home? In Man and Woman, One in Christ, Philip Barton Payne answers this question and more, injecting crucial insights into the discussion of Paul’s view of women. Condensing over three decades of research on this topic, Payne’s rigorous exegetical analysis demonstrates the consistency of Paul’s message on this topic and its coherence with the rest of his theology. Payne’s exegetical examination of the Pauline corpus is thorough, exploring the influences on Paul, his practice as a church leader, and his teachings to various Christian communities. Paul’s theology, instruction, and practice consistently affirm the equal standing of men and women, with profound implications for the church today. Man and Woman, One in Christ is required reading for all who desire to understand the meaning of Paul’s statements regarding women and their relevance for Christian relationships and ministry today. This work has the potential of uniting the church on this contentious issue.