Christian Ministry
Christian Ministry
In the course of his Christian ministry, the apostle Paul had a keen sense of teamwork, teamwork with God and their brothers and sisters. This awareness is expressed by using compound Greek words that begin with the prepositional prefix, the sun. With an object in the dative case, means “sun” together “or” with “. This prepositional prefix itself has moved to English, which appears in words such as “symbiotic,” “Symphony”, “synergy” (the sun Greece, represented by the sim-or syn-). What follows is a brief summary of Paul’s words to express the participation of employees of the ministry. You will discover that this exchange continues among 21st century Christians.
Paul calls us “co-citizens” and “heirs” and said he “co-reign.” Because we are bound to Christ, we share in his city, his legacy and his government. But we also share the hope for the future of these blessings with others. Due of this, we co-joy. ”
Meanwhile, the struggle continues, and “to suffer together.” To endure such suffering, “co-console” each other and live and die together.
But nevertheless, we are “colleagues.” Paul says that he and his colleagues are “companions Work of God “, a striking testimony both to the condescension of God – willing to stoop so low to work with people like us – and the corresponding elevation of Christians.
Paul’s letters yield for us a number of men and women who Paul calls his “friends”: Timothy, “All” of the Christians of Corinth, Titus, Priscilla and Aquila, Urban, Epaphroditus, Clement and others, Mark and Aristarchus, Jesus Justus, Philemon, Demas and Luke. A brother Paul calls “my yoke-fellow”, a term synonymous with a colleague (though it might be the name of man).
Other Paul describes them as members of the team with him in an athletic competition – contestants, effort, or fighting together. Two brothers, Paul calls his “co-slaves.” Two co citing his “soldiers”. Because Paul is considered a worker, a slave, a soldier and an athlete for Christ, who share the burden with him also share these descriptions. This includes those of us who are working in the kingdom in modern times.
As a frequent prisoner of Christ, Paul thanked to those who served him in jail, even if they themselves are free to come and go. Four he describes as “co-prisoners.” It could be that at least some of these voluntarily Paul was so constant that is self-imposed incarceration.
All these first-century Christians, and Christians living today, are “participants” or “partners” in the work of the kingdom. We share in communion with, participate with, and be with other believers. Paul uses several compound terms to describe Christian unity. He says we must be united in an agreement, literally, “co-souls.” We “made together” and “fit”. We cooperation and assistance among themselves. We “build together” and “co-members of the same body.”
All this together, we must remember, is not a natural state – far from it! If left to ourselves, humans split into each seam, whether is race, ethnicity, gender or class. It is only Christ that unites us. Only in Him can be possible to say that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, neither barbarian, Scythian, male or female, all are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28, 1 Cor. 12:13, Col. 3:11).
Paul expresses the union of Christians with Christ through the prepositional phrase, along with Christ. This is reinforced in compound verbs using the sun added to the beginning of the verb. This occurs in several key passages in Paul’s writings.
In Gal. 2:20, Paul uses the “co-crucified” to describe how increasingly united with Christ’s death changes the believer. Compare Matt. 27:44, Mark 15:32 and John 19:32, where the same verb describes the literal crucifixion of the thieves who died with Jesus. Paul says that as a result of their union with Christ’s death, has died the law, to live to God (v. 19). In the next verse adds that it is no longer live, but Christ lives in him. It is true that still lives “in the flesh, “but is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved him and was delivered in his name. Note that this happens for the individual, not only for believers as a group. Christ did not die for mankind, but for you and me and all others as individuals and as individuals we can only respond to it.
This concept of “co-crucified” is repeated in Rome. 6:6. Paul says, “Having known this, that the old man was co-crucified.” Although Christ is not mentioned, the connection is undoubtedly between the believer and Christa-He was crucified.
The result of this death the old man is a funeral, for Paul said earlier, we were buried with him “by baptism into death (v. 4). As a result of this union with Christ’s crucifixion and burial, we also share in the new life of his resurrection: “We believe that we shall also live with Him” (suzēsomen, v. 8). Paul uses the same verb in the parallel passage in Colossians (co-buried and co-high 2:12, co-made alive, 2:13, see also 3:1).
Because we belong to Christ, we belong to each other. Our union with Him unites us with any other person that is also united with him in a larger community and eternal.
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Copyright ©2006 Steve Singleton
Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles. He has been an editor, reporter, and public relations consultant. He has taught college-level Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses and has taught seminars in 11 states and the Caribbean.
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