The Apostle Paul, Minister of the Gospel, and of the Church

From: The Church of God By: Algernon James Pollock

• 2 min. read • grade level: 9

The Apostle Paul had a double ministry bestowed on him by the Lord. To him was committed the ministry of the gospel of the grace of God, and also the ministry of the church. That one servant of Christ should be thus graced shows that these ministries are not antagonistic, but complementary, sympathetic and vital to each other.

Alas! it is not unknown in Christian assemblies that some are known as the gospel party, and others as the church party. Such a state of things is shameful and suicidal. To exalt the gospel to the detriment of church teaching, or to exalt church teaching to the detriment of the gospel, only proves that those, who indulge in such shameful work, do not know the real truth about either. The evangelist is as much a gift from the ascended Lord as the pastor and teacher. To despise either evangelist or teacher. is to despise the Lord, who bestows these gifts.

The Acts of the Apostles presents Paul as most active in preaching the gospel of the grace of God. His life's Motto was, " Yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16¹⁶For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16).) His preaching led to the formation of assemblies in Gentile cities, to the ministry of the truth of the church, and all that that implies. Paul was the writer of the great church epistles addressed to the Ephesian and Colossian saints, and that too when a prisoner at Rome with the gleam of the executioner's sword before his aged eyes. What an irreparable loss it would have been had these precious epistles not been found in the word of God.

We give side by side the Scriptures that affirm his double ministry of the gospel and of the church.

“A dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me” (1 Cor. 9:17¹⁷For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. (1 Corinthians 9:17))

“The hope of the gospel ... whereof I Paul am made a minister.” (Col. 1:23²³If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:23))

“His body’s sake which is the Church, whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.” (Col. 1:24, 25²⁴Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: ²⁵Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:24‑25))

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