Paul’s Ministry Summarized

Feature 2 – November 2024 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Paul’s Ministry Summarized

Paul was specifically called to be the apostle of the Gentiles, referring to the non-Jewish nations.

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“I was appointed a preacher and an apostle – I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying – a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (1 Tim. 2:7 NKJV ). There were three parts to his ministry.

1. Preaching.
2. Teaching.
3. Praying.

Paul’s Gospel Ministry
The Lord Jesus Christ commissioned Paul and sent him to preach the gospel (Rom. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:11-12). The apostle referred to “my gospel” three times (Rom. 2:16, 16:25; 2 Tim. 2:8). However, this is the same gospel that the other apostles preached, “Whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed” (1 Cor. 15:11).2

Acts can be divided into two sections. In the latter section Luke, the writer of Acts, detailed the missionary journeys and exploits of Paul’s preaching activities. The gospel he preached is summarized in Acts 20:21 as “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Lord Jesus provided an outline of Paul’s gospel ministry when He called him at his conversion on the road to Damascus: “I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you … The Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (26:16-18).

By the end of Paul’s first missionary journey, many churches had been established (14:21-26). Highlights of his second missionary journey include his break from the synagogue at Corinth (18:5-8)3 and the establishment of some assemblies to whom he wrote epistles, at Corinth, Philippi and Thessalonica.4 Paul’s third journey was dominated by his ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19–20), which brought the spread of the gospel to a suitable climax with the establishment of Christianity proper.

Paul’s Teaching Ministry
He was told to teach those who believed the Christian faith (2 Tim. 1:11). The importance of Paul’s ministry is that his apostolic teachings were written down in letters he sent to different churches and individuals. His writings were recognized and acknowledged as being part of Scripture, as Peter wrote: “Our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written unto you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist unto their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Pet. 3:15-16). In fact, Paul’s stewardship5 was “to complete the Word of God” (Col. 1:25 JND). Therefore, he is the major contributor of the Christian doctrines given in the New Testament. God made him a competent minister of the new covenant “for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).6 Paul’s experience on the Damascus road and the heavenly vision of his Lord dominated and characterized his ministry. As he said to King Agrippa, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19 NKJV).

Paul’s ministry was recognized as “the teaching of the Lord” (13:12). He called these doctrines, “the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus” (20:24). That is, it was given to him through revelations directly from the glorified Lord in heaven. The apostle referred to this fact five times: twice about the gospel (1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 1:11-12) and once each about his teaching regarding the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23), the truth of the mystery (Eph. 3:3-4), and the rapture (1 Th. 4:15).

His teaching ministry reached its zenith in Ephesus (Acts 19:1,10). In Paul’s farewell talk to the Ephesian elders (20:17-38) we can identify some of the subjects of his teaching ministry which he said he had received from the Lord Jesus. He had testified to the gospel of the grace of God (v.24), which he wrote about in The Epistle To The Romans (1:1,16). The doctrinal substance of the gospel in Romans includes subjects such as the righteousness of God, justification, propitiation and the judgment of God. In Galatians, Paul taught that salvation is obtained by faith alone. In Ephesians 2:7-9, Paul wonderfully expounded the gospel of the grace of God. The pastoral epistles – Timothy and Titus – highlight the disposition of our Savior God, which gives the character of the gospel.

Paul’s ministry at Ephesus included his declaration of “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27 ESV), which is about God’s plan for His beloved Son (Eph. 1:11, 3:11). It is the theme of Ephesians 1–3, which also outlines the highest and richest heavenly blessings for believers. Paul described it as “the mystery” (3:3) that he had taught them in the first two chapters. God has made known to us the secret of His will (1:9) – that He gave Christ “as head over all things to the Church, which is His body,” by putting everything under His feet (vv.22-23). The Church is destined to be Christ’s bride (consider 5:25-32), in accordance with God’s eternal purpose which He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul also had given the Ephesians special instruction concerning the church of God (Acts 20:28). Because the Church is Christ’s complement, His fullness (Eph. 1:22-23, 4:13), Paul provided much teaching concerning its structure, order and function. A major part of his teaching concerning the Church is found in 1 Corinthians 10–14, as the frequent occurrences of “church,” 7 you “come together” in the church,8 and “the body” of Christ,9 demonstrate. In 1 Corinthians 4:17 Paul referred to his ministry about the Church as “my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church,” things which he ordained in all churches (7:17).10 His writings were the “command[s] of the Lord” (14:37) and he delivered these “traditions” (11:2), which all churches were and are obliged to hold and follow, even today.11 After advising Timothy of the regulations for church prayer in 1 Timothy 2 and the role of church elders and deacons in the maintenance of good church order in the next chapter, Paul said these were necessary for godly behavior in church (3:14-15).

Paul also ministered to the Ephesians about the kingdom of God (Acts 20:25). It is about the rule of God in and over our lives. “The kingdom of God is … righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). It is also about discipleship; “disciples” is a frequent name for believers in Acts. In practical terms it means that we must be “baptized into Christ Jesus” and allow Him to be Lord of our lives (6:3; consider Mt. 28:18-20). Paul made disciples of these Ephesian believers in three ways:

1. By his public and private teaching (Acts 20:20).
2. By his exemplary living among them (vv.18,33-35; compare 2 Cor. 6:3).
3. By reminding them of what the Lord Jesus said (Acts 20:35).

Paul’s Prayer Ministry
Paul’s prayer ministry was an essential part of his preaching and teaching ministry. In addition to his thanksgiving to God for the churches he established and the individuals whom he valued in Christ, his prayers were that the grace of God would be with them.

Paul’s prayer ministry may be summarized in this manner:

• He prayed together with the saints or asked them to pray for and/or with him (vv.32,36; Rom. 15:30-33; Eph. 6:18-20; Phil. 1:19-26; Col. 4:2-4; 1 Th. 5:25; Phile. 22).
• He prayed constantly for the saints (Rom. 1:8-12; 1 Th. 1:2).
• He prayed that his ministry would be acceptable to the saints (Rom. 15:23-33).
• His prayers were always for the fullest, spiritual blessing of the saints (2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 6:23-24; Phil. 1:4-6; Col. 1:23-2:3; 1 Th. 5:23).
• He prayed for the reconciliation and preservation of the saints (2 Cor. 13:7-9).
• He prayed for the spiritual enlightenment of the saints (Eph. 1:15-23).
• He prayed for the spiritual strengthening and growth of the saints (3:14-21).
• He prayed that the saints would have abundant love and spiritual discernment (Phil. 1:9-11).
• He prayed that the saints would have spiritual wisdom in the knowledge of God’s will (Col. 1:3-13).
• He prayed with deep spiritual desire for the saints (1 Th. 3:9-13).
• He prayed with gratitude and concern for the saints (2 Th. 1:1-12).
• He prayed for individual saints (2 Tim. 1:3; Phile. 4-6).

Conclusion
Paul fulfilled the ministry given to Him by the Lord and followed in His example. This is a challenge for you and me. What has the Lord given to us to do, and whose example are we following?

ENDNOTES
1. Rom. 11:13, 15:16; Gal. 2:8; Eph. 3:8; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11.
2. He also provided proof of his equal status with the Twelve in 1 Corinthians 9. Note 2 Corinthians 11:5.
3. This is developed by his church teaching in 1 Corinthians (1:2, 12:12-13).
4. These may be called “epistle-churches,” for they received letters from him.
5. Compare 1 Corinthians 9:17.
6. Second Corinthians is about Paul the minister and his ministry of reconciliation (5:18).
7. 1 Cor. 10:32, 11:16,18,22, 12:28, 14:4-5,12,19,23,28,33-35.
8. 1 Cor. 11:17-18,20,33-34, 14:23,26
9. 1 Cor. 10:16-17, 12:12-13,27.
10. See 1 Cor. 11:2,16, 14:33,37, 16:1.
11. See 1 Cor. 3:10-17, 5:11, 11:17-34, 14:13,26-30,33-38,40, 16:14 and especially 2 Th. 2:15, 3:6.

By David Anderson

That Paul was the minister of the gospel and also of the Church shows that these ministries are not in competition with each other but are blessedly complementary. There has continually been an attempt of the enemy to pit the evangelist against the teacher. This should not be, and it should be very jealously guarded against. Where would the Church be if there were no gospel? Where would a family be if there were no births? The gospel is first and then the Church. Converts are first and then saints and assemblies. The evangelist is a gift from the great Head in heaven to men, as also are the pastor and the teacher. The teacher should prize and encourage the evangelist; the evangelist should be devoutly thankful for the pastor and teacher, who will take his converts, and build them up on their most holy faith (Jude 20). —A. J. Pollock, “The Apostle And His Missionary Journeys”