Paul’s Multiple Approaches to Leadership in the New Testament
Thematic Interests- Romans
Group Interests - Ephesians
Individual Interests- Philippians
Relational Interests- I Thess, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus
1. Thematic Interests & Reserved - Attention to Major Themes such as justification by faith. Through the grace of Jesus Christ we experience spiritual regeneration. God’s free grace entitles us to become children of God and enjoy all of His benefits. Grace is not to be taken for granted or abused.
2. Group Interests & Reserved - Focus on the unity in the faith that God’s people share under the new covenant of the blood of Christ. Through the Spirit’s unity we are insured of our unity amidst great diversification of gifts, backgrounds, and abilities. 3. Individual Interests & Reserved - Individual attention to joy, unity, encouragement, and fellowship we benefit from through the Spirit. Each person can experience joy through suffering, through service, in Christ, and in our contented mind-set.
4. Family relationships - Reserved - Relationally Paul speaks of the call of God, the word of God, the approval of God, the testing of God, the wrath of God, the will of God, the teaching of God , the peace of God, and the faithfulness of God.
5. Thematic and Normal - Themes necessary to establish the norms of doctrine and practice for the church in Rome. Paul stresses how faith in Christ is the key to all of life. As this faith is appropriated we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Faith to be normal means more than just belieivng Him, but obeying Him and confessing Him before the lost.
6. Group and Normal - Attention given to the unity of the faith, fellowship in the saints, and the breaking down of barriers. Our unity is based on the fact that we are no longer a part of the kingdom of darkness, but have been transferred to the kingdom of light. As God’s workmanship we are prepared for good works where we enjoy our greatest realization of the power of that unity.
7. Individual and Normal - Focus on the individuals’ needs of Euodia and Syntche to agree with each other in the Lord. Paul asks the workers in the church to help these women to resolve their differences. This personalize approach is focus on our normal state of rejoicing not in our accomplishments but in Lord always.
8. Family and Normal - Concentration given to Paul’s intimate relationships with the Philippians when he addresses them, Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends."
Paul confidently affirms our togetherness in the body and through our connections in Christ. He gives us the impression that Christians should take a sane estimate of their abilities according to the measure of the faith that God supplies. Paul encourages them to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. He confidently asserts that through the armor of God, believers will be able to stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of darkness. All of this is done as a united group. Paul bases his confidence in the encouragement we share in Christ. (Phil. 2:1). He writes, "Being confident of this that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6) Paul had confidence in what God had done and would continue to do through, for & in them Paul’s positive attitude is reflected in the way he addresses Timothy when he writes, "God has not given us the spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." (2 Tim. 1:7) Paul knew that Timothy lacked a sense of self-confidence. He spoke with relevance, assurance, and affirmation of God’s Spiritual power
9. Thematic and Progressively - Paul seeks for believers to not be conformed to the world, but become more like Christ in every area of life. We are to grow as individuals in our use of gifts, but also in relation to the members of the whole body of Christ. Then we will be able to say that we have done that which is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
10. Group and Progressively - Paul seeks progress by expressing his concerns for children, fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, masters, and slaves in providing guidance for their own situational struggles. He wants individuals to know their responsibilities before the Lord as well as to the church leaders. "Each one must love his wife as he loves himself." (Eph.5:33)
11. Individually and Progressively - Paul urgingly writes, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
12. Family and Progressivley - (Phil. 3:13,14) Paul urges Timothy to make headway not on controversies, but on three major goals: "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (2 Tim. 1:7)
13. Thematically and Diplomatically - Paul says, "Accept him who is weak in faith without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables... To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."
14. Group and Diplomatically - With a statesman like ability, Paul writes to the Ephesians, ""Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is." (Eph. 5:15,16)
15. Individually and Diplomatically - With superb tact, Paul writes to the Philippians, "I hope in the Lord jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare." (Phil. 2:19,20)
16. Family and Diplomatically - Paul sees himself as a nursing mother tenderly caring for her own children. Having such a fond affection, Paul was able to impart to them not the gospel only, but also his own life because they were very dear to them
