Excellent textbook on the early church. Rediscovering The New Testament Church by Anthony Jacomb-Hood is a 300 page work with ample footnotes and appendices. Not for the casual reader, this is an in-depth work. The excerpt below is about leadership in the New Testament church.
The most profound teachings about leadership in the New Testament are implicit in the most general commands to all believers as to how we should treat one another. The most important of these is the commandment that Jesus identified as the second greatest commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” (NIV). Jesus also expressed this command in Matthew 7:12 as “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets,” and the parallel passage in Luke 6:31 says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (NIV). Similarly in Philippians 2:3-4 Paul says, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” It is wonderful when Christian leaders live out these commands. Almost all spiritual abuse results from disobedience to these commands.
Another closely related group of commands includes Ephesians 5:21 where Paul commands all believers to move in mutual submission. This means that Christian leaders need to submit to all believers. Similarly in Luke 22:25-27 Jesus says that Christian leaders should be like servants and not “lord it over” their followers. The parallel passages in Matthew and Mark not only say that Christian leaders should not “lord it over” their followers, but also make the point that the path to greatness and being first in the kingdom of God is to first become a servant or slave. Peter uses the same phrase in 1 Peter 5:1-3 “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder,..not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (NIV). In 2 Corinthians 1:24 Paul also uses this phrase to describe his relationship with the Corinthians. The essence of mutual submission in the context of Christian ministry is for groups of individuals working together to make jointly decisions relevant to their joint ministry. In my opinion it is only the individuals who are involved in a particular ministry who participate in the consensus decision-making process for that ministry. Others may of course provide advice.
The link Jesus makes in Matthew 20:25-28 between Christian leadership and service/being a servant is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament. Several passages make clear that Christian leaders are expected to serve other believers. Several other passages teach that Christian leaders (like all believers) are servants of Jesus.
The word “ministry” is often used to translate the Greek word diakonia. It has become so widely used as a word describing the work of Christian leaders that it is easy to forget that the root meaning of the Greek word is serving. Similarly, the modern term “minister” which is often used to translate the Greek word diakonos, is so commonly used as a title for a Christian worker that it is easy to forget that the root meaning of this word is “servant.”
The Greek word doulos (slave or servant) is also widely used of Christian leaders. In several passages this word is used to describe Christian leaders as the slave or servant of other believers. In many passages this word is used to describe Christian leaders as the slave or servant of God. In other passages this word is used to describe all believers as slaves or servants to God. In Philippians 2:7 we are told that Jesus became a slave and that this is an example for all believers to follow.
It is implicit in the command for leaders to “not lord it over” other believers and in the use of the words servant and slave to describe leaders, that Christian leadership is not about organizing and directing ministry. Servants and slaves do not tell others what to do, nor do they have special rights. Leaders are expected to state clearly what the Bible teaches on moral and doctrinal matters. This teaching may include training for ministry.
Paul commands leaders to be gentle when dealing with those who oppose them. For example, in a personal conflict where Paul had been unjustly criticized he chose to “entreat…by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” However, sometimes it is appropriate for a Christian (either a leader or an individual who is not a leader) to rebuke another believer. Paul also expects leaders to lead in humility. Humility and gentleness are key to Christian unity.
Christian leadership is not defined by certain roles and responsibilities that may only be performed by the leader. Believers who do not serve in a formal leadership role are free to contribute and lead in the same ways as identified leaders (e.g., elders). All believers, including leaders, are expected to contribute to church assembly meetings and to participate in other ministry as Jesus leads them. As individuals do this, they often end up providing leadership to a portion of an assembly meeting (e.g., by teaching or by leading the assembly into worship using a particular song) or they may provide leadership to ministry outside of assembly meetings. Being a Christian leader is about watching out for the spiritual community and encouraging and helping individuals to walk closely with Jesus so that they are available to be used by Him.
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