35 Bible Verses about Ministry, Qualifications For

but God hath chosen those who are foolish in the opinion of the world, to confound the wise; and the weak men of the world to confound the mighty: those who were looked upon by the world as vile, as despicable, as nothing, these has God chosen to reduce their sufficiency to nothing. that no man might glory before God;

Now faith is the foundation of our hopes of happiness, and the persuasion we have about things not evident to our senses. and it was for their faith that our fore-fathers acquired so great a reputation.

Jesus having called his twelve disciples, he gave them power to cast out unclean spirits, and to heal diseases and disorders of every kind. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; the first is Simon, who is called Peter, then Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the publican, James the son of Alpheus, and Labbeus, whose sirname was Thaddeus, Simon the zelot,read more.
and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

then he chose twelve of them to be near his person, and afterwards to be gospel-missionaries. with full power to heal diseases, and dispossess demons. these were Simon, whom he sirnam'd Peter, James the son of Zebedee,read more.
and John the brother of James, (whom he had named Boanerges, that is to say, sons of thunder.) Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

About that time, Jesus retired to a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in an oratory. when it was day, he called his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom he stiled missionarys: Simon, (to whom he gave the name of Peter) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,read more.
Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon surnamed the Zelot, Jude the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who prov'd the traitor.

go, said the Lord to him: for he is the instrument I have chosen, to bear my name to the Gentiles, to kings, and to the children of Israel.

and now I stand arraign'd for expecting the accomplishment of the divine promise made to our fathers,

but this treasure is lodg'd in such earthen vessels as we are, that the exceeding efficacy of it may appear to be from God, and not from us. I am press'd on every side, yet not crush'd; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; dejected, but not destroyed;read more.
always bearing about in my body the marks of sufferings like those of Jesus, so that Jesus might be plainly prov'd to be alive by the sufferings of my body. for as long as I live I shall be exposed to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest by the preservation of our mortal life. so that I suffer the influences of his death, while you only feel the effects of his life.

and lest I should be exalted above measure by the extraordinary revelations I have had, I was afflicted in my person, so that the messenger of satan insulted me; concerning which,

however I obtained mercy, that Jesus Christ might demonstrate the greatness of his clemency, by making me an eminent instance of it to those who should hereafter believe in him, in order to eternal life.

for God is my witness, to whom I am entirely devoted, in preaching the gospel of his son, that I constantly make mention of you, in my prayers, requesting,

James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the TWELVE TRIBES dispers'd thro' the world, sends greeting.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, chosen to declare the gospel dispensation,

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to shew to his servants things which must shortly come to pass; this he signified by his angel whom he dispatch'd to his servant John:

of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence:

provided you continue well-grounded and settled in the faith, and do not abandon that hope which has been offer'd to you by the gospel, and is proclaim'd to all mankind; of which I Paul am made a minister.

that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea; and that the charitable service which I am employed about, for the converts at Jerusalem, may be acceptable to them:

I recommend to you Phebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Kenchrea; receive her for Christ's sake,

You know brethren, that the family of Stephanas were the first converts of Achaia, and have made it their business to be serviceable to christian converts: to such,

As to the relief of the converts, it is superfluous for me to write to you.

As to the state of my affairs, and health, Tychicus our dear brother, and faithful minister in the Lord, will very particularly acquaint you with them.

which you heard was offer'd to you, by the instructions of Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is to you a faithful minister of Christ:

who also hath enabled me to be a minister of the new covenant, not of the literal sense, but of the spiritual meaning: it is the letter that denounces death, but the spirit gives life.

Therefore, having by the divine favour such a ministry, I exert myself:

the twelve therefore assembled all the disciples, and said, it is not fit that we should leave the word of God, to mind what relates to your meals. wherefore, brethren, chuse out of your number seven persons of good reputation, full of the holy spirit and wisdom, who may have the management of this affair: whilst we shall continue our applications to prayer, and to preaching.

Now this is all owing to God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath made us the ministers of this reconciliation;

that he may be admitted to this apostolick ministry which Judas abandoned, to go to his own place."

(for he that had wrought powerfully in Peter with respect to his apostleship among the Jews, had also wrought powerfully in me upon account of the Gentiles:) and when James,

to be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, officiating the gospel of God, that the Gentiles might be made an acceptable offering, being sanctified by the holy spirit.

wherefore of those who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus convers'd among us,

wherefore, brethren, chuse out of your number seven persons of good reputation, full of the holy spirit and wisdom, who may have the management of this affair:

a bishop therefore ought to be of an unspotted character, to have but one wife, to be sober, prudent, grave, hospitable, and qualified for teaching: not given to wine or violence, but of a gentle temper, averse to contention and avarice: a master of economy, obliging his children to behave with decorum.read more.
for if a man is incapable of governing his own family, how can he take care of the church of God? nor must he be a new convert; for fear he should be elated with pride, and so involve himself in the same ruin as the devil. besides, he ought to stand fair in the opinion of unbelievers, lest he fall into disgrace, and the ambushes of the accuser.

for a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not morose, not soon angry, not given to wine, not violent, not desirous of unlawful gain. but a lover of hospitality, humane, prudent, just, holy, temperate; attach'd to the truth, that has been taught him, that he may be able to teach others sound doctrine, and to convince those who oppose it.

The deacons too must be grave, not double tongued, not addicted to drinking, or sordid gain, but by their integrity maintain the reverence due to the gospel. let them be first examin'd, and if they are without reproach, let them enter upon their office.read more.
their wives must be likewise grave, free from scandal, sober, and always faithful. a deacon must have but one wife, and govern his children, and the rest of the family in a proper manner. for they who duly discharge that office, prepare their way to a higher degree, and may promote the christian faith with the greater freedom.

As for you the minister of God, avoid those things: adhere to justice, piety, faith, charity, patience, and benignity of temper.