Romans 12:7

Ministry (Greek: diakonia). The term is often used in the New Testament in a general sense to include all ministration and office in the Christian church (see Acts 1:17, 25; 20:24; 21:19; Romans 11:13; 1 Corinthians 12:5; 2 Corinthians 3:8, 9; 4:1; 5:18; 6:3; 11:8; Ephesians 4:12; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:5, 11). Sometimes it is used in a special sense of the distribution of relief and attention to physical needs (Acts 6:1; 11:29, where it is translated “relief”; 12:25; Romans 15:31; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:1, 12, 13).

Since in this passage Paul is speaking of different special gifts and distinguishes “ministry” from prophecy, teaching, and exhortation, it seems evident that the word should be understood in the more limited sense of service in temporal and external matters, such as providing for the wants of the poor, the sick, and the stranger.

Let us wait. These words have been supplied, and apparently correctly so. The Greek of the first part of this verse reads literally, “Or ministry, in our ministering.” The evident meaning is that those of us who have been called to this kind of service should devote ourselves wholeheartedly to it. The work of attending to the more temporal business of the church is not to be lightly regarded. It is as much a gift of God’s grace as is prophecy. The spiritual significance of such service is emphasized by the fact that in the days of the apostles only men who were “full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom” were to be set over “the daily ministration” of alms (Acts 6:1, 3).

Teaching. In 1 Corinthians 12:28 the teacher is ranked next after apostles and prophets. His work is to arrange, develop, impress upon the mind and apply to the life the truths that have already been revealed. His gift lies in an enlightened understanding and the faculty of clear exposition. These were the qualifications that gave Apollos great power (see Acts 18:24-28). Those who have been called by God’s grace to be teachers should not grieve that they have not been deemed worthy to be prophets or apostles. Nor should they despise their work as of minor dignity and consequence. The Spirit of God appoints the individual believers to the kind of service for which they are best suited and according to His divine purpose for the church. Therefore, the Christian teacher who has faith in Christ’s leadership of His church will absorb himself wholly in his teaching. Moreover, as Paul instructed Timothy (1 Timothy 5:17), the elders who labor at teaching (KJV, “doctrine”) are worthy of “double honour.”