Christ and Ministry

Abstract

Circumstances at Corinth forced Paul to develop a profoundly christological vision of ministry on both communal and individual levels. The need to differentiate the church from the world, and to overcome divisions within the community led to the insight that believers formed an organic unity, a body, which he then saw as the active presence of Christ in the world. This understanding deepened when accusations of “weakness” brought him to the realisation that the comportment of an authentic minister manifests “the life of Jesus”.