My Reflections on 2 Corinthians and Biblical Leadership

Biblical leaders highest priority is to be God-centered; revealing the being, nature and characteristics of God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4a).

Biblical leaders put their trust in God abilities and not in their own abilities (2 Corinthians 1:9)

Biblical leaders conduct their lives and ministries in the holiness and sincerity of God (2 Corinthians 1:12)

Biblical leaders conduct their lives and ministries according to God’s grace and not worldly wisdom (2 Corinthians 1:12).

Biblical leaders speak a focused message of “yes” and “amen” in the promises in Christ, and do not speak a mixed and confusing message of “yes” and “no.” (2 Corinthians 1:18-20)

Biblical leaders stand firm in God as a result of the charis/anointing of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

Biblical leaders do not lord it over other people’s Christian faith, but see other Christians as fellow-workers and partners in the Gospel (2 Corinthians 1:24).

Biblical leaders see God as the true leader of their victories and successes, and give Him all the glory (2 Corinthians 1:14).

Biblical leaders live a lifestyle that produces the aroma and fragrance of the knowledge of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:16).

Biblical leaders handle and speak God’s Word with sincerity, and not as those who peddle the Word of God for profit (2 Corinthians 2:17).

Biblical leaders understand that their real credentials are the changed hearts of the people they minister too (2 Corinthians 3:1-3).

Biblical leaders recognize that their confidence and competence is rooted in God’s enablement and power, and they are not a product of their own efforts or accomplishments (2 Corinthians 3:4-5).

Biblical leaders are ministers of the new covenant in Christ, the Holy Spirit that dispenses God’s life, and the message of God’s righteousness, all of which brings attention to God’s glory alone and not to themselves (2 Corinthians 3:6, 8, 9)

Biblical leaders minister the Spirit of the Lord that results in freedom and internal transformation in people’s lives (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).

Biblical leaders present God’s Word plainly and clearly with a pure conscience, and strongly rejects all deceptive, manipulative, and distorted techniques (2 Corinthians 4:1-3).

Biblical leaders emphasize that they are servants of Christ, and preach Christ alone without self-elevation (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Biblical leaders understand that they are simply ordinary jars of clay, and that the positive results of their ministry is totally and completely the result of the treasure of the all-surpassing power of God working through them (2 Corinthians 4:7-8).

Biblical leaders realize that authentic ministry involves experiencing external and internal hardships and suffering by following Christ who was crucified in weakness, and rejects a self produced image of unbiblical forms prosperity and got-it-all-together  triumphantism (2 Corinthians 4:81-12).

Biblical leaders fix their eyes by faith on the eternal heavenly glories in Christ (the unseen), and not on temporal earthly matters of big buildings, budgets, and crowds that so many Christian leaders believe are signs of success (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Biblical leaders know and live with a deep awareness of the fear of God, and that they will stand at the judgement of God and give an account of their lives and ministry (2 Corinthians 5:7, 10).

Biblical leaders live in the light, and their lifestyles are open to God and others.  They do not privately coverup their sin and weaknesses, and in falsehood publicly act as if they are something more than they really are (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Biblical leaders are compelled to ministry out of God’s love experienced and dwelling in their hearts, and not out of duty, self-promotion, or personal gain (2 Corinthians 5:14).

Biblical leaders are ambassadors of the new creation in Christ, speaking and ministering reconciliation with God through the cross of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

Biblical leaders demonstrate that they are servants of Christ by engaging in a ministry that will make people spiritually rich in Christ, with the full understanding that it will result in troubles and distresses inside and out (2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 7:5).

Biblical leaders open their hearts and affections to those they minister to, and reject a standoffish and non-relational approach to minister (2 Corinthians 6:11).

Biblical leaders do not exploit, enslave, and use others for their own personal or ministry gains (2 Corinthians 6:2).    

Biblical leaders exhort and challenge others for the purpose of repentance, and not to dispense condemnation or punishment (2 Corinthians 7:8-10).

Biblical leaders engage in spiritual warfare by utilizing God-empowered weapons of Spirit and Truth to overthrow strongholds and falsehoods, and reject the temptation to confront or fight according to fleshly and worldly techniques (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Biblical leaders use their authority as ministers to edify and encourage people to grow and mature in Christ, and and never to tear down or demean people (2 Corinthians 10:8; 12:19; 13:10).

Biblical leaders focus on presenting the simplicity and purity of the Gospel from a clear heart and conscience, and reject a prideful dependency on rhetorical techniques, skills, and spiritual manifestations to impress and stimulate their hearers (2 Corinthians 10:10; 11:3).   

Biblical leaders focus on the essentials concerning the true Jesus, the true Spirit, and the true Gospel, and do not get caught up in wasting their energy and time on petty and nonessential arguments and religious niceties (2 Corinthians 11:2-4)

Biblical leaders are to make the object of their boasting their weaknesses (the difficult external circumstances, physical suffering, and internal pains as normative results of faithfully executing their ministry), and in so doing, reveal that their dependence is on the grace and power of God; and they reject all boasting in their foolish strengths (rhetorical skills, human wisdom, and private supernatural experiences) (2 Corinthians 11:30; 12:9-10; 13:4).