Priestly. Powerful. Pioneering.
Those three descriptors can be used to accurately describe the ministry of the apostle Paul.
It was priestly, because he was “a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:16).
It was powerful, because he did not “dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:18-19).
It was pioneering, because he made it his “aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation” (Romans 15:20).
Paul had reason to glory in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God because his priestly, powerful, pioneering ministry was about His Savior, not himself.
