Introduction
Apostle Paul is considered the most important person after the death of Jesus due to his influence on Christian theology. He used a transformational leadership approach to inspire change in the followers. This is a leadership style where a leader collaborates with employees to identify the desired change, develops a vision to guide the change through inspiration, and implements the change in collaboration with dedicated colleagues. A transformative leader understands that others are watching them and learning how to influence others. It is about serving, sticking to your values, and encouraging and inspiring others to think about their convictions and beliefs as they work, serve, and live. Therefore, he transformed various people as documented in the new testament.
Paul’s Leadership Style Impacts Followers
Timothy
Apostle Paul was a source of encouragement and inspiration to Timothy. Paul yearned to spend time with his devoted disciple and son in the faith in his hour of greatest need to show solidarity. Paul urged Timothy to focus on three spiritual objectives for his ministry: spiritual nourishment, spiritual training, and a mission-minded attitude to Church. He also informed Timothy that receiving nourishment from God’s Word is a life-long process. A minister of the gospel is “raised in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed,” according to Paul in 1 Timothy 4:6. Paul encouraged Timothy to keep studying the word of God because it is important for spiritual nourishment; he needs to fight the misleading teachers of the word.
Luke
Luke is one of the believers who extensively interacted with Apostle Paul. He was greatly influenced by Paul during their walk with God and preaching the gospel. Apostle Paul was considered an apostle to the gentiles because he was under obligation to take the word of God to the Gentiles. As a result, Luke focused his writing on ensuring that the gentiles could get the message. Compared to the three gospels, the book of Luke can be understood more easily by the gentiles. Luke employed the Greek equivalent of Hebrew terminology in his writings to make himself more understandable to Greeks. For example, instead of using the Jewish word rabbi, Luke decided to use master. The main inspiration was to ensure that the Gentiles could understand the word of God.
Silas
Apostle Paul played an important role in the development of Silas. In the Bible, Silas is known as one of the believers who worked with Apostle Paul to ensure that the word of God gets to people. Silas must have developed the attribute of being faithful and fearless through his walk with Paul. For example, he agreed to help preach the gospel despite knowing the risk involved and painful consequences. In 1 Thessalonian 2: 1, Paul and Silas said, “But you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not vain. But even after we suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in many conflicts.” Silas was also an open-minded man who believed that Gentiles should be welcomed into the Church like Paul. He was a brilliant preacher, a devoted travel companion, and a devout Christian.
Titus
Titus is also one of the individuals who interacted and worked with Apostle Paul. Paul encouraged Titus to remain steadfast and committed to serving God as a transformational leader. Having left Timothy in Ephesus, Paul and Titus headed to Crete to evangelize, and Paul tasked Titus, like Timothy, with pastoring a church. Paul mentored Titus and believed in his abilities to manage new churches. Paul tasked Titus with consolidating the work and organizing the churches. Timothy was the pastor of the Church at Ephesus, while Titus was the pastor of the new church plant on the Greek island of Crete. In addition, through the life of Paul, Titus acquired the value of being committed and faithful in the work of God. As a result, Titus became one of the leaders of the early Church through the intervention of Paul.
Philemon
Apostle Paul was able to inspire Philemon to develop the art of forgiveness and commitment to serving God. Philemon was a Greek convert and allowed the Church congregation to meet in his home for fellowships. Paul’s request for Philemon to reconcile with his slave Onesimus in the epistle shows how gospel ideas apply to everyday life. Paul encouraged Philemon to love the way Jesus did when he died on the cross for all sinners to be saved. He also taught Philemon the attribute of forgiveness. These are some attributes that distinguish a Christian from others in society. Paul wanted Philemon to forgive and view his runaway slave as a brother in Christ and not an enemy. Based on this, Paul wanted to make sure that Philemon became a Christian with attributes and values set by Christ.
Churches
Paul’s teachings and life played an integral role in the growth and development of churches. His impact and contribution to Churches are extremely significant. First, Paul was able to challenge the concept of Jew being the chosen ones and allowed the message of God to reach the Gentiles. Second, he offered direction on how Churches should be managed to become a light to society. For example, he taught the importance of promoting positive relationships forgiving and loving others. He made the followers believe that Church should be a role model to others by adopting the right behavior and attitude. Third, Paul exemplified how Christians are supposed to live their lives, offering inspiration for new followers that it is possible to undergo an experience and repent past actions. Finally, as a body of Christ, Paul encouraged Christians to grow spiritually by reading God’s word and living a worthy life through his epistles to different churches.
The Key Principles
Awareness
Awareness is the state of knowing or being informed about something. It can be defined as a state where individuals know their true and full potential. Most people have no clue who they are and what God wants them to become. Based on this, awareness enables one to make the right choice and achieve a better result. Timothy was aware of God’s calling, and he made the right choice of serving God. In the scripture, Paul advised Timothy to guard what God has entrusted to him by avoiding godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose them with their so-called knowledge. Titus’s awareness of God’s call is evident when he decides to serve God. As a result, the role of Titus’s and Timothy’s life was to guide him to maintain the course and develop the required values to serve God effectively.
Advancement
Advancement is important in an individual’s life because it signifies growth and progress. Leaders are supposed to be an agent of progress and transformation. Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful and promote the growth of God’s kingdom. In 2 Timothy 1:6-8, Paul says, “this is why I remind you to help God’s gift grow, just as a small spark grows into a fire. God put his gift in you when I placed my hands on you”. In addition, Paul informs Philemon that he will continue with them for their progress and joy in the faith. The apostle Paul knew that fundamentally a growing church consists of growing Christians. He wanted the Church in Thessalonians to grow in love to influence the world. Therefore, Paul understood that leaders in the Church and members are agents of change through their actions.
Alignment
Alignment is when an individual’s thoughts, life choices, and direction are all in accord. It is when individuals listen to their intuition and walk through the world as their authentic selves. According to Johnson (2012), alignment is when leaders’ foster mindsets, skill sets and assets. For example, Timothy’s background shaped his understanding of the scriptures. Timothy’s father was a Greek Gentile, but he grew up with a devout Jewish mother and grandmother who taught him and guided him through the scripture. As a result, Timothy’s skills and mindset was aligned with the assigned pastoral role in the Church of Ephesus. In addition, Philemon assets and mindset helped in his role of promoting the gospel. For example, he was rich and allowed the believers to congregate in his house for fellowships. As a result, alignment help leaders to perform effectively in performing their roles.
Axiom
Axiom is one of the key principles that describe a leader’s capability. According to Johnson (2012), leaders understands the what, why and how. A church leader’s ability to grasp, teach, and live out the gospel teachings is critical to their ministry. Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Silas, Luke and churches understand what to do, why they have been chosen and how to achieve the assignment. For example, in the book of Timothy, Paul addresses Timothy as a faithful son in the lord. A faithful person is loyal and reliable or someone with a strong religious belief. This indicates that Timothy, as a church leader knows the tasks, what to undertake and the reason. In addition, Paul’s letters to the churches show that they understand their purpose in preaching the gospel.
Assurance
Assurance is the ability of a leader to show that they are certain about something. The principle is based on the idea that confident leaders produce confident followers. Leaders instill confidence in followers when they make an earnest effort to engage them during difficult times. Leading by example, Apostle Paul demonstrated to his followers that they should not fear. Philemon was a brave convert because he allowed his house to be used as a place of worship for believers in Colossae. He did not mind the consequences of the people and authorities who are against the preaching of the word of God. Timothy was also considered a courageous minister of the gospel. The early Church’s confidence is also experienced when they continued to preach the word of God regardless of the continued persecution. Thus, the followers of Paul were confidence because he demonstrated the benefit.
Achievement
Achievement is a principle that can be used to determine a leader’s effectiveness. It usually entails setting the group’s goals and ensuring that the group has the skills and resources required to achieve the goals in a timely manner. The leaders of the early Church were focused on achieving their goals, which is preaching the word of God. As a church leader, Timothy was committed to teaching the word. He was faithful and remained righteous in achieving his spiritual goal. Luke is also a good example of a believer who walked with Paul and achieved the goal of spreading the gospel. He ensured that the message reached the gentiles through writings. For example, Luke’s gospel is somehow different from other gospels because the gentiles were able to relate to the message.
The Application of Skills, Attributes and Leadership Principles
Apostle Paul led by example and demonstrated what he wanted to be done. He taught his followers the art of courage through demonstrations. Paul maintains an exceptional level of courage, despite the threats. He continued his work and even preached to his captors, both Jewish and Roman. Based on this, Paul was able to show his followers that being a Christian necessitates courage. His followers like Timothy, Titus, Luke, Philemon, Silas and others learned that it requires bravery to follow Christ. Paul demonstrated to his followers that courage is essential not only for followership but also for leadership. This explains why the followers were not afraid and continued the work of spreading the gospel despite the persecution. As a leader, Paul led and developed his followers by example.
Great leaders are usually distinguished by their ability to build relationships. Paul used the principle of building good relationships to bring the best out of his followers. He maintained a good relationship with Timothy and other followers in the Bible. The apostle Paul exhibits a positive relationship with Timothy in the New Testament. Paul affirms Timothy that he is the perfect person for the task and prepared him for ministry. He also gives him the tools he needs to succeed, puts him in a tough situation to help him be more effective, and emphasizes the importance of his relationship with Timothy. Therefore, Paul maintained his relationship with Paul, Titus and others through the letters and the content of the message.
Paul used empathy to develop the art of maintaining good relationships among the followers. Empathy is the ability to understand others, see things from their point of view, and experience what they are feeling. Many top officials and good leaders hold this value in high regard. In a letter to Philemon, Paul understands how Philemon felt when Onesmus stole from him and escaped. According to Philemon 1:18, Paul pledged to repay any debts Onesimus now owes to Philemon. Paul seemed confident that Philemon would grant his request and asked him to make a room ready to anticipate his release from imprisonment. Paul did this to show his followers the need to foster and maintain positive relationships.
Paul empowered his followers by giving them authority and power. The Apostle Paul followed Jesus’ example of empowering leadership. Paul appointed leaders for the churches he established in different places during his missionary journeys. Paul also gave persons like Titus and Timothy authority by appointing them as overseers or superintendents of groupings of churches. For example, he appointed Timothy to pastor a church in Ephesus. Then he maintained in touch with these congregations, writing letters to them and visiting them. Paul was responsible for training believers to ensure that they were adequately taught and identify future leaders. Finally, he gave them the opportunity to make decisions in their dockets.
Apostle Paul also empowered the followers by reminding them about the power of God and grace that abound. Paul inspired Timothy to focus on three spiritual goals for his ministry: spiritual nourishment from God’s Word, Christian training, and a mission-minded attitude to ministry. Paul taught Timothy that getting nourished from God’s Word should be continous. Paul also advised Timothy to remain steadfast in serving God and not allow others to despite his youth. In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.” In addition, Paul encouraged Titus to preach by his example, with pure motives, dignity, and a proper viewpoint. Therefore, through his messaging, Paul ensured that his followers were motivated to continue with the work of God.
Leaders are supposed to have a spirit of excellence so that others can follow. In the scripture, Paul encouraged believers to embrace excellence in whatever they do. He understands that hard work and dedication is the way to success. In his letter to Colossians, Paul posits, “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as if you were doing it for the Lord rather than for human masters, because you will be rewarded with an inheritance from the Lord.” Paul expected that people will be encouraged to perform their tasks with excellence through this message. For example, if a Christian has an earthly master, they should perform the tasks assigned to them with the whole of their heart.
Accomplishments
Timothy
Timothy was able to run the Church in Ephesus effectively and converted a lot of people to the Christian faith. He received Christ at a young age and started working with Paul in spreading the gospel. Timothy was Paul’s co-author of 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Timothy followed Paul on his missionary missions, and while Paul was imprisoned, he was represented by Timothy in Corinth and Philippi. Timothy was imprisoned for his faith for a period as well. However, untold numbers of people were converted to Christianity due to his efforts. After the death of Paul, Timothy continued preaching the gospel without fear of persecution. He did not fear anything and spoke the truth even if it led to death.
Titus
Titus was one of the believers Paul admired and mentored because of his commitment and steadfastness in the work of God. As an early church leader, Titus had a front-row seat to the gospel’s growth and dissemination. The letter from Paul to his son Titus was written out of worry for a church that the apostle had helped establish on the island of Crete. Titus helped Paul during his difficult time with the Corinthian Church. He conveyed a cheerful message from Corinth to Paul in Macedonia. In 2 Corinthians 7:6–7, Titus assured the apostle of the Corinthians’ continued affection toward him. When Paul later disagreed with the Corinthian Church, he dispatched Titus to intervene, knowing that he would act in the same spirit and take the same actions as the apostle himself. Thus, Titus was integral in spreading the word of God to the people.
Silas
Silas is seen as a key leader of the Jerusalem church with a definite prophetic gift, who spoke with great success at Antioch, bringing many to Christ and boosting the spiritual life of the Christians. His preaching ability is also evident throughout his journeys with Paul and Timothy. In reality, all three of them conveyed the message that Jesus was the Messiah with great power and spiritual effectiveness. Without a doubt, Silas, like all the great preachers of the early Church, found immense delight and fulfilment in proclaiming the good news that the one killed on Calvary was none other than God’s promised Messiah prophesied by Isaiah. As a result, Silas achievement is evident in his dependability and taking up whatever tasks assigned to him by Christ and colleagues in the lord.
Philemon
Philemon plays an integral role in the establishment of a church in Colossae. He was a citizen of Colossae and an upright leader in that Church. Philemon as a rich servant of God housed believers during worships. The gatherings at his house were important early in Colossae. In Philemon 1:7, Paul states, “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.” He used his resources to support believers in need. In addition, as one of the church leaders, Philemon bravely helped with the preaching of the word of God to the Colossians. With his authority, he influenced many people and led them to Christ. Therefore, Philemon’s achievements are displayed in the growth and development of the Church in Colossae.
Luke
Luke is one of the believers who helped with the spread of the word in the early Church. The first achievement is participation in the writing of the scriptures. In the Gospel of Luke, Luke highlights Jesus Christ’s humanity. Luke includes Jesus’ genealogy, a detailed description of Christ’s birth, and the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. The story assists readers in understanding the life of Christ. Luke also wrote Acts of Apostles, which documents the reflects the life of disciples after the resurrection of Jesus. In addition to writing the Book of Acts, Luke was a missionary and early church leader. He helped in preaching the word of God by accompanying Paul to different regions. Luke played a crucial role in spreading the word of God to the gentiles.
Churches
The early Church did tremendous work in spreading the word of God. Without a doubt, the early Church was a success, and their contribution will be remembered forever. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says, “And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The early Church was steadfast and committed to making sure that people heard the good news and converted souls to God. The scripture reveals that 3,000 souls were saved due to Peter’s preaching. In addition, through the help of other believers like Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Paul was able to plant churches in different regions. Thus, churches were integral in leading people to Christ and preaching the good news.
Conclusion
Apostle Paul is regarded as the most important figure after the death of Jesus. He employed a transformational leadership approach to motivate his followers to change. This is a type of leadership where a leader works with employees to define the desired change, establishes a vision to inspire the change, and then delivers the change with the support of committed colleagues. The transformative leader recognizes that people are observing and learning from them how to impact others. It is about giving back, staying true to their values, and encouraging and motivating others to reflect on their convictions and beliefs while they work and serve.
References
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Johnson, K. (2012). The LQ Solution: influence, impact and increase. KJI Publishing.
Estelle, B. D. (2018). Echoes of Exodus: Tracing a Biblical Motif. Intervarsity Press.
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