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The Watchman’s Word: The Need for Ministry Accountability

II Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

The second epistle of Timothy has often been called “Paul’s Swan Song” due it being the last of the epistles that the Apostle Paul would write before his death. It is interesting that Paul would use his last inspired words to address a young minister, named Timothy, concerning the personal conduct of the minister and the ministry. The Church was facing increased scrutiny and persecution from Emperor Nero, so Paul felt it was imperative to instruct his co-laborer in the ministry with these final words in 2 Timothy 1:7;

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.

Fear had obviously gripped the early Church as the Roman Empire plundered Christianity’s holy principles and practices, but Paul wanted to encourage Timothy to overcome this fear of “satanic scrutiny and suffering” by soberly looking within the ministry, as well as without the ministry. Paul declares in 2 Timothy 4:5;

“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry”.

Paul was emphasizing “Ministry Accountability” when advising young Timothy to make “full proof” the ministry. The word “plērophoreō” translated “full proof” means to bear or bring full, to make full, to cause a thing to be shown to the full, or to fulfil the ministry in every part.

Paul reminded Timothy that the call to “offense” by the Church to the world, must always be accompanied with a “defense” by the Church from the world. This defense of the Church can only be accomplished by a self-imposed evaluation of the ministry in full and in every part. The answer to the fear of “satanic scrutiny and suffering” was self-judgement of potential weakness and fractures in the framework of the ministry, lest the enemies of the Cross discover and judge the ministry for us. This great responsibility brings further “light” to the truth stated in I Peter 4:17;

“For the time is come that judgement begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall be the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

Peter emphasizes that the Church must account for itself, less we give an account to the world when it comes knocking at our doors. In 1 Peter 3:15 believers are told to;

“Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

In other words, “the best offense is having a good defense”. I am afraid today’s Church has forgotten the Biblical principle of “accountability” to itself. This principle may be found throughout the Old Testament as Israel is given the precise rules and regulations found within the Levitical and Ceremonial laws. It is also interesting to note when Israel failed to account for herself with the prescribed guidelines that God gave her, her advancement and standing were paused, and the nations of the world were used to account for her failure until she repented. The New Testament carries this truth of accounting or judging one-self in the I Corinthians 11:31;

“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

Jude related this truth of “ministry accountability” as he began to write of the Gospel’s “common salvation” but was quickly moved to the defensive position of “contending for the faith” not from the world without, but what had creeped within the Church. Jude 1:3 states;

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

The early Church realized the necessity of “full-proofing” and testing its principles and practices to the fullest extent lest the enemies of the cross should gain advantage of us. 2 Corinthians 2:11 declares;

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices”.

The subject of “Ministry Accountability” as practiced by the New Testament Church may be further emphasized in the word “apologia”.

The word “apologetics” derives from the Greek word apologia, which was originally used of a speech of defense or an answer given in reply. In ancient Athens it referred to a defense made in the courtroom as part of the normal judicial procedure. After the accusation, the defendant was allowed to refute the charges with a defense or reply (apologia). The accused would attempt to “speak away” (apo—away, logia—speech) the accusation.

This word appears 17 times in noun or verb form in the New Testament, and both the noun (apologia) and verb form (apologeomai) can be translated “defense” or “answer” in every case. Usually the word is used to refer to a speech made in one’s own defense. For example, in Acts 19:33, Luke says that a Jew named Alexander tried to “make a defense” before an angry crowd in Ephesus that was incited by idol-makers whose business was threatened by Paul’s preaching. Elsewhere, Luke always uses the word in reference to situations in which Christians, and in particular the apostle Paul, are put on trial for proclaiming their faith in Christ and have to defend their message against the charge of being unlawful (Acts 22:1; 24:10; 25:8, 16; 26:2, 24).

Paul himself used the word in a variety of contexts in his epistles. To the Corinthians, in 1 Cor. 9:3, he found it necessary to “answer” for himself against criticisms of his claim to be an apostle, declaring “Mine answer to them that do examine me is this”. Toward the end of his life, Paul told Timothy, “At my first answer no man stood with me” (2 Tim. 4:16), referring to the first time he stood trial. Paul’s usage here is similar to what we find in Luke’s writings. Earlier, he had expressed appreciation to the Philippians for supporting him “both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel” (Phil. 1:7). Here again the context is Paul’s conflict with the government and his imprisonment. However, the focus of the “defense” is not Paul but “the gospel”: Paul’s ministry includes defending the gospel against its detractors, especially those who claim that it is subversive or in any way unlawful. So Paul says later in Phil. 1:17;

“I am appointed for the defense of the gospel”

Finally, in 1 Peter 3:15 believers are told to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” The context being that non-Christians were slandering the behavior of Christians and threatening them with persecution (1 Pet. 3:13-17; 4:12-19). Significantly, the word “apologia”, also implies “to give a full account”. There is no doubt that Paul wanted “no stone left un-turned” in the ministry, just in case, the world came knocking in the future.

The Bible is therefore clear when our Faith is challenged or even threatened, Christians should behave lawfully, maintain a good conscience, and give a reasoned defense of Christian principles and practices to anyone who asks. Unfortunately, only fear may be observed in today’s Church when challenged by any sort of scrutiny from the world, including, legislation, regulation, socialization, religion, or persecution. This fear is paralyzing the Church and tragically results in one of the fearful conditions that will be discussed, in the future, in relation to the storm of government and social scrutiny that is effecting Ministries across America

⦁ Apathy and lack of Awareness:

⦁ Arrogance clothed in Self-reliance and Secrecy:

⦁ Anemic and Content:

If the Apostle Paul chose to use his final inspired words instructing Timothy in regards to “Ministry Accountability”, how much more should the Church in these last days “watch thou in all things, endure affliction, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry”.

Dr. Joseph K. Cox

Director-Full Proof Ministries and Consulting Services

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