How Paul Introduced Himself In All His Books In The Bible: A Guide For Today’s Church Leaders

The Bible is a collection of 66 books. It contains 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament. Paul is known to have written 13 out of the 27 books of the New Testament.

Paul was a highly educated minister of the gospel used by Christ Jesus to plant several churches in many cities. His preaching was characterized by spectacular demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit, leading to miracles, sighs and wonders.

He was also used to equip and train several other ministers of the gospel, making him a father to them in Christ Jesus. This makes Paul worth following and imitating.

Considering Paul’s background and achievements in terms of his education and ministry, it is expected that he would introduce himself as a prominent person in his books to gain public respect and honour.

But he would not attach titles of nobility to his name or describe ministers he mentored as his bishops or pastors to make him appear very important and superior to them.

Now, in the preamble of nearly all his books, Paul just mentioned his name, stated the ministry office into which Christ called him and identified himself as a servant. They are presented below.

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1).

“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes” (1 Corinthians 1:1).

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother…” (2 Corinthians 1:1).

“Paul, an apostle— not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead” (Galatians 1:1).

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…”(Ephesians 1:1).

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 1:1).

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother” (Colossians 1:1).

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace” (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”
(2 Thessalonians 1:2).

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1).

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:1).

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness” (Titus 1:1).

“Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother…”(Philemon).

Now, you can see that throughout his books, Paul never projected himself as a first-best Christian, who was superior and above others.

Instead, he described himself as an ordinary servant just like every one else, thereby portraying himself as a humble man, a quality Jesus commands His servants to learn from Him (Matthew 11:29).

This should guide how today’s ministers of the gospel carry themselves. It should also warn servants of God who have gone astray and taken pride in the use of lofty extra-biblical titles and positions to repent.

By James Quansah