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ADMINISTRATION
(Ruling)
1. Listed at 1 Cor. 12:28: kubernāsis (plural)
means governments, rulings.
It is an ability to rule, govern and administrate. Thus, it is an organizational
gift.
A. LXX, Prov. 1:5; 11:14; 24:6: The word is translated
as wise counsel or wise guidance from the Hebrew, tachbulah, which occurs
in the plural at these places. It originates from the idea of rope-pulling
which is how the ships were steered and directed.
B. Verb, kubernao: It means to guide or pilot. It was
used of a ship's navigator.
1. Accordingly, it indicates not only the ability to steer
the course, but also to stay calm and relaxed under pressure.
2. Obviously, the ability to guide is hindered if the
leader is not under self-control.
C. Kubernātās: Acts 27:11; Rev.
18:17 (pilot, shipmaster)
2. Romans 12:8, he who rules: proistāmi (present
middle participle).
It means to stand before; manage, control, organize -- administrate.
cf. 1 Tim. 3:4 (managing his household); 3:12 (managing children).
1 Tim. 5:17, elders who rule well.
3. The administrator is governed by three things at Romans
12.
A. verse 6, kata analogia: according to agreement with
the faith.
The Faith is the whole body of Christian truth as revealed by Jesus and
the apostles and prophets. (1 Tim. 4:6 with 3:14-16
and 2 Tim. 1:13).
B. verse 8, spoudā: dedication and hard work
to make sure everything runs smoothly.
C. verse 9-21, The Love: The love character structure
which reflects all the virtues of beneficent love as described at 1 Cor.
13:4-7.
D. Application of 1 Cor. 14:40
1. Let all things: everything in the local church body.
2. become: ginomai (present middle imperative) "be
accomplished."
3. in proper design: euschāmonōs
(adverb) means good (eu) design or scheme (schāma).
4. AND in order: kata taxis = according to order or arrangement
a. From tasso: to place, appoint, arrange, 1
Cor. 16:15.
b. tagma: 1 cor. 15:23, that which has been arranged.
c. taktos: Acts 12:21 (adjective) ordered, arranged, fixed,
appointed.
4. The administrator is included with those who rule at
1 Tim. 5:17.
Perfect active participle of proistāmi.
5. The administrator then is the pilot of order in the
local church.
He takes care of details, but usually through the delegation of jobs so
that the teachers can be free to properly study and teach.
A. Application of Acts 6:1-6
B. This gift provides divine ability to have insight into organization needs and detail problems.
C. His job is to keep things running smoothly so that
all the sheep are provided for both spiritually and materially.
6. Based on Acts 6 and Titus 1:5 and 1 Tim. 3:1, the administrators
are recognized and appointed by the functional leadership gifts in the
local church body, as the needs develop and as the gift manifests itself.
Sometimes this can be done by the church "organizer," the one
who formed the church, such as an evangelist, exhorter, prophet or apostle.
7. Always remember that the gifts involve divine ability,
and not human talent. the facility in organization will begin to manifest
itself as the particular believer advances in the growth process.
A. It may correlate with the person's natural or learned
abilities, but that has no bearing on his effectiveness.
B. Also, after salvation, his new organization ability
will begin to be seen and felt in secular life as well. Although the purpose
of the gifts is for the local church, when the believer is in fellowship,
there is an overflow of "skill" in the particular ability of
his gift that will be seen and experienced in whatever he does.
C. The indication to any believer that he might have this
gift is when he experiences an increase in organizational skills as well
as the desire and urge to organize things.
8. The occupational hazards of the administration gift:
A. Tendency to become too bossy. Wanting to run the whole
show.
May begin to dictate doctrinal policy to the communicators.
B. Tendency to bring into the local church body, secular
standards of administration which may or may not line up with divine viewpoint.
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