Able ministers of the new covenant

In the New Testament, the term "able ministers of the new covenant" refers to the apostles and other early Christian leaders who were entrusted with the responsibility of preaching the gospel and establishing the early Christian church.

The phrase "able ministers of the new covenant" is found in 2 Corinthians 3:6, where the apostle Paul writes:

"He has made us competent as ministers of the new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

In this passage, Paul is contrasting the old covenant, which was based on the law and the written word, with the new covenant, which is based on the Spirit and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is saying that the apostles and other early Christian leaders were empowered by the Holy Spirit to minister in a way that was different from the way the Old Testament prophets and priests ministered.

The term "able ministers" (Greek: δυνάμενοι, dunamenoí) means "having power" or "being able." It emphasizes the idea that the apostles and other early Christian leaders were empowered by God to perform their ministry effectively.

The phrase "of the new covenant" (Greek: τοῦ νέου διαθήκης, tou neou diathēkēs) refers to the covenant that God established with his people through Jesus Christ. This covenant is characterized by the promise of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, rather than through obedience to the law.

In the context of 2 Corinthians 3, Paul is arguing that the ministry of the apostles and other early Christian leaders was not based on human wisdom or power, but on the power of the Holy Spirit. He is saying that they were able to minister effectively because they were empowered by God to do so.

The concept of "able ministers of the new covenant" is also developed in other passages in the New Testament, such as Ephesians 4:11-12, where Paul writes:

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

In this passage, Paul is emphasizing the importance of the ministry of the apostles and other early Christian leaders in equipping the saints for the work of ministry and building up the body of Christ. He is saying that these leaders were able to perform their ministry effectively because they were empowered by God to do so.

Overall, the concept of "able ministers of the new covenant" emphasizes the idea that the ministry of the apostles and other early Christian leaders was not based on human wisdom or power, but on the power of the Holy Spirit. It highlights the importance of the ministry of these leaders in establishing the early Christian church and equipping the saints for the work of ministry.