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Embracing Shared Ministry: Power and Status in the Early Church and Why It Matters Today
Social historian and pastor Joe Hellerman addresses issues of power and authority in the church--in the New Testament and in the church today--in a fresh, culturally nuanced way. The local church, Hellerman maintains, should be led and taught by a community of leaders who relate to one another first as brothers and sisters in Christ, and who function only secondarily--and only within the parameters of that primary relational context--as vision-casting, decision-making leaders for the broader church family. Unique among contemporary treatments of servant leadership, Hellerman interprets the biblical materials against the background of ancient Roman cultural values, in order to demonstrate a social context for ministry that will provide healthy checks and balances on the use of pastoral power and authority in our congregations.
314 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 9, 2025
Well researched, well structured, but extraordinarily repetitive. Page(s) long conclusion a to each chapter that relates the chapter add an easy 5-10% length on the book. The teaching is good! The research is excellent. But the style drops it down. A 30 page excerpt could give you all you need to know.
October 20, 2013
Joseph Hellerman is a professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Talbot. He also serves as a copastor at Oceanside Christian Fellowship in El Sungundo, California. The dual vocation of Bible scholar and pastor has allowed him to delve deeply into the Bible and ancient literature and discover implications for ministry. In Embracing Shared Ministry: Power and Status in the Early Church and Why it Matters Today, Hellerman takes a look at the dynamics of power in the Roman culture of Philippi and Paul’s counter-cultural message in Philippians. He then discusses the implications of Paul’s words for our contemporary ministry context.
The three parts of Hellerman’s book delve into the reality of power relationships. In part one, Hellerman examines the reality of power, privilege and class in Roman culture. There were the cultural elites, but a hunger for glory and status from non-elites meant that non-elites also patterned their life after elite culture. This is evident in Philippi. the only place in Paul’s missionary journey that Luke identifies as a Roman Colony (Acts 16).
In part two, Hellerman unfolds Paul’s counter-cultural message from his letter to the Philippians. While there does not appear to be a crisis in the church of Philippi which Paul is addressing, he does go to great pains to give an alternative view of leadership, power and status. Unlike other Epistles, Paul does not stress his apostleship, but uses the sole designation of slave, a status which had a fair degree of shame attached to it in the first century (123-6). He also urges the Philippians toward greater unity, humility and service. The Christological hymn of Phil. 2 demonstrates how antithetical to Roman-business-as-usual, the gospel was. Jesus had status, came in the form of ‘a slave,’ and suffered death by crucifixion on our behalf (141, ff). To a culture organized around gaining glory, status and power, this was a radical departure. And yet Paul called the Philippians (and us) to follow Christ’s self-emptying example.
Part three draws out the implications with an eye toward current church leadership structures. While Hellerman does not mandate a particular approach to church governance, he does question models of church leadership where a sole, senior pastor has absolute and unchecked authority. He includes a number of stories from students which illustrate where church power structures go awry (especially chapter 7) and illustrates the importance of examining the social context of ministry and argues that the ‘team leadership model’ is more consistent with the New Testament. This allows for greater accountability, shared wisdom, and less division between clergy and laity. Hellerman shares what this looks like in his own context, part of a team of pastor-elders at Oceanside.
Hellerman builds his case well, and I loved how he combined a close reading of First Century Philippi and Paul’s epistle with its implications for church ministry today. By beginning with ‘ancient history,’ Hellerman is able to illustrate how Philippians speaks both to its context and our own. This focus on history will be daunting for some readers, but the payoff is worth it. I absolutely loved part two (his reading of Philippians) and copiously underlined several sections.
I am lucky enough to be a part of a church with healthy leadership, but I have lots of friends who I have seen chewed up and hurt by their churches. I think that this is a valuable resource for recovering a more communal and humble approach to leadership. Especially for those who are starting out on their journey in ministry and developing convictions about leadership. I highly recommend it. 5 stars: ★★★★★
Thank you to Kregel Ministry for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The three parts of Hellerman’s book delve into the reality of power relationships. In part one, Hellerman examines the reality of power, privilege and class in Roman culture. There were the cultural elites, but a hunger for glory and status from non-elites meant that non-elites also patterned their life after elite culture. This is evident in Philippi. the only place in Paul’s missionary journey that Luke identifies as a Roman Colony (Acts 16).
In part two, Hellerman unfolds Paul’s counter-cultural message from his letter to the Philippians. While there does not appear to be a crisis in the church of Philippi which Paul is addressing, he does go to great pains to give an alternative view of leadership, power and status. Unlike other Epistles, Paul does not stress his apostleship, but uses the sole designation of slave, a status which had a fair degree of shame attached to it in the first century (123-6). He also urges the Philippians toward greater unity, humility and service. The Christological hymn of Phil. 2 demonstrates how antithetical to Roman-business-as-usual, the gospel was. Jesus had status, came in the form of ‘a slave,’ and suffered death by crucifixion on our behalf (141, ff). To a culture organized around gaining glory, status and power, this was a radical departure. And yet Paul called the Philippians (and us) to follow Christ’s self-emptying example.
Part three draws out the implications with an eye toward current church leadership structures. While Hellerman does not mandate a particular approach to church governance, he does question models of church leadership where a sole, senior pastor has absolute and unchecked authority. He includes a number of stories from students which illustrate where church power structures go awry (especially chapter 7) and illustrates the importance of examining the social context of ministry and argues that the ‘team leadership model’ is more consistent with the New Testament. This allows for greater accountability, shared wisdom, and less division between clergy and laity. Hellerman shares what this looks like in his own context, part of a team of pastor-elders at Oceanside.
Hellerman builds his case well, and I loved how he combined a close reading of First Century Philippi and Paul’s epistle with its implications for church ministry today. By beginning with ‘ancient history,’ Hellerman is able to illustrate how Philippians speaks both to its context and our own. This focus on history will be daunting for some readers, but the payoff is worth it. I absolutely loved part two (his reading of Philippians) and copiously underlined several sections.
I am lucky enough to be a part of a church with healthy leadership, but I have lots of friends who I have seen chewed up and hurt by their churches. I think that this is a valuable resource for recovering a more communal and humble approach to leadership. Especially for those who are starting out on their journey in ministry and developing convictions about leadership. I highly recommend it. 5 stars: ★★★★★
Thank you to Kregel Ministry for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 29, 2019
Needed reading in an age of individualistic leaders
August 20, 2020
Fantastic. An absolute must read for a sermon series on Philippians, and even for the understanding of the New Testament as a whole.
March 15, 2023
Read related research to Dr. Norris' presentation. Exploring power structures in the Roman world, early church, and how it comes to bear on the modern crisis of authority in the pastorate.
November 6, 2013
It should not take another book to explain the radical nature of the way of Christ when compared to non-Christian society. However, sometimes we need to be reminded of the counter-cultural call of Christianity. This is the premise behind Joseph Hellerman’s Embracing Shared Ministry: Power and Status in the Early Church and Why it Matters Today.
I admit that I expected something different from the book when I decided to read it. I anticipated another book on the wisdom of plural leadership in the church. It certainly is that; but it is more.
Joseph Hellerman begins by showing that Philippi, which is specifically identified in Acts as a Roman colony, was immersed in the culture of honor and prestige that dominated Roman society. He summarizes this by saying, “The people of Philippi had been socialized to embrace the status conscious, honor-oriented values of their cultural world” (p.26). As a Roman colony, Philippi was a “Rome away from Rome.” It is fitting, then, that it was to believers in this church that Paul expounded the selfless self-emptying of Christ in the richly Christological passage of Phil. 2:4-11. Hellerman reminds us that this deep, theologically rich Christology was given in the context of inter-personal behaviors and not in the halls of the academy. Theology is to be lived.
After building upon this and exposing our own culture’s romance with honor and status, the author makes a plea for church leadership that more closely imitates the way of the cross as described in Phil. 2:4-11. We know too well that many churches tend to follow corporate strategies designed more for the business world than for the flock for whom Christ died.
This book is a good exercise in interpreting Scripture in the context in which it was written. We tend to judge the example of Christ by modern concepts of humility. Hellerman clearly shows the absolutely radical nature of Paul’s injunction when viewed through first century Roman lenses.
As I progressed to the latter part of the book, I wondered if Hellerman would take a more extreme approach and denounce leadership out of hand. He does not. He knows that leadership is necessary and that, like nature, it abhors a vacuum. Someone will lead. It is the quality, accountability, and relational nature of that leadership that makes the difference.
Embracing Shared Ministry is a welcomed addition to the body of literature available in church leadership. It may send some sacred cows to the altar, but such sacrifices need to be made.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
I admit that I expected something different from the book when I decided to read it. I anticipated another book on the wisdom of plural leadership in the church. It certainly is that; but it is more.
Joseph Hellerman begins by showing that Philippi, which is specifically identified in Acts as a Roman colony, was immersed in the culture of honor and prestige that dominated Roman society. He summarizes this by saying, “The people of Philippi had been socialized to embrace the status conscious, honor-oriented values of their cultural world” (p.26). As a Roman colony, Philippi was a “Rome away from Rome.” It is fitting, then, that it was to believers in this church that Paul expounded the selfless self-emptying of Christ in the richly Christological passage of Phil. 2:4-11. Hellerman reminds us that this deep, theologically rich Christology was given in the context of inter-personal behaviors and not in the halls of the academy. Theology is to be lived.
After building upon this and exposing our own culture’s romance with honor and status, the author makes a plea for church leadership that more closely imitates the way of the cross as described in Phil. 2:4-11. We know too well that many churches tend to follow corporate strategies designed more for the business world than for the flock for whom Christ died.
This book is a good exercise in interpreting Scripture in the context in which it was written. We tend to judge the example of Christ by modern concepts of humility. Hellerman clearly shows the absolutely radical nature of Paul’s injunction when viewed through first century Roman lenses.
As I progressed to the latter part of the book, I wondered if Hellerman would take a more extreme approach and denounce leadership out of hand. He does not. He knows that leadership is necessary and that, like nature, it abhors a vacuum. Someone will lead. It is the quality, accountability, and relational nature of that leadership that makes the difference.
Embracing Shared Ministry is a welcomed addition to the body of literature available in church leadership. It may send some sacred cows to the altar, but such sacrifices need to be made.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
November 5, 2013
Every pastor, minister, elder, deacon and member of the board in the church should read this book!!!
Book Review: Embracing Shared Ministry: Power and Status in the Early Church and Why It Matters Today by Joseph H. Hellerman
A fresh take on how pastoral ministry was done in the early church, contrasting the contemporary senior pastor model with a multiple elders model, which, the author contends was the way pastoring was done in the first century. Furthermore, the author deals with authority abuse in churches, advocating, as a solution, for a “cruciform” type of life modeled by those in authority. He takes his clues from Paul’s letter to the Philippians in order to cast a markedly alternative vision in a truly biblical theology of leadership.
The author also compares the single pastor model to the plurality of elders one and makes a good case that the latter is, at the very least, the practice in the early church, particularly as lived out in Philippi. By giving modern day examples, biblical theology is brought into the realm of practical theology and helps the reader to ascertain the prevalent weaknesses in today’s popular pastor-as-CEO model.
It is possible that many pastors do not realize they have come to see the church as their own playing ground where they exercise supreme authority. It is possible that they honestly think that anyone not singing the pastor’s praises is a carnal individual that would be better off attending elsewhere. The book should at the very least help them think through how they do church government. Maybe they would learn a thing or two about pastoring the biblical way, and maybe other sheep will be spared the spiritual abuse that has victimized countless souls.
Disclosure: The book was received for free from Kregel Academic & Ministry book review program. The program does not require a positive review, only an honest one.
Book Review: Embracing Shared Ministry: Power and Status in the Early Church and Why It Matters Today by Joseph H. Hellerman
A fresh take on how pastoral ministry was done in the early church, contrasting the contemporary senior pastor model with a multiple elders model, which, the author contends was the way pastoring was done in the first century. Furthermore, the author deals with authority abuse in churches, advocating, as a solution, for a “cruciform” type of life modeled by those in authority. He takes his clues from Paul’s letter to the Philippians in order to cast a markedly alternative vision in a truly biblical theology of leadership.
The author also compares the single pastor model to the plurality of elders one and makes a good case that the latter is, at the very least, the practice in the early church, particularly as lived out in Philippi. By giving modern day examples, biblical theology is brought into the realm of practical theology and helps the reader to ascertain the prevalent weaknesses in today’s popular pastor-as-CEO model.
It is possible that many pastors do not realize they have come to see the church as their own playing ground where they exercise supreme authority. It is possible that they honestly think that anyone not singing the pastor’s praises is a carnal individual that would be better off attending elsewhere. The book should at the very least help them think through how they do church government. Maybe they would learn a thing or two about pastoring the biblical way, and maybe other sheep will be spared the spiritual abuse that has victimized countless souls.
Disclosure: The book was received for free from Kregel Academic & Ministry book review program. The program does not require a positive review, only an honest one.
December 27, 2013
This is a heady book. I know that I would not find most of the people in my congregation readily grabbing this book off the shelf and reading it. I see it serving an excellent place in the college and seminary, however.
That said, I will still recommend it, specifically for pastors and church leaders. It would be best to take a group of men through this book and learn mightily from it. Leadership could plow through it over a couple of months, but if the elders and pastors of a church find themselves 'running a business' and serving with a hierarchy chiefly in mind, then it might be best to walk slowly through the book over the course of a year's time. In this way, an entire leadership team might be formed, egos set aside, humility put on and the entire church served far better than ever before.
I heard Joe Hellerman give a series of messages at our North Central District of the Evangelical Free Church of America's Annual Conference this past April. It was an overview of his previous book, The Ancient Church as Family, and this current book. It was fascinating to see how the church, particularly in America has become far removed from it's biblical roots when it comes to leadership, raising up leaders for the future and truly seeing the body functioning as a body, not just as a head with a few hands 'thrown in.' Based upon those lectures and this book, I'm strongly encouraging pastors to get a hold of this book and read it. Pour yourself into and it and let it drive you to Scripture to be shaped by the humility of Christ.
That said, I will still recommend it, specifically for pastors and church leaders. It would be best to take a group of men through this book and learn mightily from it. Leadership could plow through it over a couple of months, but if the elders and pastors of a church find themselves 'running a business' and serving with a hierarchy chiefly in mind, then it might be best to walk slowly through the book over the course of a year's time. In this way, an entire leadership team might be formed, egos set aside, humility put on and the entire church served far better than ever before.
I heard Joe Hellerman give a series of messages at our North Central District of the Evangelical Free Church of America's Annual Conference this past April. It was an overview of his previous book, The Ancient Church as Family, and this current book. It was fascinating to see how the church, particularly in America has become far removed from it's biblical roots when it comes to leadership, raising up leaders for the future and truly seeing the body functioning as a body, not just as a head with a few hands 'thrown in.' Based upon those lectures and this book, I'm strongly encouraging pastors to get a hold of this book and read it. Pour yourself into and it and let it drive you to Scripture to be shaped by the humility of Christ.
December 2, 2013
I thought the scholarship in the first half of the book was good, and the case made for a particular model of leadership was strong. I recommend the book for anyone who cares about what church leadership should look like--it's worth the read.
That being said, it wasn't a stellar quality book as far as how it flowed. There was quite a bit of repetition of the same ideas constantly restated in different words (like most contemporary "Christian Living" books), and the conclusion and case studies came off as a little awkward, but the points were made. It's clear to me that you had a very thoughtful academic writer decide to bring his research writing down to a practical level and found a way in this book to wed his ancient world studies to his own anecdotal evidence of spiritual abuse and the contemporary ecclesiological crisis. But the book ends up being half academic (first half) and half anecdotal argument and the two almost seem like two different books awkwardly welded together.
But the point he makes in the book is right on, and reading this book helped me understand the book of Philippians and the case for shared leadership a lot better than I had. I will be recommending this book to several people I know that could profit from it.
That being said, it wasn't a stellar quality book as far as how it flowed. There was quite a bit of repetition of the same ideas constantly restated in different words (like most contemporary "Christian Living" books), and the conclusion and case studies came off as a little awkward, but the points were made. It's clear to me that you had a very thoughtful academic writer decide to bring his research writing down to a practical level and found a way in this book to wed his ancient world studies to his own anecdotal evidence of spiritual abuse and the contemporary ecclesiological crisis. But the book ends up being half academic (first half) and half anecdotal argument and the two almost seem like two different books awkwardly welded together.
But the point he makes in the book is right on, and reading this book helped me understand the book of Philippians and the case for shared leadership a lot better than I had. I will be recommending this book to several people I know that could profit from it.
November 5, 2013
Short Review: I waver between 3 and 4 stars. In the end I am going to four because of the thoroughness of the initial two parts of the book. The first part is an explanation of the cultural or the Roman world, focusing on the honor system and the fixed nature of status. Then with that understanding Hellerman tackles the book of Philippians and especially Paul's famous chapter 2 description of Jesus. The book ends with pastoral case studies and illustration of a positive leadership model (and some pastoral advice for young seminarians or new pastors.)
I have to say, that while I agree with the point, and appreciate the cultural background and explication of Philippians, I still wanted more from the book. I wanted a couple more positive examples of shared ministry (there was only Hellerman's positive and several negative examples.) I also think that Hellerman could have cut some of the first two sections and still made a convincing case.
Worth reading if you are in church leadership however.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/shared-ministry/
I have to say, that while I agree with the point, and appreciate the cultural background and explication of Philippians, I still wanted more from the book. I wanted a couple more positive examples of shared ministry (there was only Hellerman's positive and several negative examples.) I also think that Hellerman could have cut some of the first two sections and still made a convincing case.
Worth reading if you are in church leadership however.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/shared-ministry/
March 22, 2014
Great concept and I enjoyed the book, but I couldn't hand it to a layperson or even a pastor who doesn't like to read heave material.
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