Paul's Servant Leadership

Running Head: SERVANT LEADERSHIP – A CASE STUDY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL 1
Servant Leadership – A Case Study of the Apostle Paul
Carol Arnold and Joanne Weddle
Friends University

SERVANT LEADERSHIP – A CASE STUDY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL 2
Introduction:
In Servant Leadership “true leadership emerges from those whose primary motivation is a deep
desire to help others. Servant leadership is a very moral position, putting the well-being of the
followers before other goals.”(Greenleaf, 1977) A prime example of a Servant Leader is the
Bible’s Apostle Paul, “whose leadership strength is without equal.”(Roulet, 2013) If Paul were
alive today, he would be amazed that he provides “the 21st-century leaders with a virtual perfect
model for modern leadership.”(Roulet, 2013) A servant leader places the needs of others above
their own needs. Servant Leaders are often found working in charitable organizations or
community outreach projects thou not always. Though Paul held many different traits of other
leadership styles, his dominate style was predominately Servant Leadership.
The Apostle Paul:
Paul modeled the leadership traits and values which his followers adopted. These traits, values
and beliefs were replicated throughout his worldly travels, and has also transcended time
impacting modern generations. His message continues to reach modern generations and will for
years to come. This can be attributed to the exponential growth of both early Christianity and
Paul’s teaching leadership style. Paul’s personal experiences with many cultures, geopolitical
environments, and trade routes as a business man, allowed him to adapt and respect those around
him. This made him very effective in a variety of circumstances. Paul impacted people from
many different socio-economical statuses, to include those in utter complete poverty, prisoners,
politicians, businessmen, differing religious sects, royal courts, Greeks, Romans, and many other
cultures. Paul was comfortable in both private and public audience. Paul related to each group
with compassion and understanding on the individuals level in a way the individual could relate
and understand. Paul gained the respect of the people he interacted with on a daily basis as well

as, the leadership in charge of the various population masses, i.e. prison guards, centurions and
faith leaders. Although he may have ruffled feathers with his revolutionary message, he always
respected others and gained the respect of the people he was trying to reach, –“I have become all
things to all people in order by all means [or “at least”] to save some” (9:22b) – Paul tries to
capture his principle of accommodation that he believes so fundamental to life lived in the
gospel. (Paul's Evangelistic Adaptability, 2012) Paul, as a common man modeled seven core
values. These values established the frame work for both Christianity and leadership in a way
that made it accessible to the common man.
Paul’s Core Christian Leadership Values
 Glorifying God - (Bible Teaching About Christian Leadership Core Values, 2013) The
value of God’s message and his faith had purpose, power, pattern and program is a
fundamental principle that Paul has seized upon and that informs his entire ministry: The
gospel, the power of God, always encounters and engages people where they are, where
they live, in their social matrix. Inevitably, the gospel moves them and changes them, but
it always comes to them, engages them, and nourishes them from that very point, as and
where they are. For the concern at hand – the divisiveness of the community and the
independent arrogance of some of the believers – Paul’s self-portrait as one who
accommodates to others, even to the weak, invites his hearers, who readily enough
identify with Paul as free person, to identify with him also as voluntary servant who
accommodates to the weak and to their needs for the sake of the gospel, which follows
the pattern of program purpose and power to move the masses of people to make the
decision to follow Christianity. (Paul's Evangelistic Adaptability, 2012)

 Integrity – (Bible Teaching About Christian Leadership Core Values, 2013) “teaching
about Christian leadership core values is pertinent and necessary.” (Bible Teaching About
Christian Leadership Core Values, 2013) Values are deeply held beliefs that guide good
leaders in their behavior and decision making. Paul, being appointed by the church,
insisted on transparency in his work. His assertion to avoid things that would discredit the
leadership of his era or his mission, contributed to the great respect and following he had.
 Service before self – (Bible Teaching About Christian Leadership Core Values, 2013)
Paul’s job was to collect money for relief work. He represented the collaboration of the
community and required the trust of others, while showing empathy, providing healing
and awareness, as he persuaded the masses to embrace Christianity. His unselfish vision
and commitment to people challenged society’s traditional views. In doing this, Paul
lived a modest meager life, modeling the morals and ethics he stood for, as a tent maker
supporting himself instead of receiving financial support from a church. (Acts 18:3)
(Paul's Evangelistic Adaptability, 2012)
 Loyalty – (Bible Teaching About Christian Leadership Core Values, 2013) “The word
brings to mind a powerful sense of belonging and solidarity. With it comes the idea of
whole hearted fidelity coupled with unswerving devotion and duty”. (Got Questions?org,
2013) Paul continued teaching and practicing the principals of Christianity. He remained
faithful as a servant to God in all cultures. This demonstrated God’s principles, and
Paul’s purpose for bringing the word of God to all cultures. Loyalty was not only

important to Paul, but to the others spreading the gospel, as the betrayal of Judas of
Iscariot was the ultimate betrayal of loyalty leading to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
 Excellence - (Bible Teaching About Christian Leadership Core Values, 2013) Paul
demonstrates his commitment to excellence in a written letter to Timothy. In his
instructions, he directs Timothy to not challenge his elders by insulting their intelligence,
but to present himself in a manner of professionalism which includes moderate behavior,
maturity and considerate conduct, which will earn the respect and support of the elders.
(Paul's Mission and Letters, 2013) (Got Questions?org, 2013)The servant leader serves
others, rather than others serving the leader. Serving others thus comes by helping them
to achieve and improve on their own excellence. “The people served grow as individuals,
becoming 'healthier, wiser, more autonomous and more likely themselves to become
servants.” (Greenleaf, 1977). The extent to which the leadership benefits those who are
least advantaged in society (or at least does not disadvantage them). Excellence is
achieved by applying the basic principles as defined by the Alliance for Servant
Leadership.
Principles - (Servant Leadership, 2013)
 “Transformation as a vehicle for personal and institutional growth.
 Personal growth as a route to better serve others.
 Enabling environments that empower and encourage service.
 Service as a fundamental goal.
 Trusting relationships as a basic platform for collaboration and service.

 Creating commitment as a way to collaborative activity.
 Community building as a way to create environments in which people can trust
each other and work together.
 Nurturing the spirit as a way to provide joy and fulfillment in meaningful work. .
Paul required transparency of work and ethics, leaving nothing he did in question
of unethical behavior.” (Got Questions?org, 2013)
Paul required transparency of work and ethics, leaving nothing he did in question of
unethical behavior. This was particularly important to the Apostles, especially after the
betrayal of Judas of Iscariot which led to the death of Jesus. Judas was a charismatic
leader who was trusted to sit at the right hand of Jesus during the Passover Sadr (Last
Supper). This was a significant position that identified him as a powerful trusted leader.
Yet in the end, all was not as it appeared. Judas was pilfering the churches coffers while
selling information about Jesus to the Romans.
 Adaptability and Innovation- (Bible Teaching About Christian Leadership Core Values,
2013) Paul’s ability to intermingle with all cultures and beliefs of the era can be directly
traced to his personal life experiences. As a child, Paul was a Diaspora Jew, which is a
very traditional conservative Jewish sect. (Paul's Mission and Letters, 2013) Yet Paul’s
family lived in Tarsus, a non-Jewish community known for international trade. (Paul's
Mission and Letters, 2013) Paul and his family were tentmakers, possibly involved in
leather trade, and were most likely of the upper artesian class and businessmen. (Paul's
Mission and Letters, 2013) He later moved to Corinth which was the epicenter for

Mediterranean and international trade. (Paul's Mission and Letters, 2013) Corinth was
also a city steeped in both the Roman and Greek culture of politics and philosophical
discussion. (Paul's Mission and Letters, 2013) Paul also would have been very well
education in the very conservative culture and traditions of the Diaspora Jewish practices
and was in fact a member of the Pharisee Council of Jews. (Paul's Mission and Letters,
2013) This meant Paul was also well versed in Jewish law and the interpretation of
scripture. Paul interacted with Gentiles, Romans, Jews, Greeks, and many other cultures
on a daily basis. As a result, Paul mastered the art of communicating and negotiating
deals with a variety of cultural and political perspectives. This healthy respect for
different cultures, values, morals and business practices contributed to his intimate
understanding of geopolitical interaction. This prepared him for the ultimate mission to
spread the gospel of Christ to the masses.
 Culture defines Parameters - (Bible Teaching About Christian Leadership Core Values,
2013) Paul’s healthy respect and knowledge of other cultures allowed him to define the
parameters of the message to the audience. After his conversion on the road to
Damascus, Paul used his understanding of cultural interaction, as well as, the geopolitical
and economic environment to his advantage. He spread the gospel of Christ via the
international trade routes, maximizing his impact worldwide. Paul’s innovative approach
established a global business model for today’s modern society. Although, Paul met
significant resistance to his approach for a number of reasons, he was still successful in
the advancement of Christianity. From a Jewish perspective Paul’s interaction with
Gentiles would be offensive to the Jews, as Gentiles were considered unclean. From a

Roman perspective, Christianity was seen as a rebellion against Roman rule. From a
Greek multi-god perspective, the concept of one god who disapproved of many of the
Greek self-indulgent pagan practices was seen as a personal attack. Paul endured
personal attacks, prison, stoning, and many other hardships, as a result of the message he
distributed. Yet his approach, devotion, and integrity was so strong and well respected,
he managed to turn even a bad situation to his advantage. His followers were people who
witnessed this amazing act and were influenced by his teachings. This contributed to
spreading the message of Christ exponentially. This world of mouth approach in
conjunction with Paul’s written instructions to the various churches was very effective.
Conclusion:
Long after Paul’s death, more than 2000 years ago, his teachings and message continue to impact
and transform the lives of many today. His message of Christ still impacts lives whether or not
they are a believer of the gospel of Christ. Paul’s approach, practices and principles have proven
to be timeless and continue to establish the perfect model for today’s modern leaders and is
relevant in both today’s society and the emerging global market as we find in today’s economy.
Paul clearly demonstrated the seven core values of a servant leader and was prepared to sacrifice
anything. In fact, He sacrificed his very life for the message of Christ and the principles for
which he represented. He could have enjoyed a life of luxury and all the political perks of being
a businessman and politician with enormous influence. Instead he chose to spread a message so
transformational that he ended up becoming a martyr for it. Paul’s message, practices and
principles are still so effective that his basic example of a Servant Leader is both practical and
relevant. Today Servant Leadership is practiced today by many of our great leaders and used to

combat many of the same issues experienced in Paul’s time. As the saying goes…there is
nothing new under the sun.

Works Cited
Bible Teaching About Christian Leadership Core Values. (2013, March 27). Retrieved from
Bible Teaching-About.com: http://www.bible-teaching-about.
com/leadershipcorevalues.html
Got Questions?org. (2013, April 1). Retrieved from What does the Bible say about Loyalty.:
http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible- loyalty.html
Greenleaf, R. (1977). Servant Leadership. In Servant Leadership. Paulist Press.
Paul's Evangelistic Adaptability. (2012, January 20). Retrieved from Ministry Matters:
http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/article/entry/2354/article-pauls-evangelistic-adaptability#
axzz2PepUfCKR
Paul's Mission and Letters. (2013, April 3). Retrieved from pbs:frontline:From Jesus to Christ:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/first/missions.html
Roulet, J. (2013, March 27). The Apostle Paul: A truely great modern leader. Retrieved from
The Voice Magazine.com: http://www.thevoicemagazine.com/leadership-/leadership/the-apostle-
paul-a-truly-great-modern- leader.html
Servant Leadership. (2013, March 27). Retrieved from Changing Minds:
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/servant_leadership.htm
Servant Leadership. (2013, March 25). Retrieved from ChangingMinds.org:
http://changingminds.org/disciplines/leadership/styles/servant_leadership.htm

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