Das Amt und die Ämter

Abstract

In the Pauline letters, the institutionalization of the ministries progresses step by step from 1 Cor 12:28 through Eph 4:11 to the pastoral letters. In view of today’s exegesis, it is striking that Luther was able to implement the proclamation of the gospel (CA V) with careful and adequate reference to the divine institution of the gospel in 1 Cor 12:28, Eph 4:11, and Acts 20:28. By the same token, Luther manages to align the appointment to the pastorate in his time (CA XIV) with the understanding of ordination and ministry in the pastoral epistles.