Leading

Summary:

It is written in the Bible that "LEADING" (Romans 12:8) is listed among the spiritual gifts.

The Greek word for "LEADING" is a VERB that may imply:

1) Standing before others (in the grace of God, in the good news), so that others can imitate them. 

2) Having a personal investment in others.

3) Being a servant to others.

This spiritual gift is to be exercised with diligence. 

There may also be expectations for others who are being ministered this spiritual gift. 

You can find more details below:

Leading:

It is written in the Bible that "LEADING" (Romans 12:8) is listed among the spiritual gifts.

This is a spiritual gift among the list of other spiritual gifts available.

For more information:

List of spiritual gifts:
Click here

It is a verb:

Paul wrote: "having different GIFTS according-to the grace having-been-given (to) us, (exercise them accordingly): whether prophecy, in-accordance-with the proportion (of your) faith; or [...] the (one) LEADING [proistemi 4291 in Greek], with diligence" (Romans 12:6-8).

The Greek word for "LEADING" [proistemi 4291 in Greek] in Romans 12:8 is a VERB. 

Leading = to stand before:

The Greek word for the spiritual gift of "LEADING" [proistemi 4291 in Greek] in Romans 12:8 comes from the Greek words "BEFORE" [pro 4253 in Greek] and "TO-STAND" [histémi 2476 in Greek, verb]. Literally, it may be translated as "TO-PRE-STAND" or "TO-STAND-BEFORE". It may describe someone who STANDS BEFORE others. 

Someone can STAND in the grace of God, as Paul wrote about "this grace in which WE-STAND [histémi 2476 in Greek]" (Romans 5:2).

Someone can STAND in the good news, as Paul wrote about "the good-news which I-announced-as-good-news (to) you, which you also received, in which you also STAND [histémi 2476 in Greek]" (1 Corinthians 15:1).

To STAND is not automatic as it is also possible to FALL, as Paul wrote: "let the (one) thinking (that he) STANDS [histémi 2476 in Greek] be-watching-out (that) he-may not FALL" (1 Corinthians 10:12). This is why Paul wrote: "Put-on the full-armor (of) God so-that you (MAY) be-able TO-STAND [histémi 2476 in Greek] against the schemes (of) the devil" (Ephesians 6:11).

To "LEAD", or in other words to "STAND-BEFORE" others implies the need to already be STANDING in the grace of God and in the good news so that this can be imitated by others BEFORE whom the person is STANDING. 

This may be why it is written in Hebrews: "Remember the (ones) LEADING you, who spoke the word (of) God (to) you, whose faith BE-IMITATING (while) looking-carefully-at the result (of their) way-of-life" (Hebrews 13:7). 

Leading others can imply a personal investment:

The Greek word for the spiritual gift of "LEADING" [proistamenos 4291 in Greek] in Romans 12:8 is in the MIDDLE VOICE, which often implies a personal interest or involvement. 

This suggests that someone leading isn't just doing things from a distance but is personally invested in the outcome of the community they are "STANDING-BEFORE"

This may be evidended by what Paul wrote: "we-ask you, brothers, to-know the (ones) laboring among you and LEADING [proistemi 4291 in Greek] YOU in (the) Lord and admonishing you, and to-be-esteeming them super-abundantly in love because-of THEIR WORK" (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). 

It may also be used interchangeably with "TAKING CARE" of others, as Paul wrote that "if one does not know (how) TO-LEAD [proistemi 4291 in Greek] (his) own household, how WILL-HE-TAKE-CARE (of a) church (of) God?" (1 Timothy 3:4-5). 

Leading others can imply being a servant to others:

The Greek word for the spiritual gift of "LEADING" [proistemi 4291 in Greek] or "PRE-STANDING" in Romans 12:8 is the source for the Greek word for "PRE-STANDING(-ONE)" [prostatis 4368 in Greek, noun]. 

Paul may have implied in Romans that a "PRE-STANDING(-ONE)" may describe someone who is also a SERVANT of others, as Paul wrote: "I-commend (to) you our sister Phoebe, (she) being also (a) SERVANT (OF) THE CHURCH in Cenchrea, in-order-that you-may-(expect-)to-receive her in (the) Lord worthily (of) the holy (ones), and may-stand-by her in whatever matter she-may-be-having-need (of) you. For she herself indeed became (a) PRE-STANDING(-ONE) [prostatis 4368 in Greek] (OF) MANY, and (of) me myself" (Romans 16:1-2). 

Here this person is described as a "SERVANT (OF) THE CHURCH" (Romans 16:1) indicating how that person was a "PRE-STANDING(-ONE) [prostatis 4368 in Greek] (OF) MANY" (Romans 16:2). 

This may be similar to what Jesus said: "(let) the (one) LEADING (be) like the (one) SERVING" (Luke 22:26). 

Leading is to be exercised with diligence:

Paul wrote about to exercise the spiritual gift of "LEADING, with DILIGENCE [spoudé 4710 in Greek]" (Romans 12:8). 

Paul wrote 3 verses later "(TO) NOT (BE) HESITANT (IN) DILIGENCE [spoudé 4710 in Greek]; (to be) boiling (in) spirit, BEING-SLAVES (to) the Lord" (Romans 12:11). 

Expectations for others:

The Greek word for the spiritual gift of "LEADING" [proistamenos 4291 in Greek] in Romans 12:8 may imply that in principle others may be IN THE CARE of the person. 

For example, Paul wrote about someone "LEADING [proistemi 4291 in Greek] (HIS) OWN household well, having children IN SUBMISSION, with all dignity" (1 Timothy 3:4). Here the person has been entrusted with people who are "(HIS) OWN" (1 Timothy 3:4) who are expected to be "IN SUBMISSION, with all dignity" (1 Timothy 3:4).

The spiritual gift of leading cannot be properly administrated if others do not want to be led. This may be why Paul wrote about "BEING-SUBJECT (TO) ONE-ANOTHER" (Ephesians 5:21), so that each can effectively serve one another. 

It is also written in Hebrews to "BE-OBEYING the (ONES) LEADING YOU and BE-YIELDING, for they are-being-sleepless for your souls as (ones who) will-give-back (an) account in-order-that they-may-be-doing this with joy, and not (while) groaning, for this (would be) unprofitable (for) you" (Hebrews 13:17). 

Here it is indicated that the ones LEADING have a responsability over people under their care such that it is described they "will-give-back (an) account" (Hebrews 13:17) to God "for your souls" (Hebrews 13:17). 

This idea of accountability can be consistent with the fact that spiritual gifts are expected to be stewarded, such that if they may be found to be "HAVING-LED [proistemi 4291 in Greek] well" (1 Timothy 5:17), it might ultimately be said to them: "Well (done), good and faithful slave. You-were faithful over (a) few (things)" (Matthew 25:21). Jesus also described that a steward can be set over other people, as Jesus talked about "the faithful, wise steward whom his lord will-put-in-charge over his household" (Luke 12:42). 

For more information:

Spiritual gifts are expected to be stewarded:
Click here

↺ Click here to return to the Table of Contents.