𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 : 𝐀 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲, 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐀 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 , 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 , 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 , 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝 My Statement This study argues that the biblical critique of corrupt religious leadership, from Jeremiah 7 through Jesus' prophetic action in the Temple and the apostolic teaching of 1 Corinthians 3–4, 1 Timothy 6, and 1 Peter 5, establishes a consistent principle: God's ministry must never be converted into an instrument of personal wealth, power, or status; those entrusted with spiritual leadership are called to exercise authority through faithful stewardship, servant leadership, financial integrity, and the advancement of God's Kingdom. Introduction The relationship between Christian ministry, money, power, and personal ambition is one of the most important ethical questions facing the contemporary church. Scripture does not condemn money, material possessions, or l...