Comment to Jesus 'began his ministry' ? Luke 3:23

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    David, you wrote: "What is the point? The point is that ministry is the immediate and permanent obligation of every believer. From the moment they are born again. It is a privilege, too. As it is more blessed to give than to receive.

    Minister is not a superior status which one receives at a later date, as is the common perception. Notice below that it is the saints who are doing the works of ministry. *"

    It is interesting that the NIV correctly states this better than the KJV: Eph 4:11-12

    "11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service,"

    When it applies to "the laity" they correctly describe it as "works of service." The KJV says "work of the ministry." To be fair, ministry does mean service, yet in our time people think of it as a title or special class.

    Here the NIV and others could have been consistent and worded it this way: "Jesus began to serve."

    This was the way Jesus Himself described Himself, as one who serves.