II Corinthians 3:6 “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
Paul acknowledges that they were sufficiently supplied with everything they needed to accomplish their duties as Apostles and Ministers of our Lord (II Corinthians 3:5); because, God had “made” them “able ministers”. While the Church recognizes the ministers’ calling and acknowledges and authorizes the use of their calling by ordination, the Church does not make them ministers, God makes them. Ministers cannot make themselves “ministers”, but they can and must spend much time in “Study to shew” themselves “approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15). To be “able ministers” is to have been given the ability to read and study the Word of God, to have been given understanding of the Word of God by the Holy Spirit, to have been given the ability to clearly and concisely deliver the Gospel Message, to have been given the ability to deliver the Gospel Message so as to exhort and encourage the Children of God to worship and serve the Lord, to have been given a deep and powerful yearning to preach and teach the Lord’s Gospel, and to have been given the ability to joyfully endure the hardships so often encountered in the Lord’s service. Furthermore, “able ministers” have been given the ability to and must present themselves with gentleness, meekness, humbleness, kindness, and graciousness to the Lord’s people. Overbearing and arrogant ministers are highly destructive in the House of our Lord.