Equal Partners

Not all partnerships are equal. So what makes for an equal partnership. When it came tot he work of presenting the gospel, there were some in Paul's day who believed that Paul was a 'junior partner' to the big apostles in Jerusalem. He was not on their level, but rather inferior to them. But Paul claims to be independent of the Jerusalem apostles, having had limited exposure to them in his post-conversion years. But while independent, Paul also stresses his interdependence. He viewed himself as an equal with them. They shared the same gospel message. Paul had the mindset of an equal, not viewing the other apostles as superior to him, but viewing them as God viewed them. God shows no partiality, and neither does Paul. Paul also shared the same mission with the others, although their sphere of ministry was different. Peter and the other apostles ministered primarily to the Jews whereas Paul's primary focus was to minister to the Gentiles. But all had a common concern of ministering to the physical needs of those surrounding them. Unity and yet diversity.