When the second man takes the lead: Reflections on Joseph Barnabas and Paul of Tarsus and their relationship in the New Testament

 

Wanneer die tweede in bevel die leiding neem: 'n Fokus op Josef Barnabas en Paulus van Tarsus en hulle verhouding in die Nuwe Testament

 

 

C.W. Stenschke

Professor Extraordinarius. Department of New Testament & Early Christian Studies, University of South Africa, PRETORIA and New Testament Studies, Biblisch-Theologische Akademie Wiedenest Germany. E-mail: Stenschke@wiedenest.de

 

 

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ABSTRACT

Upon scrutiny Joseph Barnabas, mentioned in the New Testament mainly in the Book of Acts but also elsewhere, emerges as one of the great leaders and mentors in early Christianity. This article offers a biographical sketch of Barnabas with a particular focus on his relationship with Paul. While Barnabas appears to have been the mentor of Paul at an early stage and the leader at the beginning of the first missionary journey, he later on made room for Paul to take the lead while he (Barnabas) continued to support Paul faithfully. It seems that much of what Paul later practised in his own mission work and the way he sought for and trained co-workers had its origin in his mentorship by Barnabas. This relationship of Barnabas and Paul provides a case study of how leaders can develop and how relationships may change. The biblical portrait of this relationship addresses several crucial issues in leadership and poses several challenges to those concerned with Christian leadership.

Key concepts: Joseph Barnabas leadership, biblical models of leadership, change in leadership, New Testament Paul

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OPSOMMING

By nadere ondersoek blyk dit dat Josef Barnabas, van wie daar in die Nuwe Testament en veral in Handelinge gelees word, een van die groot leiers en mentors tydens die vroeë Christendom was. Hierdie artikel bied 'n lewenskets van Barnabas met spesifieke fokus op sy verhouding met Paulus. Dit lyk asof Barnabas Paulus se mentor was tydens die vroeë fase van die Christendom, asook die leier aan die begin van die eerste sendingreis. Hy laat Paulus egter later die leiding neem en bied hom sy volle en getroue ondersteuning. Dit blyk verder dat baie van Paulus se praktyke tydens sy eie sendingwerk, sowel as die manier waarop hy sy medewerkers gewerf en opgelei het, uit Barnabas se mentorskap spruit. Die verhouding tussen Barnabas en Paulus bied 'n gevallestudie van hoe leiers kan ontwikkel en hoe verhoudings kan verander. Die Bybelse uitbeelding van hierdie verhouding sny verskeie kritieke kwessies in verband met leierskap aan en stel verskeie uitdagings aan diegene wat by Christelike leierskap betrokke is.

Kernbegrippe: Josef Barnabas leierskap, bybelse voorbeelde leierskap, Nuwe Testament leierskap, verandering in Paulus

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