The other images

[qzhang]

The great contribution of this book is that it provides the readers with an exegetical journey to understand the rich meaning of “shepherd” as one image. In the end of his book, Dr. Laniak admitted: “…We ought to appreciate the inclination of most biblical authors to engage a variety of images to express the dynamic and ultimately inexpressible nature of God.”(P250)

With regard to other images, a few of them come to mind: Father/Mother, servant, the worker, soldiers, athletes, farmers, master builder and so on. I’d like to have a very brief survey of those images.

Father/Mother. From time to time, the Bible refers God as the Father, and sometimes as mother. In the four Gospels, Jesus almost exclusively called God His Father. He also taught His disciples to call God “our Father in Heaven”. Even the hen/chick analogy is referring to the Mother-Children relationship between God and His people.(Luke 13:34)

Apostle Paul seemed to have a full appreciation of this image. He brought this Father/Mother image into the essence of pastoral identity. In the first epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul said: “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.” (1The. 2:7). Then he said: “just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would be to his own children.” (1The. 2:11)

This pastoral image of Father/Mother is very crucial. It emphases on how intimate the pastor-congregation relationship should be. The congregation is portrayed as the children of the pastor. This parent-children relationship will be impossible to break no matter what happens to them.

Servant/Steward/Worker. The servant image is used primarily to serve God, then to serve people. This image suggests the low status and therefore fully submission. This image also suggests that the servant does not have ownership of the property; neither does he have his own agenda. All he should do is to faithfully execute what he is told by the master. The servant should also be watchful and be ready for the master’s coming back, which is imminent in nature. The image of worker is used interchangeably with servant and shepherd. (Matt. 9:36-37) It seems to emphasize on the work of God’s Kingdom.

Master builder/Watchman/Overseer. He is a overseeing the whole project of the Gospel. With the big picture in mind, he also works on each and every detail in the pastoral ministry. He makes sure the foundation is solidly built on Jesus Christ. He has tremendous skills both at the management level and the execution level. (1Cor. 3:6-14)

Soldier/Athlete/Farmer. As a soldier, the person has to endure suffering during the war. He also needs to be extremely focused on his mission. All he needs to please is his commander. As an athlete, he needs to play by the rules, or practice spiritual disciplines and godliness at all times. As a farmer, he should work very hard on the crop. He also deserves to obtain his fair share from the crop.(2Tim. 2：3-6)

All these Biblical images provide rich meanings to pastoral identity, task and nature. They complement and complete each other in many ways.
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Peter Zhang