1. Historical Data

The NT laos (people) is the whole priestly people of the community of believers in Christ (Luke 1:17; 1 Pet. 2:10; Heb. 4:9). The term klēros (lot, Matt. 27:35) denotes the special ministry (Acts 1:17, 26, etc.) that is at work in and for this community according to God’s gracious gift (cf. 1 Cor. 12:4).

In the ministries of the early church, with the sometimes tense relation between charisma and office involving development from the f…