This document provides an overview of leadership traits seen in biblical figures from the Old and New Testaments. In 3 sentences: It examines both positive and negative leadership qualities exhibited by patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as well as figures such as Joseph, Daniel, Moses, Job, prophets, Barnabas, Paul, and negative examples including Ahab, Jezebel, and Judas. The document is meant to help readers identify leadership traits from Scripture that they can emulate or avoid in their own lives and careers as leaders.

1. MIN530.1 Lecture
Dr. Shane L. Johnson
Grace Christian University

2. Introduction
What follows is a brief overview of some of the
characteristics of leaders in both the OT and
NT
Obviously, this treatment is not
comprehensive, but rather meant to help you
begin to identify both positive and negative
leadership traits from Scripture, that you can
either import, or avoid

3. The Patriarchs
The study of leadership in the Bible is fraught with both high and low points.
Consider the Patriarchs- Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. These men were used of
Yahweh as the seedbed of the Hebrews, God’s chosen.
Yet, they were also the very picture of longstanding, multigenerational, spiritual
dysfunction (LMSD). Early on, one sees the deception of Abraham, which
reappears in successive generations.
It is not until Joseph that the family stream begins to clear, and for that clarity he
paid a dear price. God, in His omniscience, foreknew the flawed character of the
carnal people He chose, yet He chose them all the same.
What flaws do you see in yourself, that God knew were there prior to His call on
your life, and even perhaps still are?

4. Joseph and Daniel
Joseph is one of the earliest examples of
speaking the Voice of God, moral courage, and
forgiveness. Perhaps, in all the OT, only Daniel
shows as much moral fiber as Joseph.
Both of these men made a conscious decision to
do what was right, which cost them dearly. Yet,
they pressed on, with no promise of vindication.
What positive traits do you notice in these men’s
lives that you might wish to import into your
own?

5. Moses
And what of Moses? Some see him as the penultimate leader of the OT,
apart from God Himself. He began his life as a prince of Egypt, only later
to defend one of his own countrymen, an act which sent him into exile.
There, as a shepherd, he was called to deliver his people. Reluctant
about his call, he finally capitulated under the Divine pressure. As a
result, God used him to liberate His people, whom Moses then led for 40
years on a 400 mile journey that should have lasted 3 months.
At the brink of their final destination, as a result of one act of
disobedience, he was forbidden to lead them the remainder of the journey.
Yet, he was faithful.
To what extent might you be reluctant about your call? Can you live with
God’s soveriegnty, which may take you to the brink of career only to have
the job turned over to a successor?

6. Job
Then there is Job. A picture of virtue (1.1), God
puts him forward to Satan (1.8) as an exemplar.
There is perhaps no figure in the OT who
suffered more, and without explanation. And yet,
despite utter internal darkness, he survived.
Can you be faithful, even when you suffer, for no
discernable reason?

7. The Prophets
The prophets where a group unlike any other. Theirs
was the unenviable task of confronting sin, in the
name of God, not only among the Gentiles, but
among God’s own. They were mostly itinerant, of
necessity.
Like Jeremiah, while they were faithful, some showed
little numerical success after many long years. Yet,
they continued to serve the call they knew.
How might success and faithfulness be dissimilar?

8. On To The New Testament
The NT is yet a further catalog of leadership, both
stellar and lacking, or perhaps both in the same person.
There are Judas and Peter, both of whom denied the
Lord. One died in infamy, while the other went on to
help lead the Church, and was inspired of the Holy
Spirit to add to the Canon two letters which bear his
name.
As a leader, how will you deal personally with your
failures, some of which may have the potential to be
crippling?

9. The Gospels
Then there are the unique perspectives of the
Gospels writers. Each evangelist writes of the
ministry of Christ, and followers, and yet their
orientations are as varied and individual as the
Gospel writers themselves.
As a leader, can you love, accept, and work with
other leaders who see the Gospel message
through different eyes than yours?

10. Barnabas
The good man Barnabas, “Son of Encouragement,”
modeled for us generosity to those in need, and held
the door open for Paul.
One wonders if the Early Church would have accepted
Paul without the role Barnabas played in all this.
Early on in Acts it is “Barnabas and Paul” and later it is
“Paul and Barnabas.” Can you step aside, after helping
to launch the ministry of a colleague, and not be
threatened when his profile grows larger than yours?

11. Paul
To say that Paul casts a long shadow in the NT is an
understatement.
He is passionate, theological, aggressive, brilliant.
He was task oriented, yet loved people.
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he has served as
schoolmaster, teaching us how to be the Church; how to relate
to each other, and how to relate to the World who is watching.
Paul was a five talent person. If you are one of those (rare as
they are) will you be faithful to use all of them for King and
Kingdom? Remember, to whom much is given, much is
required.

12. Negative Examples
There are also negative examples- Ahab and
Jezebel, Samson, Saul, Judas, Herod, Ananias and
Saphira.
What do they teach us about leadership?
A good leader is defined as much by what he will
not do as by what he will do; these negative leaders
leave a legacy of what to avoid.
What will you avoid, at all cost, no matter how it may
limit you or your acceptance by others
professionally?