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"WORSHIP" AS SERVICE:
THE NEW TESTAMENT
USAGE OF LATREUO
A. BOYD LUTER, JR.
Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada, CA 90639
Over 25 years ago the venerable A. W. Tozer concluded, "Worship
is the missing jewel of the evangelical church." 1 In their 1982 volume
on worship, R. Allen and G. Borror reflect upon Tozer's words,
returning a very similar diagnosis for the contemporary evangelical
arena. They write, "The situation seems not to have changed ap-
preciably. ..." 2 Happily, though, they do observe a growing sen-
sitivity to the problem.3
This sensitivity has resulted in the publication of an impressive
number of volumes on worship by evangelicals in the last few years.4
The various writers approach worship from diff~rent angles, making
somewhat different points in their discussions, and arguing for their
own particular solutions. Yet, these varied efforts still add up to an
overaij trend: a mushrooming interest and accelerating impetus by
evangelicals addressing the field of worship.
I A. W. Tozer, Worship: The Missing Jewel of the Evangelical Church (Harris-
burg, PA: Christian Publications, n.d.) I.
2 R. Allen and G. Borror, Worship: Recovering the Missing Jewel (Portland:
Multnomah, 1982) i.
3 Ibid., i.
4 Some of the significant evangelical works since 1980 are: Allen and Borror,
Worship; L. Flynn, Worship: Together We Celebrate (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1983);
R. P. Martin, The Worship of God: Some Theological, Pastoral, and Practical Re-
flections (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980); R. Schaper, In His Pre's'ence: Appreciating Your
Worship Tradition (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1984); R. Webber, Worship Old and
New (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982), and Worship is a Verb (Waco: Word, 1985). It
is noteworthy that most of the major evangelical publishing houses are represented in
just this short list.
Criswell Theologi!:al Review 2.2 (1988) 3.'35-344
336 CRISWELL THEOLOGICAL REVIEW
Out of this unity in diversity in regard to the renewal of evan- ~
gelical worship some commonly-held points of interest have emerged.
J~
Two of the more prominent of these have to do with: 1) a necessary
change in attitude toward worship, and 2) a focused pre-occupation
with the church worship service.5 .
The first of these is the almost unanimous emphasis that wor- ;
shippers must be, in R. Webber's words, "active participants and f
doers"6 not mere spectators. The strong focus on the worship service, i
while very helpful, has not seen the same level of agreement in detail, 1
although significant similarities are present.7 :
Yet, while appreciation is due these authors for their contribu-
tions to the renovation of evangelical worship, one crucial point of
concern should be voiced. Could it be that the spotlight on worship is
focused too narrowly? Is it possible that our pre-occupation with the !
worship service could lead to harmful neglect of the broader concept
of worship seen in the NT?
In an attempt to redress a balance in the relationship between the
individual and corporate aspects of worship, this article will probe
four key pass'ages: 1) Phil 3:3, which provides crucial teaching on this
subject that is often overlooked; 2) John 4:23-24; 3) Heb 13:15-16;
and 4) Rom 12:1.
This study is not a comprehensive view of the NT idea of wor-
ship. However, the data is sufficient to demonstrate the need to
restore a wider understanding of worship within the present worship-
renewal movement.
I. Phil 3:3: Reconsidering a Neglected Aspect of Worship
Although there is little present concensus on the theme (and
structure) of Philippians,8 Swift's recent proposal of "partnership in
the gospel" (Phil 1:5, NIV) as the central and structuring theme of the
epistle9 has much to say for itself. Following the formal prologue (Phil
5 The choice of these two th~mes is not to be taken as the excluding or over-
looking of other significant concepts and needs that worship renewal writers are
developing.
6 Webber, Worship ~ a Verb, 199. It is interesting that Webber could state this
conviction with force even though he is found at a highly liturgical end of the evan.
gelical spectrum on worship.
.7 See, for example, the books listed in n. 4 (above) for their varied individual
prescriptions for public worship.
8 R. C. Swift, "The Theme and Structure of Philippians," BibSac 141 (1984)
, 234-36.
9 Swift, "Philippians," 237; For a more in-depth exposition of this theme, see
A. Boyd Luter, Jr., "Philippians," in Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (ed.
Walter A,Elwell; Grand Rapids: Baker, forthcoming).
Luter: USAGE OF LATREU6 337
1:3-11) and a vivid biographical prologue (1:12-26), in which Paul
describes his own costly side of their gospel partnership (1:5), this
theme is broadly applied in 1:27: "Whatever happens, conduct your-
selves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" (NIV).
Swift contends rightly that " ...what constitutes a worthy walk
occupies the body of the epistle." 10 He goes on to demonstrate from
the following verses that this worthy "lifestyle" (1:27), in obedience to
their partnership in the gospel (1:5), consists of Christian unity (1:27)
and steadfastness against enemies of the gospel (1:27-30).11 Seen from
this perspective, it becomes clear that unity is the overarching concern
of chap. 2 and steadfastness is the linking subject in 3:1-4:1.12
I ,I When it is seen that the section beginning with Phil 3:1 is picking
fi up and developing another facet of the previous brief discussion on
.1 steadfastness in 1:28-30, the supposed rough or unexpected transition
'lj between 3:1 and 3:2 disappears.13 Earlier, Paul had spoken of the
, need to suffer for Christ in the face of the opposition provided by
! enemies of the progress of the gospel in Philippi (1:28-30). At this
point, after his strong ironic description of the Judaizing legalists
(3:2),14 the Apostle proceeds to expose the subtle seductiveness of this
distortion of the gospel by presenting the striking contrast of the
nature of true Christianity (3:3) and the "before and after" example of
his own life (3:4-14).
The third of the harsh epithets in 3:2 penetrates to the "heart" of
the matter. In calling the Judilizers "the false circumcision" (NASB;
"mutilators of the flesh," NIV) Paul states in no uncertain terms that
these false teachers have misconstrued the covenant sign of circum-
cision given to Abraham (Cen 17:10, 14). They fail to realize the need
to internalize and apply the covenant relationship with the Lord
(Deut 30:6), one of the prime benefits that Jer 31:33 (compare Ezek
36:26-27) said would be forthcoming from Cod in connection with
the New Covenant (31:31).15 Their grasp of a proper relationship with
the Lord and the corresponding lifestyle (Phil 1:27; cf. 3:9££) is thus
totally deficient.
The Apostle now asserts that it is Christians who are "the cir-
cumcision" (Phil 3:3, NIV; "the true circumcision," NASB). In saying
10 Swift, "Philippians," 243.
II Ibid., 243.
12 Ibid., 244.
13 Ibid., 247; See R. P. Martin, The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians (Grand
Rapids: Eerdmans, 1959), 37-39, 136.
14 H. A. Kent, Jr., "Philippians," The Expositor's Bible Commentary (12 vols.; ed.
F. E. Gaebelein; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978) 11.137-38.
15 See the excellent discussion in C. L. Feinberg, Jeremiah: A Commentary (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1985) 218-20.
j
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338 CRISWELL THEOLOGICAL REVIEW
_this he undoubtedly has in mind the same idea that he expressed
in Rom 2:28-29 and Col 2:11, referring to believers " ...who have
received the circumcision of the heart, whether they be Jew or
Gentile."16
The rest of v 3 " ...enlarges upon this idea by a series of par-
ticipial phrases."17 As the true spiritual circumcision, Christians "wor-
ship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no
confidence in the flesh" (3:3, NASB). In the first phrase we encounter
the focal usage of "worship."
To better understand the sharp contrast Paul draws here between
the spiritual and Spirit-led worship of the true circumcision (3:3) and
the external focus of the legalists (3:2) and his own unregenerate self
(3:4-6), it is insightful to consider some of the additional passages on
worship in the NT. But, first, a comparison of the two primary words
for worship will prove useful.
In a brief, but helpful, discussion of this subject, L. Perry writes,
"There are two Greek words for worship. One means 'to fall down'
and the other means 'to serve.' These imply that Christian worship is
motivated by a sense of awe and of love."18
The first of these Greek words for worship is 7tpOO"KUVEro, which
can also be rendered as "do obeisance to," "prostrate oneself before,"
and "do reverence to."I9 It is the more common in usage, appearing
60 times in the NT. However, it is used only once by Paul, speaking
of literally falling on one's face in worship in 1 Cor 14:25.
The other Greek word is Aa'tpEuro., which is more commonly
translated "serve,"20 but is understood as "worship" in Phil 3:3 by
NASB, NIV, KJV, and RSV. It is rendered the same way in the
articles in the Bauer-Arndt-Gingrich Greek Lexicon and the New
International Dictionary of New Testament Theology.21
This second word for "worship" is used three other times by the
Ap0stle Paul. In Rom 1:9 and 2 Tim 1:3 it means "serve." In Rom 1:25
the flavor of "worship" is undeniably present, although it should
certainly be translated as "serve" (so NASB, NIV, KJV, RSV). The
cognate Aa'tpEia is also found in Rom 9:4 of the Jewish "temple
worship" (NIV; "service," NASB), as well as the significant usage in
Rom 12:1, which will be discussed later.
16 Kent, "Philippians," 138.
17 G. F. Hawthorne, Philippians (Waco: Word, 1983), 126.
18 L. Perry, Getting the Church on Target (Chicago: Moody Press, 1977) 210.
19 BDF, 723.
20 Ibid., 468.
21 Ibid., 468; K. Hess, ")..U'tPEuoo,"New International Dictionary of New Testament
Theology (3 vols.; ed. C. Brown; Gra:nd Rapids: Zondervan, 1978) 3.549-51.
--
f
Luter: USAGE OF LATREU6 339
Thus, it is seen that the Greek word which Paul more often uses
for "worship" fr~quently includes the wider shade of meaning of
service (Rom 1:9, 25; 2 Tim 1:3). It would seem that, for the Apostle,
"worship" is a broader concept within which narrower formal. wor-
ship is occasionally referred to (Rom 9:4; 1 Cor 14:25).
Of all the uses by Paul, Phil 3:3 speaks most directly to what is at
the core of Christian worship. It is something of a crux statement on
this subject. Yet, there is good reason to hold that this pronouncement
is basically a brief, though important, commentary and application of
Jesus Christ's teaching about worship in John 4.22
J; II. John 4:23-24: True Worshippers, Spiritual Worship
Z. C. Hodges has aptly expounded the importance of this passage
for a proper understanding of the biblical concept of worship.
...The Savior's reply was as pregnant a statement on this theme as had
ever escaped the lips of man. Indeed, once He had uttered it, it would
be impossible thereafter for any man intelligently to ponder this theme
without returning to consider those priceless words. As an utterance on
worship they were timeless and absolutely definitive.23
Against the backdrop of the Samaritan woma.n's misconceptions
and maneuvering (John 4:9-20), Jesus explains who "true worship-
pers" are (4:22) and why (4:23). E. F. Harrison, D. Guthrie, and E. A.)
Blum all note that 4:20-21 teach that the place of worship is not the
primary factor in the new phase of God's economy which Jesus is
inaugurating.24 What the Father seeks is those who worship "in spirit
and truth" (4:23). Such worshippers must
...Realize that Jesus is the Truth of God (3:21; 14:6) and the one and
only way to the Father (Acts 4:12). To worship in truth is to worship
God through Jesus. To worship in spirit is to worship in the new realm
which God has revealed. ...25 I
As Guthrie observes, "These are genuine worshippers as opposed
to those who merely appear to be so by participating only in outward
22 Martin, Philippians, 138-39; Hawthorne, Philippians, 126.
23 Z. C. Hodges, The Hungry Inherit (rev. ed.; Portland: Multnomah, 1980) 18.
24 E. F. Harrison, "John" in Wycliffe Bible Commentary (ed. C. F. Pfeiffer
and E. Harrison; Chicago: Moody, 1962), 1081; D. Guthrie, "John" in New Bible
Commentary-Revised (ed. D. Guthrie and J. A. Motyer; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1970) 938-39; E. A. Blum, "John" in Bible Knowledge Commentar~: New Testament
(ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck; Wheaton: Victor, 1983) 286.
25 Blum, john," 286.
-
340 CRISWELL THEOLOGICAL REVIEW
ceremonies."26 Thus, the form of worship is not primary to our under-
standing of true worship either. "The main emphasis- is on spirit," 27 as
4:24 makes clear.
It is important to realize that, throughout this epochal passage,
John uses npoO"1CuvEro for "worship." That is in keeping with his nor-
mal choice. Of the 60 occurrences of the verb in the NT, 35 are in
John's writings (11 in the fourth Gospel and 24 in Revelation). Of the
11 uses in his gospel, nine are in 4:20-24. Also, the lone use of the
noun npoO"1CUVT}-rT1<; ("worshipper") is in 4:23.
Thus, there is a highly significant concentration of the common
NT term for worship in John's Gospel, particularly in Jesus' prescrip-
tive words of worship. On the other hand, John uses Aa.-rpEUro only in
Rev 7:15 and 22:3, and Aa.-rpEia., in a negative sense, in John 16:2.
It would seem that there are two possible ways of explaining why
Paul, in his parallel pronouncement on worship in Phil 3:3, chose to
use not npoO"1CuvEro, as in John 4, but. Aa.-rpEUro. The simpler possibility,
as noted earlier, is that Aa.-rpEUro is the word Paul used much more
commonly. However, it is also quite conceivable that he is seeking to
broaden and flavor the overall concept of "worship." Even though
Jesus' words about the priorities of genuine worship being "spirit and
truth" (John 4:23-24) should have been clear, perhaps the Apostle
consciously sought to apply this idea for worship to service in the
power of the Spirit (Phil 3:3; cf. Rom 1:9).
III. Heb 13:15-16: New Covenant Sacrifices and Worship
Because of the Jewish background that the Savior and Apostle
Paul (Phil 3:4-6) had in common, it should be helpful to observe how
another Jewish Christian writer employs his terminology. The writer
of Hebrews provides a classic case in point.
The only occurrences of npoO"1CuvEro are in Heb 1:6 and 11:23,
with no significant insight for the present study being provided by
either verse. By comparison Aa.-rpEUro is found six times, and Aa.-rpEia.
twice. The bulk of these inclusions are in the section in which Jesus'
high-priestly ministry under the New Covenant is developed (8:5;
9:1, 6, 9, 14; 10~2). They generally employ the imagery of the Old
Covenant tabernacle and temple service/worship in contrast to the
present ministry of Christ. The use in 9:14 is significant because it
26 Guthrie, "John," 939.
27 Ibid., 939; For the option that "spirit" here (John 4:23-24) is the human spirit
helped to ~orship by the Holy Spirit, see L. Morris, The Gospel According to John
(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,1971) 270-71..
341
,i refers to having our consciences cleansed "from dead works to serve
Hi the living God" (NASB, emphasis mine), similar to Phil 3:2-6.
:,~!l F or the purposes of this investigation, the most helpful use of
",'
(Ir Aa."tpEUro in Hebrews is 13:10. It initiates a final contrast between the
~i obsolete Old Covenant set-up (8:13) and the new order of Christ.28
r' The participle of Aa."tpEUro, translated "those who minister" (NIV) or
"those who serve" (NASB), could just as easily be speaking of "Jewish
worshippers in general," because it is so employed elsewhere in
Hebrews (9:9,10:2).29
In sharp distinction -from such worship/service (13:10), which is
clearly inadequate under the New Covenant, the writer proceeds to
list several "sacrifices" (13:15-16) that are offered "through Jesus"
(13:15). While we normally associate praise and thanksgiving (13:15)
if I with corporate worship, the same is not necessarily true of the actions
t[ mentioned in 13:16: doing good and sharing.3o L. Morris understands
I::
,'~c t~e "sharing" (lCO1Vrovia.) her~ ~~ "money, goods, and. ..those intan-
: gIbles that make up fellowshIp. 31
: If such "sacrifices" can be legitimately constituted as New Cove-
..If' I nant worship, then it is seen that the worship concept is indeed broad
if;t enough to encompass all the believer's life, as Phil 3:3 implies and
i Rom 12:1 clearly teaches. However, a beautiful balance is seen
JI']j between such a wider understanding of worship and the memorable
i'ft exhortation t~ continue .to ga~her toge~h.er fo,~ wo~ship "i~ Heb 10:24-
;.,t~t 25, as well as In connectIon wIth the spIrItual sacrifices In 13:15-16.32
, In their worship together (10:25) the Hebrews were to "spur one
i, another on toward love and good deeds" (10:24, NIV), wording
;
llc:; substantially similar in meaning to 13:16.
,': Unlike Paul (Phil 3:3) or Jesus (John 4:23-24), the writer of
1. Hebrews does not directly utilize either Aa."tpEUro or 1tpOcrlCUVEro to
i\'i:" make his main point about New Covenant worship. However, the
I. I preparatory us~ of Aa."tpEUro and Aa."t~E{a. throu~hout :he book and the
t I cli~a~tic te~chIng of He? 13:15-:16, In conn~ctIon wIth Heb 1?:24-25,
; 't" coIncIdes wIth the preVIOUS evIdence consIdered. It also bnngs the
i
"i
28 L. Morris, "Hebrews" in The Expositors Bible Commentary, 12.149-50; Z. C.
Hodges, "Hebrews" in Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament, 812; P. E.
Hughes, A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1977) 577; S. J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids:
Baker, 1984) 418.
29 Morris, "Hebrews," 150.
30 Kistemaker, Hebrews, 425, understands "sharing" as descriptive of "doing
good," based on the Greek construction.
31 Morris, "Hebrews," 152.
32 Kistemaker, Hebrews, 424; Hodges, "Hebrews," 812.
".
L .: ,.,," ..1 -j
c
342 CRISWELL THEOLOCICAL REVIEW I
worship service into clearer perspective in relation to the wider 'I.,
concept.
IV. Rom 12:1: Living Sacrifice, Spiritual Worship
The final passage to be considered is well known. It occurs at the
hinge of Romans, the breaking point between the primarily doctrinal
section of the epistle (chaps. 1-11) and the notably ethical (applica-
tional) portion (chaps. 12-15).33 It also picks up the theme of offering
oneself to God, introduced in Rom 6:13ff.,34 as well as the imagery of
the OT sacrifices (Ou(Jia; cf. Heb 13:15-16) in connection with the
temple worship, spoken of previously in 9:4 (where Aa-rpEia is also
used). Therefore, it is truly at a pivotal juncture for both under-
standing and application that the concept of "spiritual ("reasonable"
or "rational" is the more accurate rendering, according to Murray35)
worship" (NIV; "service of worship," NASB) is brought forward. 1
Cranfield understands the presenting of one's body as a living sac-
jrifice as becoming "wholly God's property."36 This "self-surrender,"
as with any type of worship, "has, of course, to be continually c'~';'
;; .,
repeated." 37 ..A constant dedication" 38 is at the heart of this holy, ( r
God-pleasing worship (Rom 12:1).
In focusing on the use of the term for "worship" in Rom 12:1,
Cranfield reaches the following conclusion:
It implies that the true worship which God desires embraces the whole
of the Christian's life from day to day. It implies that any cultic worship
which is not accompanied by obedience in the ordinary affairs of life !
must be regarded as false worship, unacceptable to God. ...39
Such a perspective dovetails perfectly with the thought of the
Apostle in Phil 3:3, as well as the teaching of Jesus in John 4:23-24,
and that of the writer of Hebrews, in 13:15-16. However, Cranfield
33 For further elaboration of the "hinge" idea, see, e.g., E. F. Harrison, "Romans,"
in The Expositors Bible Commentary 10.126; J. A. Witmer, "Romans" in Bible Knowl-
edge Commentary: New Testament, 487.
34 J. Murray, The Epistle to the Romans (2 vols.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1968)
2.110-11.
35 Ibid., 112: However, C.E.B. Cranfield (A Critical and Exegetical Commentary
on the Epistle to the Romans [2 vols.; Edinburg: T. & T. Clark, 1979] 2.602-5) argues
strongly for the rendering "spiritual" for AOYIKOC;.
36 Cranfield, Romans, 2.599.
37 Ibid., 600.
38 Murray, Romans, 2.111.
39 Cranfield, Romans, 2.601.
Luter: USAGE OF LATREUO 343
also observes that Rom 12:1 "worship" is not rejecting the corporate
sense of worship, but balancing it. He writes
Provided that such worship in the narrower sense is always practiced as
part of the wider worship embracing the whole of the Christian's living
and is not thought of as something acceptable to God apart from
obedience of life, there is nothing here to deny it its place in the life of
the faithful. ..In fact. ..it ought to be the focus point of that whole
.
dh.40
WI er wors Ip... .-
On the basis of Rom 12:1 and Phil 3:3, perhaps it is appropriate to
propose a needed clarification in evangelical terminology. Would it be
helpful to refer to something like the "congregational worship service"
and broader "individual service worship?" While the exact terms used
are not. decisive, it is important to distinguish clearly between these
two complementary aspects, that each might strengthen the other as
we seek to live out our "spiritual service of worship" (Rom 12:1,
NASB).
Conclusion
If worship is indeed still the missing jewel in the evangelical
church, as Allen and Borror contend,41 a portion of the problem
would seem to be the neglect of several key NT passages on worship
looked at in this article. If they were studied and applied more
closely, it would surely help reinstate worship to the rightful place it
dese:rves as the beating heart of the entire Christian life.
Let tnere be no illusion that this presentation represents an overall
NT position on worship. However, it is successful if it has provided
sufficient food for thought to cause a reappraisal of the popular
misconception that worship is wrapped up in the Sunday "worship
service" at a certain special location, A wider understanding of wor-
ship can link Sunday to the rest of the week and the gathered con-
gregation to the scattered believers in interrelated ongoing worship.
If, as Perry says, "Worship functions for the glorification of God
and the sanctification of man," 42 then worship is never-ending. Webber
is certainly correct in saying, "God has called us to worship Him, and
worship Him throughout all eternity we will do."43
40 Ibid., 602.
41 Allen and Borror, Worship, 7.
42 Perry, Getting the Church on Target, 210.
43 Webber, Worship is a Verb, 199.
"
I, I
~'- I
7
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'\'
344 CRISWELL THEOLOGICAL REVIEW ,;,!i
$, ,
However, the balance in worship recommended in this article44 is Ii;; ,i
vitally possible here and now if the attitude recommended by Allen ~~, I
and Borror is embodied: "May God grant us a hunger for Him which ;,
will cause us to pursue Him in worship as a way of life (Co13:17), a 'if
hunger which will drive us to closer friendship with His people."45 ;~
j
44 See C. C. Ryrie, Basic Theology (Wheaton: Victor, 1986) 428-29, for a compact, ,~
but significant, recent expression of such a balanced outlook. "
45 Allen and Borror, Worship, 100. ;
;:
)