Introduction
In the mid-twentieth century, the leadership industry exploded. Barbara Kellerman (2012), a Harvard leadership professor, describes this phenomenon as “countless leadership centers, institutes, courses, seminars, workshops, trainers, books, blogs, articles, websites, webinars, conferences, and coaches claiming to teach people—usually for money—how to lead” (p. xiii). Searching for a competitive edge or, in some cases, a silver bullet, individuals, teams, and organizations devour the tips and tricks, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.
“Leadership” is a popular word in today’s vernacular. Five years ago, a Google search revealed 148 million links to the term (Pfeffer, 2015, p. 8). The same search today produced over 3 billion results. Though much has changed over the years, several authors produced groundbreaking work that still stands the test of time. Respected as leadership royalty, names like Drucker, Blanchard, and Bennis made room for others such as Covey, Collins, Maxwell, Sandberg, and Sinek. The world of academia gave us names like Bass, Burns, Kellerman, and Kanter. While leadership research is relatively young considering its scientific pedigree, its heritage dates back several millennia.
Around 57 CE, in the bustling city of Corinth, the Apostle Paul—a murderer turned missionary—penned his magnum opus, known as Romans (Sproul, 2019). Covering salvation, grace, sanctification, and redemption, it is the most comprehensive essay of the Christian faith. Three-quarters of the way through his letter, in chapter 12, Paul transitions from describing doctrine to focusing on application. With a staccato style, he highlights 10 transformational behaviors characterizing a Christian’s life. This paper provides a contextual background for Paul and then explains how those 10 traits are critical qualities for present-day transformational leaders. We will also examine the transformational journey of Christians and compare it with the transformational focus needed from today’s leadership development perspective.
From Persecutor to Promoter: Paul’s Transformative Moment
The Holy Bible explains the relationship between God and humanity. With nearly four billion copies sold over the past 50 years, the Bible is the “most read book in the world” (Polland, 2012). Along with fantastic stories of battles and miracles, the Bible also shares how a small group of dedicated followers spread a message about a carpenter-turned-Messiah that continues over two thousand years later. While sacred to many, the Bible offers much more than theological encouragement. Filled with thousands of life lessons and insightful teachings, it is an irreplaceable source of leadership wisdom. The New Testament contains twenty-seven letters chronicling the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the birth and expansion of the early church, and other divinely inspired metaphors, warnings, and exhortations. Thirteen—nearly half —of the letters are attributed to the authorship of Paul of Tarsus.
In first-century Jerusalem, following the death of Jesus Christ, an educated Jew skilled in law, politics, and religion traveled the sandy streets, seeking to rid the world of a religious sect known as “Christians.” Under his Hebrew name Saul, his first mention in Scripture is in connection with the stoning of Stephen—a devout follower of Jesus. Following this public execution, a “great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1, NIV), and the members scattered. No longer content with observing, Saul led the pharisaical effort to destroy and persecute the Christian church by “going house to house and dragging out men and women to throw them into prison” (Acts 8:3, NLT). Saul’s reign of terror continued instilling fear in Christians throughout the region (Acts 9:1). However, on his way to Damascus, he had an experience that changed his mission forever.
Professor of theology Dr. Wayne Grudem (1994) defines regeneration as “a secret act of God in which He imparts new spiritual life to individuals” (p. 699). Grudem further explains that regeneration is the beginning of spiritual sanctification, “the progressive work of God and man that makes one more and more free from sin and more like Christ in their actual lives” (1994, p. 746). These life-changing revelations lead to decisions, vows, or commitments that radically influence a person’s life. Sociologist Dr. Morris Massey referred to these moments as “significant emotional events” in which “an experience is so mentally arresting that it becomes a catalyst for one to consider, examine, and possibly change their initial values or value system” (Massey, 1979, p. 8). Whether divine or emotional, all transformation begins with a moment.
On his way to Damascus to continue his siege, Saul came face-to-face with the resurrected Jesus. The transformative event, recorded in Acts 9:3–9, changed Saul from persecutor of Christians to promoter of Christ. The faith he sought to eliminate became the purpose he lived to expand. Empowered with new passion, “Saul” became “Paul,” and his past loyalties no longer determined his present decisions. Going forward, every action supported his new mission: preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His change amazed onlookers who asked, “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’s followers . . . didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” (Acts 9:21, NLT). From the moment Paul encountered Jesus, his life had a new meaning; he became a follower, student, teacher, missionary, and leader. Part of his ministry entailed writing letters to encourage and instruct dispersed Christians throughout the Mediterranean basin.
The Apostle Paul: A First-Century Transformational Leader
Since antiquity, scholars and theologians have dissected Paul’s writings— its aspects, from contextual influences to spiritual instructions. Paul’s letters communicate an authoritative tone with the love of a parent. Written under divine inspiration, Paul’s letters are considered theopneustos, or breathed out by God (Grudem, 1994, p. 74). His writings were intended to be read to congregations, exchanged between churches, and ultimately served as an authoritative substitute for his personal presence (Duvall & Hays, 2012, p. 256). At their core, Paul’s letters were written to “teach, rebuke, correct, and train” Christians in right living so they would be equipped to proclaim the message of Christ (2 Tim. 3:16–17, NIV). His letter to the Christians in Rome encapsulates the full weight of his message and his mission.
The Christian colonies in Rome paled in comparison to the “Romanized” gods populating the local architecture (Barton, Comfort, Osborne, Taylor, & Veerman, 2001, p. 574). As Christians returned to Rome after Passover, they brought the message of Christ back to the local residents. As more Christians were added, the church grew in diversity and social complexity (Barton et al., 2001, p. 575). Paul’s letter was exactly what they needed. Highlighting Jewish history and tradition, he identified Jesus as the prophetic manifestation of their long-awaited Messiah. The first eleven chapters of Romans was Paul’s “argument for the Gospel” and laid a foundation for grace and salvation (Sproul, 2019, p. 375). However, in chapter 12, the flow changes. Opening with the word, “Therefore,” Paul signifies both a conclusion and an expectation. He immediately introduces sacrificial transformation and then identifies 10 traits characterizing a mature Christian and a transformational leader.
Understanding Transformational Leadership
Sosik and Jung (2018) reported that the “transformational leadership paradigm dominates the leadership field and ranks #1 among all leadership theories reviewed” (p. 6). The transformational leadership style focuses on emotions, values, and ethics. It involves “an exceptional form of influence that moves followers to accomplish more than what is usually expected of them” (Northouse, 2018, p. 161). Sitting atop the Total Leadership System is the transformational leadership style, rating individuals above average in active and effective behaviors. These transformed leaders promote positive and meaningful changes in people by practicing five components of transformational leadership, often referred to as the “5 I’s:”
- Idealized Influence (Behaviors): the words and actions performed by leaders
- Idealized Influence (Attributes): the leader’s behaviors perceived by followers
- Inspirational Motivation: articulating an optimistic and enthusiastic vision
- Intellectual Stimulation: leaders encouraging innovative thinking
- Individualized Consideration: leaders investing time and energy in followers
According to Sosik and Jung (2018), one mechanism transmitting these components is a leader’s “traits” or, more specifically, “who they are” (p. 53). In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul outlines mature Christians’ traits and, ultimately, transformational leaders.
Romans 12: Ten Transformational Traits
Transformational Leadership (Romans 12:1-2)
Paul’s call to action opens with personal sacrifice. The Christian growth process is neither easy nor quick. The same holds true for leaders. Retired general Stanley McChrystal (2018) said, “Leadership is not straightforward or glamorous. It is painful and perplexing, even at its best” (p. 399).
Paul also recognized the pull of cultural conformity and insists that Jesus’s followers be “transformed by the renewing of the mind.” The Greek word for “transformed” is metamorphosis. This word indicates a radical change of form that alters how individuals think and act (Sproul, 2019, p. 376). In similar ways, transformational leadership is “a process that changes and transforms people” (Northouse, 2016, p. 161). Paul is clear: being a Christian requires the manifestation of certain traits and cognitions. Being a transformational leader requires the same thing. The following 10 traits capture the essence of both Christian and transformational leadership behavior.
Trait 1: Humility (Romans 12:3 and 12:16). In chapter 12, Paul highlights humility twice by addressing the issue individually and relationally. In verse 3, he discusses inner humility with the Greek word sophroneo, referring to sober-mindedness or putting a moderate estimate upon oneself (Strong’s Concordance, n.d.). Later, in verse 16, he adds that external humility is “not being proud but willing to associate with people of low position.”
Anderson and Adams (2016) refer to this two-sided coin as an “inner game” and “outer game” (p. 30). Their leadership research shows that our consciousness and values’ inner game drives the outer game of our competencies and relationships. Paul knew that deep, inner humility is needed to influence and connect people with the message of salvation. In their book, Humility Is the New Smart, Darden Business School professors Hess and Ludwig (2017) write, “Connecting to and relating with other human beings are fundamental to human motivation” (p. 30). Without humility, the Christian witness is questionable and leadership influence is dangerous.
Trait 2: Team Building (Romans 12:4–8). Jesus modeled teamwork by investing in twelve disciples, who then invested in others. He commissioned His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19, NIV). Understanding Jesus’s message, Paul referred to the church as “a body with many members” (Rom. 12:4. NIV). He makes it a point to discuss various gifts and abilities; creating a place for each person equips a community to be more versatile and effective.
This is a crucial element for transformational leadership. By practicing individualized consideration, leaders gain an understanding of individual gifts. Countless psychological assessments are available to guide people in discovering their strengths. Many thriving organizations use Tom Rath’s Strengths Finder. Rath (2007) writes, “It is essential to discover and develop your strengths as early as possible, but also to help the people around you build on their natural talents as well” (p. 30).
Trait 3: Integrity (Romans 12:9–10). Jesus embodied integrity. Paul knew a person committed and submitted to Jesus would love people and cling to what is good. The Greek word for “cling” is kollao, which means to glue, cement, or fasten together (Strong’s Concordance, n.d.). A person of integrity fastens themselves to what is good and hates what is evil. Unfortunately, hypocrisy is not new to church culture; as a result, many people avoid religious institutions because of the breaches of trust. By acting with integrity, Christians rebuild trust through authentic relationships.
The lack of integrity is prevalent in secular leadership, as well. From Enron to the Penn State scandal, the lies, coverups, and selfish actions of the few contaminate the whole. Today’s transformational leader models integrity through trustworthy relationships and transparent communication.
Trait 4: Energy and Enthusiasm (Romans 12:11). Paul understood the power of motivation and inspirational effect. The origin of his word “zeal” is zeo, which refers to water being boiled with heat (Strong’s Concordance, n.d.). The Greek writer Homer used the word metaphorically to describe “boiling” anger or love. Paul requires Christians to “never lack in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor.”
In leadership, energy and enthusiasm are contagious and provide fuel for inspiration. Recent research shows a direct correlation between a leader’s ability to motivate and improving follower burnout, work engagement, and leadership-related career intentions (Auvinen, Huhtala, Kinnunen, Tsupari, & Feldt, 2020, p. 6).
Trait 5: Patient Perseverance (Romans 12:12). The early church faced tremendous obstacles getting started. Between external pressure and internal conflict, the chance of continued growth grew slim. Paul knew Christians needed to hold out hope and be patient through persecution.
Even today, pastors experience difficulty generating momentum. Stetzer and Bird (2007) conducted a qualitative study that found that over thirty percent of church plants close their doors within four years (p. 7). Leaders, both religious and secular, must not abandon hope at the first sign of difficulty. Their perseverance motivates others to continue when facing defeat.
Trait 6: Care and Generosity (Romans 12:13). One of the primary functions of the early church was to take care of each other. Luke, the author of Acts, wrote, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had” (Acts 4:32, NIV). This type of generosity characterized the early church and created an environment where those who had more helped those with less.
Care of others is a key aspect of leadership. Like the early church, leaders today must share knowledge and expertise while also attuning to their personal needs. Caring leaders must remain familiar with available resources to aid followers with financial, marital, or psychological assistance.
Trait 7: Empathy (Romans 12:14–15). Interestingly, there is no Greek word for empathy or compassion. Instead, the word splagchnizomai is used; this word refers to an agitation in the bowels, as they thought the bowels were the seat of love and pity (Strong’s Concordance, n.d.). Nevertheless, Paul understood empathy and demonstrated selfless love by building a close-knit community.
In the past 25 years, the value of empathy has surged among leadership literature, from anchoring Goleman’s emotional intelligence to driving transformational leadership’s individualized consideration. Cohn and Moran (2011) write, “When followers sense that their leader is attuned to what they are experiencing at the moment, they feel good; they feel connected” (p. 47). Research shows that connected followers report higher levels of morale, commitment, and productivity (Boyatzis, Smith, Van Oosten, & Woolford, 2013, p. 22).
Trait 8: Role Modeling (Romans 12:17). In an earlier letter to the Corinthian church, Paul encouraged his followers to “imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1, NASB). Recognizing his responsibility, he challenged others to mirror his behavior. Jesus established the standard when He said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15, NIV).
Leaders set the example for strong character and professional commitments. In a recent NeuroLeadership Institute study, researchers found that in times of crisis, followers need their managers to “model behaviors that are productive rather than destructive” (Sip, 2020). Before leaders evaluate their followers, they must first ensure that they are living their professed values. Kouzes and Posner (2012) write, “You either lead by example or don’t lead at all” (p. 74). This is a foundational component of idealized influence being attributed to leaders.
Trait 9: Relationship Building (Romans 12:18–19). Earlier in his letter to the Romans, Paul highlighted the importance of team building. In these verses, he emphasizes external relationships. The Greek word for “living peacefully” with others is eireneuo, which implies cultivating or keeping peace and harmony (Strong’s Concordance, n.d.). To help spread their message, Christians were obligated to interact with people from various backgrounds. These interactions were often contentious. Paul advised his followers to do everything they could to create harmonious relationships.
While leaders carry the weight of strengthening internal relationships, they cannot ignore the myriad of connections with external stakeholders. Marcus, McNulty, Henderson, and Dorn (2019), from the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, refer to this as leading beyond the “four walls of your organization to reach the people, institutions, and communities that are part of or important to your overall endeavors” (p. 29).
Trait 10: Action (Romans 12:20–21). In writing to his protégé, Paul instructed Timothy and everyone else to “preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2, NIV). Christianity is not a spectator sport. The lives of Jesus, the disciples, and Paul demonstrated action-oriented, purposeful activities. Being a follower of Christ requires action—including everything from feeding the poor to opposing injustice. Paul implored Christians to “overcome evil with good.” The Greek origin of the word “overcome” is nikao, which means “to come off victorious” (Strong’s Concordance, n.d.).
Transformational leaders use inspirational motivation to inspire victory in followers. Whether facing a product recall or a personal addiction, leaders help followers achieve more than they thought possible.
Conclusion
The Apostle Paul is one of the greatest missionaries who ever lived. His writings are held sacred by billions of people. What makes his story so meaningful is that he lived his letters. Everything he asked of others, he did personally. As a transformational leader, Paul modeled righteousness and Christ-like behavior. His letters reached beyond his presence and guided a movement that outlasted the temporary glories of Rome. The leadership wisdom of Romans 12 provides rich insight into 21st-century challenges.
Jim Collins, leadership expert and best-selling author, released one of the most popular business books of all time: Good to Great. In it, Collins (2001) identifies “Level 5” leaders as those who “build enduring greatness through a blend of personal humility and professional will” (p. 20). Over 2,000 years ago, Paul identified 10 traits of mature Christians: humility, teamwork, integrity, energy, perseverance, care, empathy, role modeling, relationship building, and taking action. These traits are just as necessary today as they were over 2,000 years ago. Whether growing as a Christian or developing as a leader, these traits are essential for transformation and organizational success.
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Steven M. Ruggerio is a doctoral candidate at Regent University and serves as the Men’s Ministry Director at the City Life Church. He currently lives in Newport News, Virginia.