# First Hevetic Confession
Article 16 - Of the Ministry of the Word
And for this reason, we confess that the ministers of the church are God’s co-workers (which Paul also acknowledges), through whom he administers the knowledge of himself and the remission of sins, converts men to himself, raises them up, comforts them, even frightens them and judges them. However, in order to ascribe all the power and efficiency in these things to the Lord, let us ascribe the ministry to the ministers. For it is certain that this power and efficacy is not to be bound to any creature at all, but to be dispensed by the free condescension of God, how and to whom He wills. For there is no one who waters, nor who plants, but God who gives growth.4

[Luke 1](/get-passage/Luke+1); [John 20](/get-passage/John+20); [1 Corinthians 3](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+3); [1 Corinthians 14](/get-passage/1+Corinthians+14); [2 Corinthians 6](/get-passage/2+Corinthians+6).