Ergatēs is the laborer or worker — the one who performs work (ergon). In agricultural contexts it refers to field workers and harvesters. Jesus uses it most memorably in Matthew 9:37-38: 'The harvest is plentiful but the ergatai are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers [ergatai] into his harvest field.' Paul uses ergatēs for apostolic ministers (2 Cor 11:13; Phil 3:2 — warning against false workers) and for Timothy as a worker who rightly handles the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).
Ergatēs provides the New Testament framework for ministry calling. The harvest is not automatic — it requires ergatai. Jesus does not say the harvest will harvest itself; He commands prayer for more workers and then sends the Twelve and the Seventy-two (Lk 10:1-2). The urgency is harvest-time urgency: crops left unharvested rot. Paul applies this same urgency to the apostolic mission: 'Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel' (1 Cor 9:16). Every believer is invited to be an ergatēs in the divine harvest — and the measure of a true worker, for Paul, is handling the word of truth with precision and integrity (2 Tim 2:15).