Pastors: In The Bible & The Church

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth...Eph 5:9

he letters of the apostle Paul to Timothy and Titus are generally considered the “Pastoral Epistles” by many religious groups and scholars. However, such a label is extremely misleading and stems from a false view of the role and responsibilities of preachers. As men, who were cut from the same cloth as Diotrephes, departed from the faith to draw disciples after themselves, they developed a system of “clergy” and “laity.” This ungodly elevating of ministers over the church has drawn away sincere hearts from seeking the Word to simply living by what they are told to believe by their clergy. Additionally, it is the same type of high mindedness that brought the rebuke of the Lord upon the Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23).

The word “pastor” is found only once in the New Testament. In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul was exhorting the brethren in Ephesus concerning unity within the church. In doing so, he explained that God had ordained certain offices within the church for the purpose of developing a united and growing church. Among these offices, Paul mentions “pastors” (v.11).

These individuals are not preachers, since the office of the evangelist is already given. But, if Paul did not intend to refer to the preacher of a church as the pastor, then what exactly is a pastor in Ephesians 4:11? Careful examination of the text reveals that among the offices listed, there is no explicit mention of the office of the elders. However, the eldership within the local church is extremely important to Paul and God. Such is evidenced

by the fact that specific qualifications for the office are given in the Scriptures (1 Tim 3; Titus 1). Paul felt it necessary to ordain elders in every church during his work (Acts 14:23) and he left Titus in Crete for the very same purpose (Titus 1:5). Understanding the significance of the office of an elder, it merely requires the process of elimination to necessarily infer that when Paul said “pastors” in Eph 4:11, he meant elders.

This conclusion is not based solely on inference, but other points as well. The word “pastor” in Eph 4:11 is from the Greek word poimena (poimena) which means “shepherd.” Therefore, the individual who occupies the office of a shepherd (pastor) is one who is engaged in the work of shepherding. Such is the sole responsibility of elders.

According to the Bible, elders must oversee the flock (Acts 20:28), not evangelists; and elders, not preachers, rule over the church (1 Tim 3:4-5; 1 Tim 5:17). Furthermore, Peter declared that elders are to feed the flock and take oversight of the flock until the “Chief Shepherd” shall appear (1 Peter 5:1-4). Thus, it is elders who pastor (shepherd) and not preachers or evangelists. Additionally, according to the all authoritative, all sufficient, written Word of God, individuals who do not fulfill the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 may not wear the title of pastor, nor may they assume the responsibilities of a pastor.

The Bible tells us that elders are worthy of double-

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