"ARE YOU THE PASTOR?"
INTRODUCTION
- "Are you the pastor?" is a question that I am frequently asked...
- When people visit our services
- When someone calls the church building
-- A similar question when people learn that I preach: "What church
do you pastor?"
- The questions are well intentioned, but misinformed...
- Most people are not aware of the Biblical use of the word "pastor"
- Indeed, most "pastors" today are not even qualified to be a pastor
in the Biblical sense
[If we desire to use Bible words in Bible ways, then we do well to
consider the proper meaning and use of the word "pastor"...]
- "PASTOR" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
- THE WORD DEFINED...
- The English word "pastor" is found only one time in the NT!
- Listed along with apostles, prophets, evangelists and
teachers - Ep 4:11
- Interesting how a word found only once has become almost the
universal term for addressing ministers of any sort!
- The Greek word is poimen, and means "a shepherd (literally or
figuratively): - shepherd, pastor" - Strong
- The English word "shepherd" is found seventeen (17) times in
the NT
- Literally, in such passages as Lk 2:8,15,18,20
- Figuratively, in such passages as Jn 10:11,14; He 13:20;
1Pe 2:25
-- So in Ep 4:11, it means "shepherds" metaphorically; but who
were they?
- THE POSITION DESCRIBED...
- The pastors or shepherds in the NT church were the "elders" of
the congregation
- "Compare Ac 20:28, which, with Ac 20:17, indicates that this
was the service committed to elders (overseers or bishops);
so also in 1Pe 5:1-2" - Vine
- I.e., it was the elders who had the duty to be overseers
(bishops) and to shepherd (pastor) and feed the flock of God
- What the NT reveals is not three distinct offices, but
different ways to describe the spiritual leaders of a
congregation and their work:
- Elders (Grk., presbuteros, presbyter) for they were older
men - Ac 14:23; 20:17
- Bishops (Grk. episkopos, overseer) for their task was to
oversee the congregation - cf. Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:1-2
- Pastors (Grk. poimen, shepherd) for their task was to
shepherd and feed the flock of God - cf. Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:1-2
- The NT also reveals that there was always a plurality of elders
(pastors) in a congregation
- Never just one, but at least two
- Which served to prevent one-man rule over a congregation
-- So the pastors were elders (presbyters), also known as a
bishops (overseers); but what were their qualifications?
- THE QUALIFICATIONS DELINEATED...
- The qualifications for elder-bishop-pastor are found in two
places
- In Paul's instructions to Timothy - 1Ti 3:1-7
- In Paul's charge to Titus - Tit 1:5-9
- Note that these passages describe what an elder-bishop-pastor
"must be", including:
- The husband of one wife (i.e., a married man)
- With believing children (i.e., children who are faithful)
- Such qualifications rule out:
- Single "pastors"
- Childless "pastors"
- Female "pastors"
-- In light of what pastors "must be", many who claim to be
pastors really aren't pastors in the Biblical sense
[At this point, one may wonder: "Well, if you are not a pastor, then
what are you and what role do you serve in the church?" It may
therefore help to consider...]
- "PASTOR" COMPARED WITH OTHER TERMS
- EVANGELIST...
- This word is found three times in the NT
- The same place where the word "pastor" is found once - Ep
4:11
- Philip, one of the original seven appointed to help needy
widows, was later described as "the evangelist" - Ac 21:8;
cf. Ac 8:4-5,40
- Timothy was charged to do "the work of an evangelist" - 2 Ti
4:5
- "The term euaggelistes describes a proclaimer of good news
(gospel, euangelion)." - Ferrell Jenkins, The Early Church
- "It is popular in modern times to think of an evangelist as
one who travels from place to place." - ibid.
- "The idea of travel is not inherent in the word evangelist"
- ibid.
- Philip evidently spent twenty years in Caesarea (Ac 8:40;
21:8); Timothy was charged to remain in Ephesus (1Ti 1:3)
- The work of an evangelist in relation to a congregation - ibid.
- Preach the word - 2Ti 4:1-5
- Put the brethren in mind of truth - 1Ti 4:6
- Reprove sinners, including elders if necessary - 1Ti 5:19-21
- Set in order, lead in appointing elders, teach
qualifications - Tit 1:5
- Teaching and training of teachers - 2Ti 2:2
- Teach against false doctrine and silence false teachers
- 1Ti 1:3-4; Tit 1:11,13
- Set an example for the brethren - 1Ti 4:12; Tit 2:7
- Give attention to reading, exhortation, teaching - 1 Ti
4:13; 2Ti 2:15
- The work between that of pastors and evangelists contrasted:
- An elder (pastor) is to take heed to self and to the flock
- Ac 20:28
- An evangelist is to take heed to self and to his teaching
- 1Ti 4:16
-- An evangelist is not a pastor (unless qualified and appointed
to serve in a dual role, along with other pastors in the
congregation), but a minister of the Word of God
- PREACHER...
- This word, or related words (preach, preaching) is found many
times in the Scriptures
- It describes the ministry of John the Baptist - Mt 3:1
- It describes the ministry of Jesus - Mt 4:17,23; 9:35
- It describes what Philip and Paul did with the gospel - Ac
8:5; 9:20
- It's role in saving souls is emphasized - Ro 10:14-15
- Timothy was charge to preach the word - 2Ti 4:2
- "The term kerux is used of a herald, messenger, or proclaimer"
- Jenkins
-- A preacher, then, would likely be an evangelist, proclaiming
the gospel of Christ to lost souls; once saved, pastors
(elders) were to watch over those souls
- MINISTER...
- "This term (Greek, diakonos) describes a servant (1Ti 4:6)."
- Jenkins
- "The term is not limited to the preacher; it is used of
deacons and other servants (1Ti 3:8,12)." - ibid.
- "The preacher is not to be the (only) minister of a church."
- ibid.
- Indeed, all those who serve in some capacity can rightly be
called ministers
- Deacons, of course, because that is what their very name
means - 1Ti 3:8
- Evangelists or preachers, for they are ministers:
- Used by God to reach out to the lost - 1Co 3:5
- Of the new covenant - 2Co 3:6
- Of God - 2Co 6:4; 1Th 3:2
- Of Christ - 2Co 11:23; 1Ti 4:6
- Those who serve a congregation in some way - Ro 16:1; Col 1:7
-- Even pastors can rightly be called "ministers", in the sense
that they serve God and His flock by watching over the flock;
but a minister is not necessarily a pastor!
CONCLUSION
- Who can rightly be called a "pastor" according to the Bible...?
- Those elders-bishops, who are charged to shepherd (pastor) the
flock of God
- Those who meet all the qualifications as listed by Paul in 1Ti 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-9
- Who watch over a congregation not alone, but with a least another
pastor duly qualified
- Those often referred to as "pastor" might more properly be thought of
as...
- Preachers, evangelists
- Teachers, ministers
Such is certainly true in my case, as I serve the Lord as a minister of
the Word and of the gospel of Christ. Speaking of which, have you heard
the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ...? - Ro 10:14-15