#869
*Question*
I
have three doubts
1.what
does the word "PASTOR "means?
2.who
in the Bible was mentioned as a PASTOR?
3.where
in the Bible can I find the word PASTOR?
Brother
please can u send it in English?
Because
it would b easier for me to read and understand?
*Answer*
"PASTOR"
is a familiar and valuable word in most denominations. They usually apply to
men or women who stand before the congregation and deliver a message. They hold
the position of authority in the church.
Is it the
teaching of the Bible?
*what the
Bible teaches about pastors and their role*?.
In
Original Greek, there are three words describing this function.
*Presbuteros*
is translated as "ELDER" or "PRESBYTER".
*Poimen*
is translated as "pastor" or "shepherd".
We see the
similarity between "pasture" -
where the sheep graze.
"pastor"
describing one who cares for the sheep.
*Episkopos*
is the third term translated as "overseer" or "bishop".
All these
terms apply to the *same work or office*.
They just
describe different aspects of the work.
Presbyter
or elder obviously *refers to an older person*,
thus
someone 20 - 30 - 40 years of age would not qualify.
Pastor or
shepherd is easily *connected to the work that is to be done* caring for the
flock.
Then
overseer or bishop refers to the *leadership role* - a position of authority.
Now,
looking at various scriptures,
we can see
*all the above three terms refers to same person* !!
Refer to
Acts 20:17 -
"From
Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the *elders* of the church".
In his
charge to them, he gives this admonition:
"Be
on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has
made you *overseers*,
to
*shepherd*
the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).
Thus all
three Greek words are applied to the same men.
Another
example is found in I Peter 5:1-3:
"Therefore,
I exhort the *elders* among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the
sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
*shepherd* the flock of God among you, exercising *oversight* not under
compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid
gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your
charge, but proving to be examples to the flock."
In this
passage, Peter uses all three Greek terms, one as a noun, and two in the verb
form.
*Are
the terms "pastor" and "preacher" synonymous*?
We run
into a problem when we consider the qualifications that are given for the
pastors or elders.
Consider a
few of the qualifications cited in I Timothy 3:1-6:
"It
is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is
a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the
husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to
teach. Not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the
love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his
children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to
manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?, and not
a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the
condemnation incurred by the devil."
In Paul's
instruction to Titus, he gave similar instructions. "For this reason I
left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders
in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the
husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or
rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not
self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond
of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout,
self-controlled" (Titus 1:5-8).
Now
*notice a few of the pertinent qualifications* for one to be qualified to serve
as a pastor, elder, or overseer.
The
instruction is *given to men, not women*,
therefore
women are not to be considered for this responsibility.
These men are to be married, therefore
single men cannot serve as pastors.
These men are to have children who are
believers, for that is one way they prove their ability to lead others. Thus
even a married man who has no children cannot qualify.
He must not be a young man, for those
appointed are called "elders."
He must not be a new convert, but one that
has time to study and be seasoned in the Word.
Another
consideration is that we *never see a single pastor* in a Biblical setting.
On Paul's
first missionary journey, as he and his companions were leaving the area after
preaching in Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, they first "…appointed elders
for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to
the Lord in whom they had believed" (Acts 14:23).
In noting
Peter's address in I Peter 5, he writes to the "elders among you."
It is
obvious that the Lord does not want a "one man rule."
History is
full of abuses that have come from power invested in just one man.
This is
what God's Word teaches, but as we look around, we see thousands of pastors
that do not meet the qualifications that God has set in place.
Ephesians
4:11-13 sheds some light on the distinction between elders and preachers/
evangelists. "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some
as evangel-ists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the
saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until
we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the
fullness of Christ."
The work
of apostles and prophets was a miraculous office, and it is still with us
through the inspired Word.
Today we
have evangelists, pastors and teachers. The work of evangelists, pastors and
teachers continues with the responsibility to teach the Word of God
(evangelists and teachers) and care for the church (elders).
In
searching the Scriptures, we see the serious responsibilities given to those
who are designated as pastors or shepherds, elders or presbyters, and bishops
or overseers. They are to
Guard the flock (Acts 20:28)
Be able to teach (I Timothy 3:2)
Be an example (Hebrews 13:7)
Watch for souls (Hebrews 13:17)
Refute false teachers (Titus 1:9)
One other
point should be considered, which is being practiced in many denominations of
allowing women to serve as pastors, now many came with their title as Reverend
and Chief Reverend, Cheif Pastor also !!
We note
from I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are related to men, who have wife.
There is
another passage that has a bearing on the matter, and this is I Timothy 2:12:
"But *I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man,
but to remain quiet*."
This
clearly *prohibits a woman* from having a place of prominence in *standing
before a congregation* where men are present and delivering a sermon, or
serving in some authoritative way.
Biblical
teaching about pastors is not ambiguous, but is very clear.
One
wonders why so many denominations either do not understand, or refuse to follow
what God's Word teaches. Perhaps their situation is similar to that of the
Sadducees, when Christ answered a question they had put to him: "But Jesus
answered and said to them, 'You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures
nor the power of God'" (Matthew 22:29).
We must be
careful to respect the teaching God has given us, so that we "may learn
not to exceed what is written" (I Corinthians 4:6).
Does our
Lord teach about pastors and their role in the church?
We have
shown several passages that deal with this subject, thus we must consider II
John 9: "Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of
Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the
Father and the Son."
Hope i had
clarified on your query.
Written by
: Jefferson
Translated
by : Eddy Joel Silsbee
Preacher –
The Churches of Christ
Teacher –
World Bible School
+968
93215440 / joelsilsbee@gmail.com
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