What is a Pastor?

Posted by Angella Diehl, Webmaster on January 27, 2022 under Ask the Pastor |

A visitor to our site asks this question:

What, according to the Bible, is a pastor? Can you please give scriptural references? Thank you very much.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Thanks for writing.  Great question.

In the Bible, a pastor is the same thing as an elder, which is also the same thing as a bishop.  Though describing the same person, these three words highlight different aspects of this one office:

The word “pastor” or “shepherd” tends to emphasize personal care and nurture (1 Peter 5:2).  The word “elder” or “presbyter” emphasizes the spiritual maturity and moral character that befits the one holding that office (note how, in 1 Tim. 3:5, Paul mentions “elders”, and then goes on to describe moral qualifications in verse 6).  And the word “bishop”, emphasizes the function of providing for the spiritual oversight of the church (note how Paul then says, “For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God …”; that is, as one into whose hands God has entrusted the care of His church).

The Greek word that the Bible translates as “bishop” is “episcopos”.  It is a word formed by joining two Greek words together: “epi”, which means “upon”; and “skopeó”, which means to “pay careful attention to, or look out for” something.  An “episcopos”, then, is someone appointed to the role of safeguarding or overseeing something–and in respect to a church, it means someone who is the “overseer” of that church.  (The word “bishop” comes from the Old English word “bisceop”; which itself came from the Latin “ebiscopus”.)

These three functions are often very clearly used in Scripture to describe the same office.  Sometimes in the New Testament, the words are combined in the same verse to describe the same person(s).  In Acts 20; Paul calls the “elders” of the church of Ephesus together and tells them, “… Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock [i.e., "shepherd/pastor"], among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [i.e., "bishops]” (v. 28).  Peter mentions all three when he writes, “The elders who are among you I exhort, I whom am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers …” (1 Peter 5:1-2).  In Titus 1:5-9, we find that Paul writes that Titus should appoint “elders” and gives their specific qualifications (v. 5); and then says, as the reason for this command, that “a bishop must be blameless …” (v. 7).

The New Testament, then, presents these three words as describing only one office. But “elders” and “bishops” do not appear to be considered distinct offices in the church until the Second Century.  Since that time, many traditions in Christianity (including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Scandinavian Lutheran) retain a distinct office of “bishop”; but they do so on the basis of tradition–not on the basis of a clear distinction in the Scriptures.  Hence, some churches have a distinct office called “bishop”; while churches that have their roots in the reformed tradition simply see “bishop”, “elder” as describing one office. Many churches include “pastor” as a word to describe this office as well (Eph. 4:11).

* * * * * * * * * *

As far as who they (elders/bishops/pastors) are, they are the “appointed” leaders in a church …

Acts 14:23 — So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Titus 1:5 — For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you . . .

whose service it is to provide the spiritual oversight of God’s household and seeing to the care of its people …

1 Timothy 5:17— Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

1 Timothy 3:4-5 — … One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?) …

Who provide this service in a shepherd-like manner under the authority of Christ …

1 Peter 5:1-4 — The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Who must meet certain spiritual qualifications …

1 Timothy 3:1-7 — This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5-9 — For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you–if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-mind ed, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. And are accountable to other elders and to God …

1 Timothy 5:17-21 — Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep your self pure. No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

Hebrews 13:17 — Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

* * * * * * * * * * *

As for what elders/bishops/pastors do:

They teach …

1 Timothy 3:2 — …  Able to teach …

1 Timothy 5:17 — Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

They appoint others to ministry …

1 Timothy 4:14 — Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

They shepherd God’s flock …

Acts 20:28 — Therefore take heed to yourselves and to 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.

1 Peter 5:1-2 — The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you …

They set the example for the people of God in faith and Christian conduct …

1 Timothy 4:12 — Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Peter 5:3 — … Being examples to the flock …

Hebrews 13:7 — Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. They protect the church’s doctrine and teaching …

1 Timothy 4:13 — Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

And they prioritize the ministries of preaching the word and of prayer …

Acts 6:2 — Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

2 Timothy 4:1 — I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

James 5:14 — Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. They rebuke false teaching and defend the truth …

Titus 1:5, 10-11 — For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you  … For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

2 Timothy 2:23-26 — But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Thanks for asking.  I hope this is helpful.

Blessings,

Pastor Greg