When the early believers (the church) gathered together they were taught by the apostles, and the epistles that were written to them. As the church grew, elders were ordained by the apostles to continue teaching the believers how to live the Christian life.
If you pull out every use of the word “elder” in the New Testament, there are twenty in reference to the church (this doesn’t include the use of the word elder as in the Jewish scribes, pharisees and elders).
These are:
Acts 11:30 “. . . sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul . . .” – the “elders” were the authority who received the supplies.
Acts 15:2 “…should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question . . .” – the elders were consulted for advice.
Acts 15:4 “ . . .they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders . . .” – the elders received them.
Acts 14:23 “ . . . and when they had ordained them elders in every church, … they commended them unto the Lord . . .” – the elders were ordained by the apostles.
Acts 15:6 “ . . . apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter . . .” – the elders considering and deciding.
Acts 15:22 “ . . . then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men . . .” – the elders had authority in sending men.
Acts 15:23 “ . . . apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles . . .”
Acts 16:4 “. . . as they went through the cities, they delivered them decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem . . .” – the elders ordained decrees.
Acts 20:17 “. . . and called the elders of the church . . .” – Paul called the elders so he could speak to them.
Acts 21:18 “ . . . and the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present . . .” – the elders were present for a speech about the ministry.
Acts 22:5 “ . . . as also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders . . .”
1 Timothy 5:1 “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father . . .” – to respect the elders.
1 Timothy 5: 17 “let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine . . .”
1 Timothy 5:19 “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses . . .”
Titus 1:5 “ . . .and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee . . .” – Titus was appointed by Paul to ordain elders in every city.
James 5:14 “Is any sick among you? 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:” – elders were involved in healing the sick.
1 Peter 5:1-6 “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you [elders were the teachers – they fed the flock of God], taking the oversight thereof [elders were in charge of the church], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock [elders are expected to LIVE the example of Christ and uphold all Biblical standards for Christians].
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility [though they have the oversight of the church, elders were humble with “all of you”]: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time . . .” [all words in brackets are added]
John 1:1 “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;” – it was the elder who was making the address.
3 John 1:1 “The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth . . .” – again, the elder was making the address.
So, from Scripture we can clearly see that the ordained elders (who were ordained or, in other words, chosen by the apostles and the church/body of believers itself) had oversight of the church. They were responsible for teaching, addressing, feeding and encouraging the flock. They were humble, and they were the ones who were consulted and who made decisions, and so forth. Their ordained place was the third highest among the believers. Why do I say third highest? Because Christ is the first, and bishops are second, and then elders. (“Bishops” means ‘superintendent’; bishops were chief elders. They were everything that an elder was, but were more experienced spiritually and were chief elders)
So we are talking about elders, let’s take another look at the word “elder”.
Acts 11:30 “Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” This is also the first use of the word “elder” in the new testament.
Acts 14:21-23 “And when they [Paul and Barnabas] had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”
Here is the first mention of the “elders”. The elders were first ordained by Paul and Barnabas in every church during the time of persecution and tribulation, after they had exhorted the disciples to continue in the faith.
In 1 Corinthians 1:2 the believers are addressed by Paul as “ . . . the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” This doesn’t need any further explanation. It is as simple as this: those who have been sanctified by Christ Jesus are the church which belongs to God.
We read on in this same chapter:
1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”
Ephesians 5:23-24 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ . . .”
1 Corinthians 16:1 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.” Notice churches (plural) = more than one gathering of believers in that city. This is the same as in 1 Corinthians 16:19, the “churches of Asia”.
2 Corinthians 8:1 “. . . churches of Macedonia . . .” and Galatians 1:2 “ . . . churches of Galatia . . .” and Galatians 1:22 “ . . . churches of of Judea which were in Christ . . .”
Ephesians 5:21-32 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
1 Corinthians 15:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” – we do not all have the same function.
Does Gods Word make mistakes? No, never.
God-ordained structure of the scriptural church: The places ordained by God are: bishops, elders, and deacons. These three are not the same. They are all believers ordained with authority. But the three have different qualifications and roles. The role of bishop and elder is similar, bishops being the chief elders. The role of a Deacon is spoken about separately in the New Testament.
So what about the role of a ‘pastor’? This is where it gets very interesting and we will get to this. But first, let’s read all of the examples and qualifications of bishops and deacons.
1 Timothy 3:1-16 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
Not a novice [elders were the most spiritually experience among the church], lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without [he is known to be of good report, no reproach, to unbelievers, he has to be above reproach]; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (non-italic brackets added)
And you will find that all other references and examples in the scriptures all correspond; that is, if you read them in context of what scripture says and not what men have made it to mean or have taught you. You can pray and read God’s Word, and trust that His understanding will be enlightened to you in due time. God’s Word is holy, pure, and infinite. He does not make mistakes. He does not mix up His words. Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him . . .” Again, every word of God is pure. Every single word.
So now we get to the part where a huge number of believers around the world (and non-saved religious people too) are mistaken, and have a huge spiritual lack of understanding. It is so widely misunderstood and taught, that many believers don’t even realise that what they believe is scripturally wrong.
There are nine times in the Bible where the word “pastor” is used. Eight of those are in the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament, in the context of pastoring sheep or to tend to a flock. The one and only time the word “pastor” is used in the New Testament is in this passage (note, only one use of the word in the whole New Testament):
Ephesians 4:7-16 “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
In Jeremiah, the context of “pastoring” means “tending to the flock”. The flock of God, which is God’s children.
In Ephesians, if you study into the word “pastor” in the concordance, it means “to tend, to shepherd”. A shepherd tends to the needs of the flock.
Tending to the flock is a physical tense and action. It means caring physically for them. If someone tends to their child’s cut on their hand, they are caring for a physical need and concern.
To tend is an action. It is a physical action that someone does. It doesn’t say they have the oversight of the flock or that they feed (teach) the flock spiritually – this is the elders’ role. To tend to the flock means to tend to the flock. To see to their physical needs and help their needs to be met. For example, making sure the widows and fatherless are fed and clothed, just as an example…
If pastoring meant teaching the flock, then God would not have said in Acts 20:28 to the elders “. . . over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God” (to feed, which is to give food, spiritual food, to teach - whether it be milk or meat, see 1 Cor 3:2, 1 Peter 2:2). If pastoring meant overseeing the flock, then God would not have said “over which the Holy Ghost hath made you [the elders] overseers”.
This is reaffirmed through 1 Peter 5:1-2 “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof”.
To pastor is a gift. Not a qualification. It does not say anywhere, or even indicate, that a pastor has any qualification. This is a pastor by scriptural definition; simply that a pastor possesses the gift of tending to the flock’s needs (Eph 4:7-16). This means they have the gift which God has given them of loving, tending, and caring for other believers to help meet the needs of the flock.
What is the purpose of those who possess the gifts of apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors, and teachers? The next verse (Eph 4:12) answers it. “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ”.
Ephesians 4:1-7 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Bishop (Strong’s Concordance) – “a superintendent, that is, Christian officer in general charge of a (or the) church (literally or figuratively): - bishop, overseer.
Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:” – the deacons were greeted.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
2 Timothy 4:22 “ . . .Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians . . .”
Titus 1:7 “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitalilty, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
Titus 3:15 “…Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians…”
1 Peter 2:25 “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are not returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
Elders: Acts 20:17 “and called the elders of the church…”
Acts 20:27-30 “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” – Elders were the teachers, who fed the church of God/body of believers. Elders must have the qualifying attributes as per scripture to qualify them in teaching and overseeing the flock of God.
It even says: 1 Peter 5:3 “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock . . .”
