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- "May I Speak to the Pastor?"
- Nearly daily I receive a phone call which goes something like this: “Hello, Morgan City church of
Christ.” “Hi, my name is _____________ and I am wondering if I may speak to the pastor?” Surely I am not
the only one who receives such a call. This question is a manifestation of a false denominational teaching
which has plagued our world for years. It is the teaching that the man who “preaches” is the “pastor.” This
concept is not unique to denominations, however, for many of our brethren have the same concept, which is
revealed in a two-fold manner: (1) thinking that the preacher is the boss, and (2) actually thinking like those
of the denominational world, that the preacher really is the pastor. Despite the thinking of many, the Bible
teaches something much to the contrary. We now call attention to what the Bible teaches concerning
pastors.
The Bible does, in fact, describe an office of work in which men pastor. This same office is
recognized as being the work of elders, who are often even referred to as bishops. Though these three
terms describe the same office of work, they are used to show different aspects of the work. The term elder
is descriptive of one who is aged, thus has experience. Bishop refers to the actual work of seeing that
things get done, and done properly. Pastor refers to the feeding process involved in the work, which is
expressive of seeing to it that Christians are being edified. Let us now look more closely at how these
terms are used to describe the same office of work.
The first section of Scripture to which we call attention, wherein all three terms are used, is Acts 20:17-
28. It is said that Paul “sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church” (v.17). Now, notice closely who
he called—the elders. The term is translated from the Greek word presbuteros, which means one of age,
one with experience. As one continues through the context he will notice that once these men (the elders)
“were come to him” that Paul “said unto them” (v.18). Paul continues to speak to them through the 35th
verse. In the 28th verse Paul says, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves,” to whom is he speaking? In view
of the context he is speaking to the “elders” of “the church.” He continues, “and to all the flock over the which
the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers…” The word here translated “overseers” is the Greek word
episkopos, which means a man who is charged with seeing that things are done. This same word is
translated “bishop” in 1 Timothy 3:1, 2 and Titus 1:7. Remember, Paul is speaking to the elders, but now
tells them that they are bishops. Paul uses similar language in Titus 1:5, 7 when he said, “…and ordain
elders in every church…for a bishop must be...” Again Paul is speaking of elders, but then calls them
bishops. Is this double talk? No, for Paul understands, and is explaining, that elders and bishops are, in
fact, the same thing. Now, back to Acts 20:28. After addressing the elders, calling them bishops, Paul says,
“…to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The term feed is a verb in
English. It is translated from the Greek verb poimaino, which means to rule or govern, to feed. The noun
form of this word is poimne, which means one who rules or governs, one who feeds. The word is translated
“pastors” in Ephesians 4:11, the only time the term pastor is used in the New Testament.
The next section of Scripture to which we call attention, which, as the first set, uses all three terms, is 1
Peter 5:1, 2. Verse 1 says, “The elders which are among you…” Again, the term “elder” is translated from
the word presbuteros. Peter continues, in verse 2, by saying, to the elders, “feed the flock of God which is
among you…” “Feed” is again translated from the term poimaino, meaning to pastor. Finally, he says,
“taking the oversight…” From what word is “oversight” translated? If you said episkopos you were close. It
is the verb episkopeo, which is the verb form of episkopos, meaning the act of seeing that things get done.
Once again we have one section of Scripture describing one office of work using the three terms elder,
bishop and pastor. What conclusions can we draw from this? Elders, bishops and pastors are the same.
These are different terms used to describe the same office of work, each term showing a different aspect of
the work.
Next we ask: Who can serve as an elder, bishop or pastor? Despite popular belief, the preacher is
not necessarily the one who is a part of this work, though he can be. A preacher can be en elder, but not all
elders are preachers, though they are to be “apt to teach.” The Bible sets forth, in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and in
Titus 1:5-9, the qualifications a man must meet in order to serve in this capacity. Included among the
qualifications is a man who is married having believing children. Also included in these qualifications is the
fact that there must be more than one man serving in this office at a time. There can be at least 2, more than
2, but no less than 2. This is seen in that in every instance the term elder is used in reference to the office
the term appears in the plural, never the singular (even when it appears it is in the singular, such as in 1
Peter 5:1, the context reveals it is not). For example: “…sent it to the elders…(Ac 11:30); “…and when they
had ordained elders in every church…” (Ac 14:23); “…go up to the apostles and elders…” (Ac 15:2); “…let
the elders that rule well…” (1 Tim 5:17); “…ordain elders in every city…” (Titus 1:5); “…the elders…” (1 Pet
5:1). Too, the only time pastor is used in the New Testament it too is plural.
So, then, a man serving in this role must meet these qualifications, and must be joined by at least one other
man, in a local church, who also meets these qualifications. These men are identified as elders, bishops
and pastors. Let us do away with this denominational misrepresentation of biblical terminology. Let us call
Bible things by Bible names and do Bible things in Bible ways.
Roger A. Scully, Jr.
