What is a Pastor or Elder? Biblical Description

Definition

The Bible describes two leadership offices for the Church, elder/pastor and deacon (1 Tim 3:1-15; Phil 1:1). The office of elder/pastor goes by three synonymous terms: shepherd (pastor), elder, and overseer. Each of these terms is used interchangeably in the New Testament and is understood to be synonymous (1 Peter 5:1-5; Acts 20:17-28). The term pastor is derived from the latin word for shepherd. The office of elder/pastor provides leadership, teaching, and management for the congregation as a whole.

Shepherd (Pastor). Leading by the Word. To shepherd means leading the people of God to follow Christ by imitating him. The shepherd / sheep metaphor is designed by God as a means of explaining his relationship with his people. 1 Peter 5:1-5 describes elders as shepherds operating under the headship of the Chief Shepherd Jesus. The primary role is to lead the sheep to follow after the Chief Shepherd. Four characteristics of these under-shepherds are brought to the fore in Scripture.

1. Shepherd by modeling the Word. The person who serves as shepherd is to be appointed to the position only after they exude godly qualifications laid out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Meeting these qualifications is necessary for anyone who would lead the congregation for they are to set an example for the rest of the flock. Paul teaches his understudy Timothy how to pastor and he says, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). The mantra of a shepherd must include: follow me as I follow Christ. 2. Shepherd by caring for the sheep. In Acts 20 Paul is providing instruction for the Ephesian elders and he charges them to “care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28b). He concludes his remarks to the elders of the church with one final charge, he writes: “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). 3. Shepherd by protecting the flock. Numerous times in Scripture the shepherds of God’s people are described as needing to fend off the wolves that would attack the flock. For instance in Zechariah 11:17 God disparages the shepherd who would not be courageous enough to defend the people of God. And more explicitly the defense of the flock by elders against fierce wolves is mentioned in Acts 20:28-30. 4. Shepherd by loving God’s people. The way we care for and lead the congregation must be characterized by love. Paul exudes this quality of loving the church even in his more difficult cases such as the church at Corinth. “For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you” (2 Cor. 2:4).

Elder. Teaching of the Word. A distinguishing mark of an elder as opposed to a deacon is the understanding and ability to apply the Word to the congregation (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9). This ability to teach is also bound up in the term elder. The idea of an elder is drawn from the Old Testament. Israel had an established group of elders who provided wisdom and discernment for the people (Exodus 19:7; Ezekiel 7:26). The implication from this Old Testament background is that an elder would be someone biblically wise and capable of providing biblical counsel.

In the New Testament, the elders of the church are tasked with the job of teaching the people of God the Scriptures. Peter, the rock from which the church is established, was told, “feed my sheep” (John 21:15, 17). Paul tells Timothy, preach the Bible when it is popular to do so and when it is not (2 Tim. 4:1-5). Paul modeled for the Ephesians elders the teaching of the entire counsel of God’s Word (Acts 20:26-27).

Overseer. Managing by the Word. The term overseer was used in the business and industrial spheres of the New Testament (first century Greco-Roman world). The term generally was equated with management. Someone might oversee a vineyard or oversee people. The term steward or stewardship was also used in conjunction with overseer. We might think of this as middle management between Christ and his church.

Implications of this title and the attributes it brings to the position of elder: Managing the church (1 Tim. 5:17), by identifying and implementing the endeavors the church should undertake to best make disciples. Equipping and empowering people do the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12). To give guidance to church matters, especially those theological in nature (Acts 15:1-6). And to work hard guiding the people without earthly recompense (Acts 20:33-35; 1 Peter 5:2).

Who can serve in this role? The role of shepherd, elder, overseer is restricted to those who are qualified. The Bible tells us unequivocally that the role should only be held by biblically qualified men, who have been prompted by the Holy Spirit, and called by the church.

The qualifications are listed succinctly in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. The list focuses primarily on godly characteristics these men should posses in order to be considered for the position. The qualifications are very similar to those listed for deacons but with a few notable exception. In particular is the the ability to teach (1 Tim 3:2), instruct in doctrine, and rebuke false teaching (Titus 1:9). Shepherding God’s people is an activity that centers upon the ministry of the Word, and therefore should be carried out by men who are capable of leading in this way.

Secondarily, the responsibility of shepherding God’s church is to be held by men. The Bible teaches that men and women have different and complimentary roles they are to fill in the home and in the church. The teaching is derived from a handful of passages. First, there is no occasion in which a church in the New Testament is pastored by a woman, so the model presented is for men to hold this role. Secondly, the qualifications given in 1 Tim 5 and Titus 1 are written to men and in masculine categories (e.g. “husband of one wife” or “he”). Thirdly, Paul instructs men exclusively to hold these roles (1 Timothy 2:8-15; 1 Corinthians 14:33-35). The Bible teaches us that women should not fill this role nor should men who do not met the minimum standard of qualification. This is not stated as a prohibition but a provision for the church.

Thirdly, a piece of the qualifications that must not be understated is the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The men who shall fill this position within the church should feel and inner prompting of the Holy Spirit. For “the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God” (Acts 20:28). Paul describes this prompting of the Holy Spirit as an inner desire, when he writes: “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Tim 3:1).

Lastly, the appointment of elders is a responsibility of the entire congregation. Elders are not self appointed but elected by the church. Thus, the final piece of qualification is that the elder’s qualification and appointment must affirmed by the church.