Pastors

[AreYouReady?]

Can anybody give a scriptural description of a Pastor's duties? Do they have scriptural preeminence in a church body?

I sincerely would like to know what the scriptures say on this matter.

[Amanah]

when I searched the word in the Blue Letter Bible I got the following results:

Pastor:
Strong's H7462 - ra`ah
רָעָה
Transliteration
ra`ah Pronunciation
rä•ä' (Key)

Part of Speech
verb Root Word (Etymology)
A primitive root
TWOT Reference
2185,2186

Outline of Biblical Usage
1) to pasture, tend, graze, feed
1) to tend, pasture
a) to shepherd
b) of ruler, teacher (fig)
c) of people as flock (fig)
d) shepherd, herdsman (subst)
2) to feed, graze
a) of cows, sheep etc (literal)
b) (Hiphil) shepherd, shepherdess
2) to associate with, be a friend of (meaning probable)
a) (Qal) to associate with
b) (Hithpael) to be companions
3) (Piel) to be a special friend

Shepherd
Strong's G4166 - poimēn
ποιμήν
Transliteration
poimēn Pronunciation
poi-mā'n (Key)

Part of Speech
masculine noun Root Word (Etymology)
Of uncertain affinity
TDNT Reference
6:485,901
Vines
View Entry

Outline of Biblical Usage
1) a herdsman, esp. a shepherd
a) in the parable, he to whose care and control others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow
2) metaph.
a) the presiding officer, manager, director, of any assembly: so of Christ the Head of the church
1) of the overseers of the Christian assemblies
2) of kings and princes
A shepherd in the Near East was responsible for watching out for enemies trying to attack the sheep, defending the sheep from attackers, healing the wounded and sick sheep, finding and saving lost or trapped sheep, loving them, and sharing their lives and to earn their trust.

John 21:16
He saithto him again the second time, Simon [son] of Jonas , lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

[Amanah]

God does give us leaders to follow:

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

[Amanah]

Overseer

Lexicon Results Strong's H6485 - paqad פָּקַד
Transliteration
paqad
Pronunciation

pä·kad' (Key)


Parts of Speech
masculine plural abstract noun, verb

Root Word (Etymology)

A primitive root

TWOT Reference
1802

Outline of Biblical Usage v
1) to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for

a) (Qal)

1) to pay attention to, observe

2) to attend to

3) to seek, look about for

4) to seek in vain, need, miss, lack

5) to visit

6) to visit upon, punish

7) to pass in review, muster, number

8) to appoint, assign, lay upon as a charge, deposit

b) (Niphal)

1) to be sought, be needed, be missed, be lacking

2) to be visited

3) to be visited upon

4) to be appointed

5) to be watched over

c) (Piel) to muster, call up

d) (Pual) to be passed in review, be caused to miss, be called, be called to account

e) (Hiphil)

1) to set over, make overseer, appoint an overseer

2) to commit, entrust, commit for care, deposit

f) (Hophal)

1) to be visited

2) to be deposited

3) to be made overseer, be entrusted

g) (Hithpael) numbered

h) (Hothpael) numbered

[Amanah]

http://www.bible.ca/ntx-elders-pastors-bishops.htm


I. Five Terns That Describe an Elder

A. There are four main terms used to describe this position of authority: (elder, overseer, shepherd, steward)

Each term gives us a little more information about the function of the office: Christians are described as: priests, saints, children citizens, soldiers, etc. In the same way we have different descriptive terms for the eldership.

These terms are not honorary titles but descriptions of work to be done: a. It would be wrong to call someone "Elder Smith", or "Pastor Brown"

In the table below, you will notice four individual terms (elder, overseer, shepherd, steward) and one collective term (eldership: which is simply the plural of term elder).
Five terms describing the office of an elder

Term
Greek word
Definition:
Emphasis

Elder or presbyter
Presbureros
An older man a senior
Experience

Overseer or bishop
Episcopos
A guardian or superintendent
Oversight

Shepherd or pastor
Poimen
Metaphoric term (tending flocks)
Protection

Steward
Oikonomo
Metaphoric term (treasurer)
Trustworthy

Eldership
Presbuterion
Group of older men/elders
Plurality & equality


B. Proof that all terms refer to same office because of their interchangeable usage:

All terms refer to same single office

Elder or Presbyter (Presbureros)
Overseer or bishop (Episcopos)
Shepherd or pastor (Poimen)
Steward (Oikonomo)

[Michael The Disciple]

All terms refer to same single office

Elder or Presbyter (Presbureros)
Overseer or bishop (Episcopos)
Shepherd or pastor (Poimen)
Steward (Oikonomo)

Amen and the norm is that there is not just one.

We cannot find a place in the New Testament where one man was the Pastor/Elder of an assembly.

[Michael The Disciple]

Check this out.

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1 Cor. 12:28

Note the word GOVERNMENTS.

This refers to the Pastor/Elders.

[Nitehawk013]

Oh how I would love for there to actually be a good scriptural answer to this question. UNfortunately, we are usually given vague answers and referred back to Moses, who is used as a Pastor-type when in fact he is a Christ-type.

And you are correct Michael. The idea that only one Elder/Pastor should operate in a church isn't remotely scriptural. The "One man show" doesn't jive with the Epistles or the first years of church history.

[AreYouReady?]

So....why do we do it? I mean why do we set up one man to "pastor" when there is scriptural guidelines for a five-fold ministry?

Perhaps one man can be given all the spiritual gifts that MTD mentions...but somehow I feel that God means for many men to have these gifts for the church to grow in spiritual maturity.

[supertone]

I've got lots of answers... although most of them are cynical and won't promote healthy discussion. I think that what we call 'church' is probably nothing like what it was in the first century and I think that if Christians of the first century were to visit, they'd probably be shocked.