Blog
“Using the Word “Pastor” in the Way the Bible Uses It”
Using the Word “Pastor” in the Way the Bible Uses It
David Sproule
It is very common in religious circles to refer to certain men as “pastors.” Denominational groups usually have someone known as “the pastor of the church.” Recent news articles talk about what some “youth pastor” did. Some religious schools have a spiritual guidance counselor on campus and they might refer to that person as “Pastor” so-and-so.
So what is a “pastor”? If we rely on modern usage of the term, various dictionaries define “pastor” as “a minister in charge of a Christian church or congregation” or “the leader of a Christian congregation.” Note carefully the understanding of that term today: the pastor is “the leader” (definite article) of the church and is “in charge” of the congregation. But how does the Bible use that word?
The Greek word for “pastor” is poimen. The term is found frequently in the New Testament and is only once translated “pastors” (Eph. 4:11). Every other occurrence of the word is translated “shepherd.” By definition of the Biblical word, a pastor is a shepherd. Now, who does the Bible identify as the pastors or the shepherds of the church?
The verb form of the word for “pastor” is poimaino, and that word is used in two key instances in the New Testament to identify who a pastor is. Look at Acts 20:28 and First Peter 5:2 carefully. Both passages identify the WORK that is to be taken by certain men—they are to “shepherd the flock of God.” Both passages identify the POSITION of these men—they are “overseers.” Both passages are addressed to “elders” (Acts 20:17; 1 Pet. 5:1). What does that indicate?
In God’s organizational structure for His church, He designed the church to have no human authority or organization above the local congregation. Each local congregation is to be overseen by a plurality (always a plurality!) of qualified men (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9), called elders/presbyters (same Greek word), overseers/bishops (same Greek word) or pastors/shepherds (same Greek word). The plural emphasizes that no one man can exercise oversight over a congregation—there must be more than one elder/overseer/pastor in each congregation. Thus, the oversight and authority within a congregation is not in “an elder” (or “pastor”) but in the “eldership.” No elder (or pastor) is above another.
The preacher is not by definition, then, a “pastor.” He is not “the leader” “in charge” of the church. He is one of the members (sheep) of the congregation and is subject to the eldership (like all members, including the elders). He is not on a level “above” anyone else or to be “revered” as such (cf. Psa. 111:9); thus, there is no special title (ex: Pastor, Reverend, Father) for him to wear or to be called (Matt. 23:5-12).
