Titles of Pastors
1. Office of Pastor
“Pastor” comes from the Greek word “poimen”, which means shepherd.
Their position is to watch over people’s souls, not just people’s lives.
Matthew 9:36: “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
Hebrews 13:20: “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,”
Mark 6:34: “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”
Luke 2:8: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
John 10:2: “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”
2. Office of Elder
Elders are doing the same thing as the pastor, feeding the sheep.
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, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”
3. Office of Bishop
The elder who should be blameless is the same as the bishop who should be blameless.
Titus 1:5-7: “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 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;”
Qualifications of a Pastor
A pastor is a special office. Here are the qualifications of a pastor according to the Bible.
- They must do it with all of their heart.
At times, a pastor’s flesh does not want to work in the ministry, but he must set his heart to the work. The heart will change eventually.1 Timothy 3:1: “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”
- He needs to be a man.
A woman has no position of authority to rule over or teach a man in the ministry.1 Timothy 2:12: “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”
1 Timothy 3:1: “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” - He must be blameless in life.
He must have a good reputation/testimony.1 Timothy 3:2-3: “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;”
- He must have good control over his family.
1 Timothy 3:4-5: “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?)”
- He must not be a novice.
1 Timothy 3:6: “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
- He must have a good report among people.
1 Timothy 3:7: “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
- He must be consistent.
God wants men to live holy lives. He’s not expecting them to be 100% holy, but He wants them to strive to be holy as much as possible.1 Peter 1:16: “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Personal Life as a Pastor
- He must pray for the sake of His people.
Samuel said that he would be sinning if he was not praying over his people.1 Samuel 12:23: “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:”
- Passion for lost souls, to tell them about eternal life through Jesus Christ
Acts 20:31: “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
- Humble
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;”
- Example for his flock to follow
1 Peter 5:3: “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.”
- Sacrifice for the people
2 Corinthians 12:14-15: “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”
Duties of a Pastor
- He must give the whole counsel of God.
A pastor should not cut corners. He should give the whole counsel of God. There are certain doctrines that could cause people to leave the pastor, but he still needs to teach them.Acts 20:27: “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”
- Feed the flock
1 Peter 5:2: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”
- Guard the people against wrong doctrines
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;”
Titus 1:9-11: “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. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” - Preach the word
God called the pastor to preach the word, not to teach, motivate, and share the word. Preach it! This is why reading from scripture is important but scripture readings alone without preaching will not do it.2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
- Must reprove sin
2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
- Adapt to the people in order to bring people to Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23: “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”
Treatment Towards a Pastor
- Respect and Love
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13: “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”
- Obey them
How can he feed and guide people if they won’t even listen?Hebrews 13:7: “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”
Hebrews 13:17: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” - Pray for them
Hebrews 13:18: “Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.”
- Follow their examples
1 Corinthians 11:1: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
- Provide for their physical needs
1 Timothy 5:17-18: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”
Limitations of a Pastor
- Wrong doctrine
Romans 16:17-18: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
- Act like lords
1 Peter 5:2-3: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.”
- Dominating
He should help people to serve God, not force them to serve God.2 Corinthians 1:24: “Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.”
- Wrong living
Hebrews 13:7: “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”
Organization of Offices
Deacon
Deacon is translated as a servant from Greek, a servant helping out the church.
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:”
Qualifications of a deacon are similar to that of a pastor.
1 Timothy 3:8-13: “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.”
Depending on the size of the church, there can be more pastors and deacons involved.
Acts 20:17: “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.”
Acts 15:2-3: “When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.”
Acts 15:22-33: “Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.”
A person is ordained by the laying on of hands for a specific church work through the recognition of church leaders.
Acts 6:3-6: “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.”
Acts 13:1-3: “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”
Whoever is hasty to ordain a person by the laying on of hands is in danger of having a wrong leader and becoming a partaker of sins.
1 Timothy 5:22: “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.”
If a pastor has committed a wrong, a Christian cannot take action against him unless he has at least one supporter. This way, they will know that the person is not just accusing a pastor out of rashness or self-will.
1 Timothy 5:19: “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”
Titus 3:10-11: “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
For further reading,