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ELDERS/BISHOPS/PASTORS
The words for elders, bishops and pastors were not titles or
positions but rather descriptions of the functions of the leadership in the
early church and these three words simply describe different aspects of one
and the same persons. Each of these words is used in the plural thus
describing the elders/bishops/pastors as ministering in plurality.
The term elder comes from the
Greek word presbuteros and is of Hebrew origin meaning an aged person;
spiritual maturity; maturity in spiritual experience; denoting wisdom.
The word bishop in the Greek
language comes from the word episkopos that means overseer; one who
gives oversight and the word pastor is the Greek word poimen meaning
one who tends sheep; shepherds; guides; leads to pasture and water; guards;
protects; binds up wounds.
ELDERS
(presbuteros)
Scripture References
1.
Acts 11:30 “The elders (presbuteros) of Jerusalem.”
2.
Acts 14:23 “And when they had ordained them elders (presbuteros) in
every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on
whom they had believed.”
3.
Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23 “Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them,
should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders (presbuteros)…they
were received of the Jerusalem church, and of the apostles and elders (presbuteros)…then
pleased it the apostles and elders (presbuteros), with the whole
church…the apostles and elders (presbuteros) and brethren send
greetings.”
4.
Acts 20:17, 28 “Paul sent to Ephesus, and called the elders (presbuteros)
of the church…Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over
the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God,
which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
5.
I
Timothy 4:14 “Laying on of the hands of the presbytery (presbuteros).”
6.
I
Timothy 5:1 “Rebuke not an elder (presbuteros), but entreat him as
a father.”
7.
I
Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders (presbuteros) that rule well be
counted worthy of double honor especially they who labor in the word.”
8.
I
Timothy 5:19 “Against an elder (presbuteros) receive not an
accusation but before two or three witnesses.”
9.
Titus 1:5-6 “That thou Titus shouldest set in order the things that are
wanting, and ordain elders (pesbuteros) in very city, as I Paul had
appointed thee: If any be blameless, husband of one wife, having faithful
children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless…”
10.
James
5:14 “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders (presbuteros)
of the church; and let them pray over him…”
11.
I
Peter 5:1-3 “The elders (presbuteros), which are among you I
exhort, who am also an elder (sumpresbuteros=fellow elder)…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 over God’s
heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
12.
II
John 1 “John the elder (presbuteros)…”
13.
III
John 1 “John the elder (presbuteros)…”
BISHOP
(episkopos)
Scripture References
1.
Acts 20:28 (Note: v17 “Elders…”) “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (episkopos)
to feed the flock of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
2.
Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all
the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops (episkopos)
and deacons.”
3.
I
Timothy 3:1-7 “ If a man desire the office (office not in the Greek) of a
bishop (episkopos), he desireth a good work. A bishop (episkopos)
must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior,
given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine (parionos=tarrying
or sitting long at wine, drunkard or addicted to), no striker, not greedy of
filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 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? Not a novice lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the
condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which
are without; lest he fall into reproach and snare of the devil.”
4.
Titus 1:5-9 “For a bishop (episkopos) must be blameless as the
steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine (paroinos=addicted
to, tarrying at the wine, excessive), no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
but a lover of good men, sober, just, righteous, holy, temperate; 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.”
5.
I
Peter 2:25 “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto
the Shepherd (poimen) and Bishop (episkopos) of your souls.”
PASTORS (poimen)
Scripture References
1.
Acts 20:17, 28 “Elders, take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all
the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (episkopos),
to feed (poimen) the church of God…”
2.
Ephesians 4:7-8 “But unto everyone is given grace according to the measure
of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he
led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men…And he gave some, apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors (poimen) and teachers. For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ…”
3.
I
Peter 2:25 “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto
the Shepherd (poimen) and Bishop (episkopos) of your souls.”
4.
I
Peter 5:2 “Feed (poimen) the flock of God which is among you,
taking the oversight (episkopeo) 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 ensamples to the flock. And when the chief
Shepherd (archipoimen) shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory
that fadeth not away.”
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