Do you know how many times the word "pastor" shows up in the New
Testament (KJV)?
Zero.
How many times does the word "pastors" appear in the New Testament
(KJV)? Just once! In Ephesians 4:11.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,
and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in
love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the
whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the
body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-17
Only once does the word, "pastors" appear in the New
Testament, and yet look how central the "office" of "Pastor" is in the
modern Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical subcultures!
The Greek word in Ephesians 4:11 translated, "pastors", is
"poimen" which means shepherd. All of the other uses of that Greek word in the
New Testament are translated, "shepherd" or "shepherds". All of these
instances either refer to literal shepherds or to Jesus as our shepherd:
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1 Peter 2:25
When thinking of the term, "pastor", most professing
Christians have come to think of a professional clergyman who rules
over the congregation and is "The Teacher" who
primarily does the teaching for the congregation. Most people address this man as
"Pastor" or "Pastor Smith" or "Reverend Smith" or "My
Pastor".
But no where in the New Testament is there taught the concept of a
professional clergyman or a professional clergy system!
And no where is there taught in the New Testament the concept of one
man called a "pastor" being hired to rule over a congregation and serve as the
primary teacher.
The New Testament teaches that overseers/elders
are to serve as leaders in the Body of Christ. And both Paul
and Peter exhort them to shepherd the flock. It is the overseers/elders who are to pastor
the flock. There is not some other office called "pastor" that is distinct from
the overseers/elders!
If the concept of the office of pastor being a professional
clergyman, different from the elders, did not come from the Bible... where did it come
from? It was inherited in the reformation from the Roman Catholic religious system.... the
priesthood class of Catholicism.
This unbiblical concept of "pastor" has done immeasurable
damage to the life and maturity of the Body of Christ and has served to separate the
brethren into "laymen" and the elite
priesthood class of the clergy. I'm not saying that the Lord has not used men who are
part of the professional clergy system. I have seen many who are clearly called to be
overseers to help shepherd the flock and who are precious brothers in the Lord. But I
believe God uses them in spite of the religious system, not because of it. And I believe
this concept of pastor as clergyman is being used to build religious
systems in the last days that are preparing the world for the counterfeit Christ.
I exhort followers of the Lord Jesus to be the
Church; to fellowship in terms of the simple teachings of the New Testament, serving
one another in love; not lording it over one another from the position of
"clergy" OR elder.
Back to the Top
Elders in the Church
Reverend? Pastor? His Holiness? Bagwan?
What I Recommend
Who Should Lead in the Body of Christ? - Scriptures
Who Should Lead in the Body of Christ? - Commentary
Support for Evangelists - Honor for Elders - Good things for Teachers
The Professional Clergy System
"Some of my best friends" are Clergymen
Counterfeit Christs: Is your
pastor a one-man show?
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