We know what the Bible teaches about the work and role of an evangelist. But typically, a preacher, looking for a place to preach, goes to a congregation, preaches one or two sermons, and sits behind closed doors with an eldership who decides whether or not they will hire him. If the preacher agrees to…
Unquestionably, numerous ideas are abroad about the actual work of elders. We have noticed that their work is in the area of warning, protecting, feeding through teaching, and supplying an example to follow. Because we are trying to apply the first-century arrangement to twenty-first-century people, we must establish an institution through which God’s people work…
Applying the leadership of these shepherds to our time would be the same as applying apostles or prophets to our time. Neither were intended to be applied past that age. Their work was primarily to teach, protect, and care for the flock. These shepherds did not fulfill their role as shepherds only once or…
The phrase in Acts 14:23 translates, “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” We have given much attention in other posts regarding the improper translation of the word “church” for the Greek “ekklesia.” We will not repeat,…
The Bible teaches that the shepherds were to oversee souls, not congregations. Hebrews 13:17 reads, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no…
Becoming “lords over people’s faith,” is a position that not even the apostle Paul exercised (2 Cor. 1:24, cf. 2 Cor. 10:8). Even though the apostles could speak on behalf of Christ as ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20), they, still, were not lords. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was clear about his disapproval of this kind of…
Another word that merges the two words “elders” and “deacons” into one and the same role is the word, “steward” used in Titus 1:7. A steward was a household manager who had the responsibility of managing and directing the servants, property, and finances of the owner/master. Skillful management of people and problems with people requires…
Another unfortunate translation is found in 1Timothy 3:1 where Paul speaks of one “desiring the office of a bishop.” The Greek word, translated elsewhere is “overseer.” There is no “office” in the text. This word and the few examples we have of an elder’s benevolent care is often confused with an administrative office. Campbell writes,…
One of the words is the Greek noun “poimen” which is a “shepherd, one who tends or herds a flock” (Vine). Shepherds or pastors (cf. Luke 2:8) is an excellent metaphor for those who have charge of others in a specific community (cf. Ezek. 34:2, 9, 10, 23, Jno. 10:16, 1 Pet. 2:25, Heb. 13:20:…
The fourth gift listed in Ephesians 4:11 is that of pastors and teachers. The text reveals that in all of these gifts listed in Ephesians 4, an article is placed before them except before the word “teachers”. It reads in Greek, “τοὺς δὲ, ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους.” Therefore, it has been argued that pastors and teachers…