Topic(s): Bible Study, Denominationalism

Todd Clippard

This question as submitted was "should a pastor be called reverend?" The REAL question is, "should a preacher be called a pastor?" This practice is common among most religious bodies today, yet is complete foreign to the Bible.

In response to the original question, no person should be called reverend. Matthew 23:1-12 forbids the use of religious titles to elevate one man above another.

Hardly a week goes by that I do not receive at least one call asking, "Are you the pastor?" I generally respond, "No, I am the preacher." This sometimes confuses the caller who actually cares about my response. But, because they usually have some business to discuss, they ignore my reply and go on. I know some of you are wondering, "If you are the preacher, then why aren’t you the pastor?" The answer is simple; the Bible never refers to a preacher as being synonymous with being a pastor. I know this confuses many because the denominational world has erroneously conceived the idea that the preacher is "in charge" of the church. What does the Bible say about pastors? Who may be rightfully called a pastor? This is the focus of our study.

The word "pastor" is found only once in the King James Bible (Ephesians 4:11). It is translated from the Greek word poimane. However, the same Greek word is elsewhere translated "feed" (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). In these contexts, it describes a function of the eldership. This concept is also foreign to most of the religious world, but we shall shed some light on it later in this article.

In Acts 20:17, Paul called the elders of the Ephesian church to meet him in Miletus. In that meeting he gave the following charge in verse 28, "Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He hath purchased with His own blood." "Feed" is translated "from the same Greek word translated "pastors" in Ephesians 4:11.

In 1 Peter 5:1, Peter gives an exhortation to the elders. In this exhortation is the command to "feed the flock of God which is among you" (1 Peter 5:2). Again, this word is the same as that appearing in Acts 20:28. Thus, the charge to feed or pastor the flock (local church) is given to the elders, and not to the preacher. Now we must answer the question, "what is an elder?"

The word "elder" is translated from the Greek word presbuteros. Of this word, Vine’s dictionary says these "were appointed to have the spiritual care of, and to exercise oversight over, the churches. To these, the term "bishops," or "overseers," is also applied (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5-7)." Paul writes of a bishop and elder as being synonymous in Titus 1:5-7. For a man to serve as an elder (or bishop), he must meet the qualifications given in the scriptures, specifically 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Notice I said "a man." One of the qualifications for elders, or pastors, is that he must be the "husband of one wife" (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:6). Therefore, this automatically excludes women from serving in this capacity.

Also, one never reads in the Bible of one man "pastoring" a church. Each congregation was always overseen by a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23, Acts 20:17; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Peter 5:1).

Finally, in reference to elders, Paul told Titus he left him in Crete to "set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I had appointed thee" (Titus 1:5). Is the congregation where you worship overseen by elders? If not, then according to scripture, something is lacking. If you have questions about church organization, contact me and we’ll study the Bible together.