Elders, Bishops, And Pastors

by Micky Galloway

Sometimes denominations distinguish the terms “Elder,” “Bishop,” and “Pastor,” claiming that bishops are different from elders who, in turn, are different from pastors. These denominations also designate different authority to these supposedly different offices. The Bible often uses different terms to refer to the same thing. Consider the evidence from Bible texts.

Acts 20:17, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church” (ASV). It was in fact the “elders of the church” who came to him. “And when they were come to him, he said unto them …” (Acts 20:18). As Paul rehearses his work among them, he admonishes them to, “Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops” (“overseers” KJV). Their job was, “to feed (“to shepherd” NKJV) the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 ASV). This text uses the verb form of “pastor,” poimaínœ; to feed or shepherd the flock. It literally means “to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep” (Thayer). In the work of being shepherds the apostle elaborated, “I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Wherefore watch ye …” (Acts 20:29-31). All three terms are here used to describe the same men doing the same job in the local church.

I Peter 5:1-3, “The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to (the will of) God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock.” The apostle Peter is addressing the elders. Their work is to “shepherd,” NKJV, NASV; “tend,” ASV; “feed,” KJV, the flock. Once again, the text uses the verb form of “pastor,” poimaínœ; the same word used to describe the work of elders/bishops/overseers in Acts 20:28.

Titus 1:5, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge.” The qualifications for elders immediately follow. “If any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. For the bishop (“overseer” NAS, ESV) must be blameless, as God’s steward …” (Titus 1:5-9). The qualifications are given for the one office being discussed. The terms “elder” and “bishop” (overseer) are here used interchangeably to refer to that office. Note: The work that these men do as described in Titus 1:9ff is exactly the same work described in Acts 20 that is to be done by elders or bishops. They are to act as “shepherds” (pastors) and protect the flock.

Who are the “pastors”? There is only one place in our English Bibles where the word “pastors” (plural, never “THE pastor”) appears. Ephesians 4:11 says, “And he gave some (to be) apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” The word “pastor,” poimen, means “a herdsman, especially a shepherd” (Thayer). The word is then used metaphorically to refer to “a presiding officer, manager, director, of any assembly” (Thayer). Very simply, it refers to the overseers of the Lord’s local church. The verb form of the same word as discussed earlier means “to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep.” The one who does the work of poimainein is a poimen (i.e., the one who does the work of shepherding is a shepherd or pastor). The elders are appointed to do the work of “shepherding the flock.”

Writing on this subject, J.W. McGarvey said,

“… The evidences that this term designates the overseers or elders is conclusive, and may be briefly stated. The Greek term for shepherd is poimeen, and the verb poimaino means to do the work of a shepherd. Now, he to whom this verb applies is a shepherd, just as he who sows is a sower, he who reaps is a reaper, he who speaks is a speaker, he who sings is a singer, etc. But Paul exhorts the overseers in Ephesus ‘to be shepherds to the church’ (Acts 20:28). Peter exhorts the elders of the churches to which he writes, ‘Be shepherds to the flock of God which is among you,’ and promises that when the “chief shepherd” shall appear, they shall receive a crown of glory. They then, were shepherds and Christ, the chief shepherd” (The Eldership, page 18).

A “pastor” therefore, is an “elder,” an “overseer,” or a “bishop.” Note: The “pastor” is not the “preacher,” except in those cases in which a preacher meets the qualifications of an elder (I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9) and is appointed to serve with a plurality of other qualified men to oversee or shepherd the local flock. The modern denominational usage of “pastor” to designate the local preacher, giving him the responsibility of shepherding the flock is a perversion. McGarvey commented on this perversion as follows:

“It is found in the fact that pastor has become perverted by sectarian usage, and designates in popular phraseology, an entirely different office from the one to whom it is applied in the Scriptures. It has become a synonym for a settled preacher, and is often used for the purpose of distinguishing the preacher from those who are Scripturally called the pastors of the church” (The Eldership, pages 18-19).

Clearly “elders,” “overseers,” “pastors,” and “bishops” in these passages are used interchangeably, referring to the same men in the same work. All three terms refer to an office in the local congregation, and are therefore identical in extent of jurisdiction (cf. Acts 20:17, 28; I Peter 5:1-3; etc.). Their qualifications and works are identical. It is a mistake for denominations to distinguish the terms as if they apply to different offices.