A Change In The Administration of the Ekklesia

Peter also introduces us to the different names of God’s leaders of the flock. For instance, in the Scriptures we see the names of elder, bishop (overseer), and pastor (shepherd) being used in various places. It is clear from a careful study of these names that they do not point to different levels of authority but they are all names used to point to the same office, the same man. These are three different names used to signify one functionary.

“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. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” [Acts 20:28-30, KJV].

Here in Acts 20, Paul is addressing the Ephesian elders at Miletus, before he journeys on to Jerusalem. He tells them that the Holy Spirit has made them overseers of the flock of God and that they were to feed, shepherd the Church of God, which He, God, had purchased with his own blood. We can see three words used here to describe the leadership of the Ephesian Church: elder, overseer, shepherd (to feed is the Greek verb, poimaino, meaning to shepherd).

Elder is their position or title in the Messianic Community/Ekklesia; the function of the elder was to have oversight; shepherding was their method of oversight. He was an elder, speaking of his place in the community; he was overseer (bishop), speaking of his function in the community; he was shepherd (pastor), speaking of his ministry in the community. Also in Titus, Paul instructs Titus to "appointed elders in every city,” and then refers to these elders as bishops (Titus 1:5-7). The qualifications for these elders are set out by Paul in the following:

Number 9 above is a disqualifier, yet in many circles today, it is looked upon as a virtue. How many of today's pastors who are paraded across the stage as one of the most holy of God's men, can meet these requirements?

As stated earlier, Peter uses the same language in his letter.

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 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; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” [1 Peter 5:1-4, KJV].

It is evident that Peter learned what Jesus was teaching them in His life. Peter is addressing the elders, among whom he counts himself. He then tells them that they are to exercise the oversight of God's flock by giving the flock an example to follow, and not "lording it over God's heritage." The phrase here lording it over, is the same word that Jesus used to describe the methodology of the Gentiles, back in Matthew. This word here, according to Strong's Greek Dictionary means, to bring under one's power, to subject one's self, to subdue, master, to hold in subjection, to be master of, exercise lordship over. This is not the method Jesus taught nor exemplified by his life. Peter commands them to “feed the flock of God”, which could be translated “shepherd the flock of God”.

In both Acts 20:28 and I Pet. 5:1-2, the elders are addressed. In these passages, we see all three of these ideas being presented. The elders are told they were given the oversight of the flock of God. Then they are exhorted to feed (to shepherd) the flock of God.

We have come to accept without question, this ruling concept of the shepherd/bishop/elder. However, the true nature of these names describes not a ruler, but something altogether different. Let us take the title of shepherd or pastor first. As regards the local body of believers, the term pastor or shepherd is never used as a title in the New Covenant writings. The one instance in which we see the term, pastor it is used in connection with the universal body, referred to in Ephesians 4. Paul says that when Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave as gifts unto men, "Apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers".

Many speak of these as the fivefold gifts. However, there is really only four, due to the fact that, pastors and teachers, grammatically, speak of the same office. These really are "shepherding teachers" or "teaching shepherds". It points to the one who has the daily care of God's flock. The term shepherd, according to one of the foremost Greek scholars, A.T. Robertson, comes from a root word meaning, to protect. The idea of the shepherd is one who will protect the sheep, even at the cost of his own life. Jesus defined it in this light, when He said, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." The shepherd is not one who uses the sheep for his own purposes, but one who is willing to lay down his life for the sheep. Remember,

The sheep were not made to serve the shepherd, but the shepherd was to serve the sheep

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This is the example given in the life of Jesus.

The term bishop means overseer. The root idea in this word is to look upon or to look after in order to help; to benefit or to have care for. It contains the idea of having the oversight or charge of something, but not for the purpose of lording over it, but for the purpose of rendering assistance, help and care.

From the Greek term for elder, we get presbyter. This is the title held by the overseer/shepherd in the Community of Faith. One thing we do not see in the Scripture is anybody being called "bishop" or even "pastor". Those who have the care for the sheep in the local setting are always referred to as Elder, as far as their title is concerned. An elder can be referred to as a bishop, when you want to call attention to their function, i.e., what it is they do. But in all of this, there is no hint of these positions carrying the extreme power that has been given them in some circles today. The end of the matter, is that,

• Elder is the title,
• Overseer is his function,
• Shepherding is his method of oversight.

He leads by example and service, not by ruling rough-shod over the sheep.

It would be beneficial for us to look carefully at the verses in Hebrews, which deal with ruling or guiding elders. First, we have Hebrews 13:7, which says,

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God: whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation.

The word remember should be easy enough to understand. It simply means to call to mind, or to keep in mind. The rather long phrase, them which have the rule over you, is the translation for your guides, or those who lead the way. There is another application of this word here that is interesting. It not only points to those who lead, or literally, those who are out front, but also can mean those who account or esteem a thing. In both of these meanings, they point back to the idea of the shepherd. This word deals with both the function and attitude of the shepherd. It points to the shepherd who is not only out front leading the sheep, but who also has the account of the sheep and esteems them more important than himself.