How many people ignore the qualifications for pastors presented in Scripture? Do your pastors meet the qualifications?
The noun form of the word “pastor” is found only in one verse for a church position besides that of Christ in Ephesians 4:11. From Ephesians 4:11, pastors are set apart from apostles, prophets, and evangelists. The verb form of “pastor” meaning “to shepherd,” and besides Christ as the Great Shepherd and literal shepherds, pastors are elders who do the shepherd the church. “Pastor” comes from the Greek word poimein means “shepherd,” which the Greek word for pastor is used repeatedly in Scripture for church elders especially the Chief Pastor, Christ (Matt 9:36; 25:32; 26:31; Mark 6:34; 14:27; Luke 2:8, 15, 18, 20; John 10:2, 11, 12, 14, 16; Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 2:25).
What the Bible has to say about pastors may surprise you. Those who are to shepherd are clearly presented in Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5. In Acts 20, Paul called the “elders” of Ephesus to him in Miletus (v17). Paul referred to these elders as “bishops” or literally “overseers.” In Paul’s discourse, he instructed these elders to “shepherd the church of the Lord” (Acts 20:28). The only other occurrence of church leaders shepherding are again by “elders” in 1 Peter 5:2, “shepherd the flock of God that is among you.” These elders are the overseeing bishops and pastoring shepherds of New Testament churches. Evidently, the official position of pastor in shepherding congregations are “elders” who are also called “overseers” as presented in the above Scriptures. There are no other positions in the church for which one is to be a pastor of the flock. Ministers and evangelists are never referred to “shepherds.”
The Scriptural titles for elders includes “overseers” and “pastors.” The position of elder comes the word “presbyter” and in biblical Greek, presbuteros, which means “elder.” A bishop is the position of “overseer,” which the KJV renders as “bishop” from the same Greek word, episkopos. The position of pastor comes from the apparent meaning “shepherd,” which are translated from the same Greek word, poimen. Elders, presbyters, bishops, overseers, pastors, and shepherds are all the same position in the churches of Christ throughout the Christian Scriptures. A bishop is also called “God’s steward” (Titus 1:7). Notice that there are no higher leaders than elders in the church besides Christ in the Scriptures (1 Pet 5:4). There are no archbishops, high councils, popes, or hierarchical presidents. There are a plurality of elders who shepherd one congregation as an “eldership” (1 Tim 4:14). Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church (Acts 14:23). Each congregation is led by elders who lead no other congregations (Acts 20:17; 21:18; Phil 1:1; 1 Tim 4:14). Note that there is a convention of Apostles and elders in Acts 15. Being a preacher, minister and, or evangelist does not make someone a pastor. However, when one is older, he may become an elders.
Such men must meet the qualifications listed in the Scriptures. Give attention to the necessary qualifications of the pastors of Christ’s church. Those desiring this position by title are working to pastor and oversee. These men are also to be elders meaning elder in age. Two lists of qualifications for pastors are presented in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9.
First Timothy 3:1–7:
*One must seek the office
*Must be without reproach
*A husband of one wife
*Self-controlled
*Sober-minded
*Orderly
*Hospitable
*Able to teach
*Not a drunkard
*Not violent but gentle
*Not quarrelsome
*Not a lover of money
*Must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive
*Must not be a recent convert
*Moreover, must be well thought of by outsiders
Titus 1:5–9:
*Above reproach
*A husband of one wife
*His children are believers not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
*Not arrogant
*Not quick-tempered
*Not a drunkard
*Not violent
*Not greedy for gain
*Hospitable
*A lover of good
*Self-controlled
*Upright
*Holy
*Disciplined
*Must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught
These shepherds being pastors have specific responsibilities. Most importantly church elders are to lead like Christ, and thus behave as examples to the congregation rather ruling over the church. In 1 Peter 5, Peter as a fellow elder exhorted, “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not lording over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock” (1 Pet 5:2–3). By overseeing, church elders are to shepherd by opposing false doctrine and teaching the Truth. Elders are not authoritarian rulers (Mark 10:41–45; Luke 22:25–30). However, Christians are to yield to these leaders (Heb 13:17). As seen in the qualifications for these pastors, elders serve in responsibilities loving good and holding to the Word as taught. In Acts 20:28–31, the Spirit of Christ teaches elders to “pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock,” to be “overseers, to care for the church of God,” and to “be alert,” because Christ “obtained with his own blood” the church. Paul warns elders that “fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Therefore, the Spirit teaches that an elder is to “be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). While elders do not have to labor to financially support oneself in preaching and teaching as 1 Timothy 5:17 reveals, those that labor are worthy of pay and even double pay and honor for such work. Pastors also are to be there for the sick of the congregation when they are called as James 5:14 affirms, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” Elders also oversee the collection being the treasury (Acts 11:30).
Is this a picture of the pastors among most churches today? Maybe like most churches, they do not really have these kinds of Scriptural pastors. Instead they have a number of “pastors” who are hired ministers and who do not meet these qualifications. While supporting evangelists who minister to the congregation is Scriptural (1 Cor 9, 1 Tim 4), these individuals are not necessary qualified “pastors” unless they are older married men with faithful children.
What should someone do if one’s home congregation does not have Scriptural elders? Should Christians ignore God’s Word and think “Well, grace will cover this”? Jesus revealed, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21). Evidently, grace does not cover those who do not do the Will of God (1 John 1:5–10). If a Christian attends such a congregation having an unqualified “pastor,” please examine the congregation by the Scriptures since such error is usually not alone. Encourage a minister to lead the congregation in selecting elders from among the congregation (Titus 1:5; cf. Acts 6:1–6; 14:23). Many congregations with unqualified pastors or leaders act like pastors are not Scriptural. Jesus built the church (Matt 16:18), saved the church (Eph 5:23–27), and bought the church with His blood (Acts 20:28). Churches of Christ bear His name. If the church as the bride of Christ bears another man’s name, ideology, organization, is this the church of Jesus Christ? Let elders lead the churches of Christ as Christ established.
“A Minister’s Work in Few Words“.
“Where is Christ’s Church Today?”
The Breath of God 
Should you be a pastors wife if you have never been in helps ministry?
For the wives of elders and deacons, 1 Tim. 3:11 says, “Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.”
A minister’s wife should be too, but there is no specification on this. Benevolence is not a requirement, but it is certainly not a hard things to get into.
I am over 60, amd had a deep feeling within for the past 20 years, I attended a University with an undergraduate degree. At this time, I find my health declining, how do I know if God still wants me?
I would love to become a minister working with women concerns. I now live on a very limited income and cannot afford to further my education. Perhaps I am looking for answers, and yet so unsettled within myself.
By minister, I assume you mean like the work of Phoebe in Romans 16. I recommend to just start doing the work or even better join a similar ministry. Do the work of a minister and you will show that you are servant of the Church. Then express your needs\ of support to continuing to do the work.
I could not agree anymore. You are SO right and clear on your understanding of these scriptures
I just want to thank God for this concise article on the qualifications of a pastor. May the Lord continue to bless you for your labor in the word. This has been very helpful to me as I seek the Lord’s will for my life.
Mike
I appreciate your encouragement. May God bless you in drawing close to God.
what about a pastor who has been in a long time marriage but not a happy marriage. Communication, companionship, sex, all not there. His kids are now raised; oldest a missionary. No adultery on either part, just a growing apart type marriage. Would you say the elders should ask him to step down based on scripture?
Maybe there is more there than you are thinking of that shows that he is not of good behavior or a good example. The scriptures do not exactly say that such a man should step down, but if the church elders so judge for him to step down, they have the right as elders to decide to remove him until the relationship is improved. If I were an elder there, I would feel compelled to encourage and counsel the man first.
Such marriages can be the result of just one spouse. I’ve seen those who have done everything they could to make their spouse happy and almost no love was given in return. Yet, this pastor maybe the spouse giving no love in return. If this is an open thing, then one should be a concern. I have noticed this in a vocational preacher before, and it really did concern me, but after some encouragement, that relationship changed and got better.
This is very interesting. I’d really like to hear a more about your thoughts. God bless.
Nice article. It is a bit overwhelming to read through these qualifications when you are a pastor. I helps me recognize how much this messed up guy needs God’s help.
I can certainly see how managing the home is, and I can see why some may struggle with other things. Yet, such a men are a great blessing.
As leaders, gender, age, and race do not matter, but as for pastors, age and gender do matter according to the words of Christ’s Spirit. Again, I have no disagreement about leaders, but church elders are to be family men to govern the household of God. Overseeing the Church as been down from the 12 men plus that Jesus selected unto these qualifications above. This is seen by the position of overseer (“bishop”) from the Apostles in Acts 1:20 unto church elders in 1 Timothy 3:1.
God bless.
This is a good perspective for me to examine further. David, and Timothy are two young pastors not to be overlooked. I do firmly oppose the idea that people in error don’t have grace with God. Paul clearly states in Romans and other books too that were not to judge servants of another person and that God gives us grace according to our faith, that were to be fully persuaded in our convictions.
Anthony,
I appreciate your comments. Yet, please allow me to challenge you to reconsider some things.
David was a literal shepherd but not a pastor of the Law of Christ as seen by his temple worship, sacrifices, serving via a priesthood. Christ fulfilled the Law and these institutions (Matt. 5:17ff, 1 Pet. 2:5).
Timothy was not a Pastor. I can see why you would think so as I have tried to make a case for this myself. Timothy was a minister and an evangelist. Extra-biblical teaching has taught that ministers are pastors, but this has no basis in the New Testament. This is just not true.
God’s grace includes forgiveness to those who believe whereas those who believe obey (Jas. 2:14ff). Those who practice sin are condemned (Gal. 5:19-21, etc). Those who walk in darkness are living in error (1 John 1:6, 2:3-6). Only those who walk in the light and confess their sins to the Father are cleansed from their sins (1 John 1:7ff). This is the extent of God’s forgiving grace.
As for opinions, Romans 14 certainly does apply, but not when someone changes the Gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:8-9). For which, Christ’s Spirit corrected the Galatians following the laws of Moses where there is no justification in Christ.
May God bless you in your studies.
Excellent!
I don’t know all the answers and I knew you were going to point out David as a literal shepherd . The only point if contention I can raise is the fact were not to know any person after the flesh. Based on this alone I accept no gender or age or racial bias against Gods leaders.
God used Debrah, a woman to judge Israeli under the law….. Rahab a harlot is in the lineage of David and Jesus. Daniel was a mighty spiritual leader of Israel as a boy.
David had a kingly annointing as a young man, there was even a boy king somewhere in the OT. I DISAGREE based on these people.
As for confession and walking in light to be saved I think that’s correct however there is a middle step in 1john chap 2.
Gal
Well written !!!
very interesting!!!!!