charlesj
02-01-2006, 11:35 PM
Within the terms of the New Covenant (New Testament) you will learn that God ordained that the local church should be overseen in its work and worship by men qualified for this special task. These men are known as “elders or bishops.” (Same Greek word translated as elder and sometimes as bishop.) Their special assignments are due to the Lord’s directives for the church as revealed in the New Covenant.
Elders are NOT the authority, but rather have the authority to lead the congregation in decisions to carry out the commands of Christ.
There are three Greek words in the Greek New Testament which are translated by six English words. These words are as follows:
A. Presbuteros. Translated “presbyter,” or “elder.” This word actually means one “advanced in life, an elder, a senior.” This shows the dignity of the office.
B. Episkopos. (epi = over; skopos = scope, vision. we get our English word “scope” for a rifle). Translated “bishop” or “overseer.” The word is defined as “an overseer, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things by others are done rightly.
c. Poimen. Translated “pastor,” or “shepherd.” Though the word is found some eighteen times in the Greek New Testament, it is translated “pastor” only one time in the English Testament. (Eph 4:11).
Presbuteros translated “elder” carries idea of “age”…spice.
Episkopos (overseer) carries idea of “authority of office.
Poimen (shepherd or pastor) idea of the “work of office.
Though the terms “bishop” and “pastor” convey to many minds distinct office or even different levels of authority among various religious groups, they are, nonetheless, SPEAKING OF THE SAME OFFICE, OR GROUP OF MEN.
These three Greek words are used in Acts 20: 17-38
Acts 20:17-28 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders (presbuteros) of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time, 19 serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews; 20 how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God. 28 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops,(episkopos) to feed(poimaino) the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood..
In verse 17 Paul calls to him the “elders of the church” at Ephesus. The same verse says that they met him at Miletus. Beginning at verse 18, the apostle addresses the elders and his address is recorded through verse 35. In verse 28 Paul is yet speaking to these elders and charges them: “take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock in which the holy Spirit hath made you bishops.” Notice carefully the apostle addresses the ELDERS and says that the Holy Spirit made them BISHOPS. (some translations use "overseer" instead of bishop). Thus elders and bishops are the same thing. An elder (presbuteros) is the same as a bishop (episkopos).
Further, to the elders, the bishops, Paul continues to say that they are to “feed” the church. This work “feed” is the Greek Word “poimino.” It is the verb form of the word “POIMEN” which is translated “pastor” or “shepherd.” The verb is translated “pastor” or “shepherd,” and here is translated “feed.”
Therefore, shepherds shepherd flocks, and pastor’s pastor sheep. The noun and the verb can be translated in the same way. You might say, feeders feed.
But the point is that to “feed” is actually to “pastor,” or to “shepherd,” and this is what the apostle tells the elders or the bishops to do. The elders (presbuteros) or bishops (episkopos) are to feed (poimaino) the church. All three Greek words are used in speaking of the same group of men. They are NOT to be distinguished from each other.
The elders, older qualified men, are bishops who “oversee” the church, or who pastor the flock of God as spiritual shepherds. The word translated “feed” does not mean to teach anymore than it means to protect or to go to bring those who stray.
Again, the three Greek words are used in 1 Peter 5:1,2:
1 Peter 5:1-2 ASV 1 Peter 5:1 The elders (presbuteros) 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: 2 Tend (poimanino) the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight (episkopos), not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Here you have a second witness, another apostle, Peter, who agrees with Paul that elders, bishops, pastors, are the same!!
Titus 1:5-7 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders (presbuteros) in every city, as I gave thee charge; 6 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For the bishop (episkopos) must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
There are only two of the words used in this passage (Titus 1:5-7). Paul is setting forth the qualifications of eldrs. He reasons in verses 5,6 that elders (presbuteros) must be blameless. Then in verse 7 states, “for the bishop”(episkopos) must be blameless. It becomes obvious that qualified elders become the overseers or bishops of the church.
PREACHERS ARE NEVER CALLED “PASTORS”!!
I wrote this earlier, but I thought it worth while to repeat.
Ephesians 4:11 11 And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;(euaggelistas) and some, pastors (poimen) and teachers;
In Eph 4:11, the preacher (or minister) is called an evangelist (Greek = euaggelistas). If you look at the Greek word, you will see our English has been taken from it.
A "pastor" is an elder. Elders can be preachers, but not all preachers can be
elders. Elders have qualifications laid down in the New Coveanant writings that a preacher may NOT qualifiy, but ALL elders qualify to preach.
The Greek word for pastor is poimen (noun). The verb form of this Greek word poimen is poimaino and means "to shepherd."
1 Peter 5:1-3 KJV 1 Peter 5:1 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: 2 Feed (poimaino) the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight (episkopus) thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; {which...: or, as much as in you is} 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Elders are to "feed" (poimaino) the flock of God (local church) for they are
"overseers"(episkopus = epi means 'over' while skopus is the word from which we get out "scope"... the scope on a rifle.) Elders oversee the local group of belivers.
your servant in the Lord Jesus,
Charlesj
Elders are NOT the authority, but rather have the authority to lead the congregation in decisions to carry out the commands of Christ.
There are three Greek words in the Greek New Testament which are translated by six English words. These words are as follows:
A. Presbuteros. Translated “presbyter,” or “elder.” This word actually means one “advanced in life, an elder, a senior.” This shows the dignity of the office.
B. Episkopos. (epi = over; skopos = scope, vision. we get our English word “scope” for a rifle). Translated “bishop” or “overseer.” The word is defined as “an overseer, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things by others are done rightly.
c. Poimen. Translated “pastor,” or “shepherd.” Though the word is found some eighteen times in the Greek New Testament, it is translated “pastor” only one time in the English Testament. (Eph 4:11).
Presbuteros translated “elder” carries idea of “age”…spice.
Episkopos (overseer) carries idea of “authority of office.
Poimen (shepherd or pastor) idea of the “work of office.
Though the terms “bishop” and “pastor” convey to many minds distinct office or even different levels of authority among various religious groups, they are, nonetheless, SPEAKING OF THE SAME OFFICE, OR GROUP OF MEN.
These three Greek words are used in Acts 20: 17-38
Acts 20:17-28 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders (presbuteros) of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time, 19 serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews; 20 how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God. 28 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops,(episkopos) to feed(poimaino) the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood..
In verse 17 Paul calls to him the “elders of the church” at Ephesus. The same verse says that they met him at Miletus. Beginning at verse 18, the apostle addresses the elders and his address is recorded through verse 35. In verse 28 Paul is yet speaking to these elders and charges them: “take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock in which the holy Spirit hath made you bishops.” Notice carefully the apostle addresses the ELDERS and says that the Holy Spirit made them BISHOPS. (some translations use "overseer" instead of bishop). Thus elders and bishops are the same thing. An elder (presbuteros) is the same as a bishop (episkopos).
Further, to the elders, the bishops, Paul continues to say that they are to “feed” the church. This work “feed” is the Greek Word “poimino.” It is the verb form of the word “POIMEN” which is translated “pastor” or “shepherd.” The verb is translated “pastor” or “shepherd,” and here is translated “feed.”
Therefore, shepherds shepherd flocks, and pastor’s pastor sheep. The noun and the verb can be translated in the same way. You might say, feeders feed.
But the point is that to “feed” is actually to “pastor,” or to “shepherd,” and this is what the apostle tells the elders or the bishops to do. The elders (presbuteros) or bishops (episkopos) are to feed (poimaino) the church. All three Greek words are used in speaking of the same group of men. They are NOT to be distinguished from each other.
The elders, older qualified men, are bishops who “oversee” the church, or who pastor the flock of God as spiritual shepherds. The word translated “feed” does not mean to teach anymore than it means to protect or to go to bring those who stray.
Again, the three Greek words are used in 1 Peter 5:1,2:
1 Peter 5:1-2 ASV 1 Peter 5:1 The elders (presbuteros) 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: 2 Tend (poimanino) the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight (episkopos), not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Here you have a second witness, another apostle, Peter, who agrees with Paul that elders, bishops, pastors, are the same!!
Titus 1:5-7 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders (presbuteros) in every city, as I gave thee charge; 6 if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For the bishop (episkopos) must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
There are only two of the words used in this passage (Titus 1:5-7). Paul is setting forth the qualifications of eldrs. He reasons in verses 5,6 that elders (presbuteros) must be blameless. Then in verse 7 states, “for the bishop”(episkopos) must be blameless. It becomes obvious that qualified elders become the overseers or bishops of the church.
PREACHERS ARE NEVER CALLED “PASTORS”!!
I wrote this earlier, but I thought it worth while to repeat.
Ephesians 4:11 11 And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;(euaggelistas) and some, pastors (poimen) and teachers;
In Eph 4:11, the preacher (or minister) is called an evangelist (Greek = euaggelistas). If you look at the Greek word, you will see our English has been taken from it.
A "pastor" is an elder. Elders can be preachers, but not all preachers can be
elders. Elders have qualifications laid down in the New Coveanant writings that a preacher may NOT qualifiy, but ALL elders qualify to preach.
The Greek word for pastor is poimen (noun). The verb form of this Greek word poimen is poimaino and means "to shepherd."
1 Peter 5:1-3 KJV 1 Peter 5:1 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: 2 Feed (poimaino) the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight (episkopus) thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; {which...: or, as much as in you is} 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Elders are to "feed" (poimaino) the flock of God (local church) for they are
"overseers"(episkopus = epi means 'over' while skopus is the word from which we get out "scope"... the scope on a rifle.) Elders oversee the local group of belivers.
your servant in the Lord Jesus,
Charlesj