Pastor/Teacher
LAST WEEK WE LOOKED AT APOSTLES, PROPHETS AND EVANGELISTS; this week we will look at pastors and teachers.
“THE ONE WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CHURCH AS COSMIC LORD, HIMSELF gives to the Church to equip is for its cosmic task.” – Lincoln
YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT IN THIS PASSAGE, which begins in v. 7, Paul is referencing an O.T. psalm. Paul is taking the imagery of Ephesians 4: 7-16 from Psalm 68, v. 18 in particular, which reads…
NAS Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive Thy captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there.
YOU SURELY NOTICED THAT IN PSALM 68:18 IT SAYS THAT GOD “RECEIVED” gifts, whereas in Ephesians 4 the text says, God gives gifts. As I explained before, we are not to get upset over this since it was common for N.T. writers who quoted the O.T. to do so with a freedom that enabled them to communicate their own particular purpose. You must remember that they did this through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (it is important to keep in mind whenever we talk about the dual authorship [God and man] of the Scripture, it is incorrect to say the human writers were inspired; only the text was inspired [2 Timothy 3:16]).
PAUL IS PICTURING A VICTORIOUS CHRIST, WHO FOLLOWING HIS BATTLE ON the Cross, gave gifts – think of them as spoils of battle – to individual believers. It is a beautiful and memorable image.
NOTE IN V. 11 THE WORDS “HE GAVE.” “’He gave’ emphasizes the sovereign choice and authority given to Christ because of His perfect fulfillment of the Father’s will. Not only apostles and prophets but also evangelists, pastors and teachers and teachers are divinely called and placed.” – MacArthur
ALTHOUGH THIS TRUTH IS SOMETIMES MISUNDERSTOOD AND ABUSED, these gifted men held “offices” and had “authority.” As I mentioned last week, sadly, not all Christians recognize and respect these God-given positions and the authority that goes with them. We live in an age where it is acceptable and even applauded to resist authority.
“NEVERTHELESS, THE EMPHASIS OF THIS PASSAGE DOES NOT LIE WITH the people themselves – the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teacher as officers, but rather as gifts of Christ to His church.” – Kistemaker
IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU DO NOT MISS THAT IMPORTANT POINT. While we will be focusing on the “Pastor/Teacher” this week, we must not lose sight of the central fact that the position is not man-made but that the people who fill these positions in the Church are to be seen as Christ’s gifts to the Church.
AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS VV. 11-12 SHOULD LEAD US not only to an appreciation of these leaders but ultimately of Christ Himself who “gave” these leaders as gifts to the Church.
MY MAIN FOCUS THIS WEEK HAS BEEN THE QUESTION OF WHETHER PAUL IS speaking of one person or two when he says, “Pastors and Teachers.” “Is it “Pastors and “Teachers” or is it “Pastor/Teacher”? This is the major difficulty of this passage.
YES, I KNOW OUR ENGLISH BIBLES SEEM TO SETTLE THE QUESTION immediately. All English Bibles say “Pastors and Teachers,” clearly implying that two offices, two leaders are in view. But in the Greek text of v.11 there are legitimate grammatical questions that must be answered.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY “GRAMMATICAL,” RIGHT? Grammar is simply rules of language. Grammar refers to the system of rules by which words are formed and put together to make sentences. By studying the grammar of a passage we are more able to determine the meaning of the passage. This is particularly necessary when studying ancient languages, such as Greek and Hebrew.
IT IS INDEED A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO RESOLVE with any measurable degree of certainty. I have studied it at different times for a considerable number of years; I have read all the major commentaries on the question, and I have debated it with professors at the seminary. It is not easy to be certain. Good scholars disagree.
ONE HIGHLY CREDIBLE SOURCE SAYS THIS ABOUT THE QUESTION: “Some interpreters have understood the phrase pastors and teachers to refer to one and the same group. This would mean that all pastors are teachers and that all teachers are pastors. This position is often taken because it is recognized that both nouns (i.e., pastors and teachers) are governed by one article in Greek. But because the nouns are plural, it is extremely unlikely that they refer to the same group, but only that the author is linking them closely together. It is better to regard the pastors as a subset of teachers. In other words, all pastors are teachers, but not all teachers are pastors.” – NET Notes
I WOULD SAY THAT A SLIM MAJORITY OF SCHOLARS AND KNOWLEDGABLE teachers hold this view, that Paul is not talking about a single group of leaders known as “Pastor/Teacher” but rather is speaking about two offices, two leaders: the Pastor and the Teacher.
AS A GREEK PROFESSOR, I KNOW WELL THE RULES OF GREEK GRAMMAR that seem to point to that view being the correct one. There is a well-known principle in Greek grammar governing the relationship of two nouns governed by one article – the word “the” comes before pastors but not before teachers – both connected by the conjunction “and.” It is called the “Granville- Sharp Rule.” The Granville-Sharp rule, named after the grammarian Granville Sharp, states that it is only when the two nouns are singular can they be said to refer to the same person. For some people that settles the issue. They say that since these two nouns in view are not singular but plural – pastors and teachers – Paul cannot be referring to just one office; he has to be speaking of two.
OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE IN THE TECHNICAL PART TO WHICH I REFERRED EARLIER.
I TEACH THE GRANVILLE-SHARP RULE IN MY GREEK CLASSES AND I BELIEVE in its legitimacy.
HOWEVER, in my view there is another issue to deal with here that is too often overlooked or casually dismissed by many, and that is that in the Greek text there is a subtle but I believe significant shift in Paul’s choice of the word “and.” Please don’t let your eyes glaze over with all this technical stuff. J I am confident you can follow this with little problem and I believe you will find it worthwhile.
IN GREEK THERE ARE TWO MAIN WORDS TRANSLATED “AND.” Since they are both single syllable words and easy to remember, I feel like I can use them in relating to you the issue at hand. One word is δὲ (day) and the other word is καὶ (kai). Paul’s order is “apostles δὲ (day) prophets δὲ (day), evangelists δὲ (day), pastors and teachers.” But the last “and” separating pastors and teachers is not δὲ (day), we might expect since the previous offices all were accompanied by δὲ (day). It is καὶ (kai). I believe that is significant. While I understand the Granville Sharp Rule and recognize the nouns to be plural, I think that if Paul had intended to be speaking about pastors and teachers as two groups of leaders he would have used another δὲ (day) instead of changing the word and using καὶ (kai). Yes, this is splitting hairs; this is dealing with rules of grammar that are sometimes arcane; but I believe it can also be seen as making an honest attempt to understand as precisely as possible Paul’s meaning using the advantage of the Greek text.
I RESPECTFULLY AND HUMBLY BELIEVE THE CHANGE IN THE USE OF “AND” is determinative. I respectfully and humbly believe that the change in the use of “and” points to us regarding the “Pastors and Teachers” in Ephesians 4:11 as one person. “Teachers” – of which I’ll more to say in a moment – in this context is not, I respectfully and humbly believe, pointing to another person, another office, but is explanatory of “Pastors.”
STAY WITH ME; WE NOT THROUGH WITH THE TECHNICAL STUFF JUST YET. J
THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION OF THE ARTICLE PAUL USES TO IDENTIFY EACH of the leaders he mentions. By “article” I mean the word “the.” He says, “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.” Four the’s. He does not say, “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and the teachers. I respectfully and humbly think that leaves the door open for an exception to the Granville Sharp Rule.
I RESPECTFULLY AND HUMBLY BELIEVE I AM CORRECT in my interpretation.
HERE’S A COMMENTATOR WHO AGREES WITH ME…
“PASTORS AND TEACHERS ARE LISTED TOGETHER BECAUSE they are governed by one article (‘the’ occurs before ‘pastors’ but not before ‘teachers’) and because the word ‘and’ (kai) differs from the other ‘and’s’ (de) in the verse. This may imply that these are two kinds of gifted people whose ministries are among settled congregations (rather than itinerant ministries like those of the apostles and evangelists). More likely, however, they refer to two characteristics of the same person who is pastoring believers (by comforting and guiding) while at the same time instructing them in God’s ways (overseers or elders are to be able to teach; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9).” – Hoehner (Bible Knowledge Commentary)
CONSIDER WHAT PAUL SAYS IN 1 TIMOTHY 5:17…
NAS 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
“1 TIMOTHY 5:17 CLEARLY PUTS THE TWO FUNCTIONS OF PASTORS AND teachers together.” – MacArthur
I AM NOT CERTAIN HOW DAVID JEREMIAH TEACHES THIS PASSAGE BUT John MacArthur agrees with me. He writes, “Though teaching can be identified as a ministry on its own, as it is in 1 Corinthians 12:28, the term ‘pastors and teachers’ is best understood as one office of leadership in the church.”
1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 SAYS…
NAS 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
TEACHING IS LISTED ALSO IN ROMANS 12 AS A SPIRITUAL GIFT OF ITS OWN…
NAS Romans 12:6-7 And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
INCIDENTALLY, I THINK THE WORD “DIFFER” IN V. 6 implicitly supports the one gift per believer position to which I adhere. Think about it; see what you think.
TEACHERS TEACH; PASTORS SHEPHERD AND TEACH. “Pastors, whose functions are similar to those of overseers (cf. Phil. 1:1) and elders (cf. Acts 20:17, with 28; also 14:23; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:17, 19, etc.), exercise leadership through nurture and care of the congregation. They manage the church (1 Thess. 5:12; Rom. 12:8), and are to be regarded in love ‘because of their work.’” – O’Brien
NAS 1 Thessalonians 5:12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,
THE GREEK WORD FOR “PASTOR” IS ποιμήν (poi-mane). A Pastor is basically, fundamentally, a shepherd (BDAG – 1. one who herds sheep, shepherd, 2. one who serves as guardian or leader, shepherd). It is interesting that the ESV has translated the Greek word not “pastor” but “shepherd”…
ESV Ephesians 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
“THIS GREEK WORD EMPHASIZES THE CARE, PROTECTION AND LEADERSHIP of the man of God for the flock of God. The focus of the term is on the leader’s attitude. To be qualified as a pastor, a man must have a shepherd’s caring heart.” – MacArthur
JESUS, OF COURSE, HAD A SHEPHERD’S CARING HEART, as we read in Matthew 18:12…
NAS Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying?
AND LOOK AT PETER’S WORDS IN 1 PETER 5:1-2, concerning shepherding…
NAS 1 Peter 5:1-2 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
SHEPHERDING IS, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY. Everyone at Barabbas Road church surely will testify Pastor Matt takes this special responsibility God has blessed him – and us – with utmost seriousness.
A PASTOR IS A SHEPHERD. SADLY, SOME SHEEP RESIST SHEPHERDING. Some people are simply not humble enough to be biblically shepherded. Pride can turn a docile sheep into a stubborn goat. That is a fact. But it is also a fact that some shepherds make it hard to follow. Some shepherds are not good leaders also because of pride.
A GOOD LEADER MUST FIRST BE A GOOD SERVANT.
“THE ROLE OF THE LEADER IS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE, nothing of a hierarchy of privilege exists. Many pastors, sadly, do not believe in servant leadership, for all of us in modern society have a difficult time separating leadership from exercise of ego. Leadership often ends up being for the leader, but not for the people. If leaders cannot apply the gospel to themselves, they are not leaders.” – Snodgrass
A PASTOR IS A SHEPHERD, BUT A PASTOR IS SHEPHERD WHO IS TO PREACH the Word of God, and in faithfully, without exception, preaching the Word of God he is teaching the people of God…
NAS 2 Timothy 4:1-2 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
THE MAIN REASON I PERSONALLY AM A MEMBER OF BARABBAS ROAD IS BECAUSE Pastor Matt faithfully, without exception, preaches the Word of God.
PASTOR MATT IS ALSO TO BE COMMENDED FOR REMINDING US THAT the Mission Statement of Barabbas Road is to (I’m paraphrasing) make disciples who will in turn make other disciples. He purposely shepherds others who are have become or are becoming shepherds themselves.
“AT THE CENTER OF ALL ELSE IS THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD preparing the community for service. Leaders must communicate the message. Preaching is the opportunity every Pastor has to bring order out of chaos on the basis of the Word of God. This order, an order based on the Cross and Resurrection, gives people the foundation and direction for service.” – Snodgrass
“ALL PASTORS TEACH (since teaching is an essential part of pastoral ministry), but not all teachers are also pastors. The latter exercise their leadership role by feeding God’s flock with his word.” – O’Brien
THE GREEK WORD FOR “TEACHER” IS διδάσκαλος (did-as-ka-los). “The term occurs 58 times in the N.T., 48 times in the Gospels, 41 refer to Jesus.” – Zodhiates
NAS John 1:38 And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
“TEACHING IS ESSENTIALLY AN EXPOSITION OR EXPLANATION OF SCRIPTURE. In the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus), teaching appears to be an authoritative function concerned with the faithful transmission of apostolic doctrine or tradition and committed to men specially chosen (e.g., 2 Tim. 1:13–14; 2:1–2; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Tit. 1:9). Timothy is urged not only to pursue a teaching ministry himself but also to entrust what he has learned to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” – O’Brien
ALLOW ME TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ 1 AND 2 TIMOTHY in their entirety and in their direct connection with this blog, for these verses extrapolate Ephesians 4:11-12.
“PROPHECY WAS A SPECIALIZED FORM OF TEACHING. The difference between the two apparently lay in the fact that while prophecy was the utterance of a revelation received directly from God, teaching was the utterance of that which one had gained by thought and reflection. The teacher must be led and guided by the Spirit to be a true teacher and have genuine spiritual teaching. Some prophets were able also to teach, but not all teachers were able to prophecy.” –Zodhiates
THE APOSTLES MIGHT ALSO TEACH. Paul speaks of himself as appointed to be both an apostle and a teacher…
NAS 1 Timothy 2:7 And for this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
WITH SO MUCH MORE I COULD SAY, WE MUST STOP FOR TODAY…
NAS Ephesians 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
THESE GIFTED MEN IN V.11, THESE CHRIST-GIVEN LEADERS, ARE deliberately emphasized because they provide the church with the teaching of the Word of God. They equip and enable others to exercise their own respective ministries so that the body is built to maturity, wholeness, and unity. Those listed are ministers of the Word through whom the gospel is revealed, declared, and taught.” – O’Brien
GLORY BE TO GOD, EPHESIANS 4:11-12 IS MANIFESTED AT BARABBAS ROAD though its faithful preaching of God’s Word, its committed Pastors, and the obedience of its people!
– Professor Thomas A. Rohm
