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A Team of Pastors
Like the noble Bereans of Acts 17:10, search the scriptures
to see if it is so, and you will find not a single place in the New Testament
where anyone is identified as "the" pastor of a church. There
were pastors, yes. And besides the Twelve and Paul, there were missionary church planters
such as Timothy and Titus who led churches during the formative stages.
Timothy and Titus, it is true, had a function similar to that of a
single pastor when Paul left them behind to complete a church plant, and
this is why Paul's epistles to these men are sometimes called the
pastoral epistles. But church
historians agree that after the formative stages, the city-churches of
New Testament times were overseen by a team of elder/pastors. In
fact, Paul left Titus behind in Crete to ordain a team of pastors in
every city. In the New
Testament, we find that the words elder (meaning older man), pastor
(meaning shepherd), and bishop (meaning overseer) are used interchangeably
of the same group of men.
Titus1: 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and
ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Acts 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for
the elders of the church.
18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,
19 "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;
20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
26 "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
27 "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers [bishops], to shepherd [pastor] the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
(NKJV)
1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire
the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good
behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Notice the many places in the New Testament in which
these men, the bishops or shepherds of the church in each city, are
referred to in the plural by the word "elders".
Ac 11:30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders
by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Ac 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Ac 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles
and elders about this question.
Ac 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and
elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Ac 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Ac 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Ac 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and
elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and
Cilicia:
Ac 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and
elders which were at Jerusalem.
Ac 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders
of the church.
Ac 21:18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the
elders were present.
1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Tit 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and
ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? 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:
1Pe 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:
Php 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the
bishops and deacons:
For these reasons, we plan to ordain a team of elders to
oversee our network of home fellowships. We will take our time with
this, however, for we believe it is important that these men be
carefully selected, ascertaining that they meet the qualifications
described in Titus and Timothy:
I Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Titis 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
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