CR News

The Office of Pastor/Teacher

Unlike the offices of apostle, prophet and evangelist (which we considered in the last News) that of pastor and teacher (the other church office listed in Ephesians 4:11) is not an extraordinary office (though it is aspecial office). First, the extraordinary offices (apostle, prophet and evangelist) involved all or some of the following: an extraordinary call, direct revelation and miracle working. None of these extraordinary gifts are part of the office of pastor/teacher. Second, the extraordinary offices are temporary, ending with the apostolic age, whereas the office of pastor/teacher (like the offices of elder and deacon) is permanent, lasting until Christ’s bodily turn (cf. I Tim. 3; 6:14). Third, whereas pastors/teachers are called by a particular church, the extraordinary offices involved authority over the churches in general (and usually included itinerancy).

The key similarity between these three extraordinary, temporary offices and the special, permanent office of pastor/teacher—and the reason why these four offices are spoken of in Ephesians 4:11 —is that they are all teaching offices. Jesus Christ, the ascended head of the church, has made ample provision for equipping and edifying His people (11-16). In the apostolic age, apostles, prophets and evangelists (as well as local pastor/teachers) were called to spread the knowledge of Christ. In the post-apostolic age, the official preaching of the Word is committed to pastor/teachers. There is no mention or provision or need, here or elsewhere in sacred Scripture, of a pope speaking infallibly ex cathedra, never mind other unbiblical and antibiblical offices, such as metropolitans or cardinals.

The office of pastor/teacher is not only distinct from the extraordinary, temporary offices of apostle, prophet and evangelist, but it is also distinct from the special, permanent offices of (ruling) elder and deacon. Deacons administer aid and elders rule, whereas the essence of the office of pastor is that of teaching. However, teaching elders also rule and ruling elders have some teaching gifts in order to rule in the church (cf. "apt to teach;" I Tim. 3:2). The biblical distinction between a teaching elder—pastor/teacher in Ephesians 4:11 and "angel" or "messenger" in Revelation 2-3 —and a ruling elder is made in I Timothy 5:17.

Thus it is evident that the Bible requires that there be special offices in the church institute. It is not a matter of expediency or natural development or human contrivance. The church offices of pastor/teacher, elder and deacon are ordained by God for the whole New Testament age. To reject church offices is to reckon oneself wiser than God, since one of the glorious purposes of Christ’s ascension into heaven (Eph. 4:8) is to give officebearers to build up His body (11).

Not all are special officebearers in God’s church. Children, obviously, lack ability, and Christ forbids women officebearers: "I suffer not a woman to teach [i.e., a woman can not be a pastor/teacher], nor to usurp authority [as pastor/teacher, elder or deacon, for all involve "authority"] over the man" (I Tim. 2:12). Also, not all, but only some, men are called and ordained to a special office.

This condemns all rejection of special church offices amongst Anabaptists and in brethrenism, with their any-man ministry and any-man preaching. This view looks only to gifts and not also to calling and church office. It has been branded as "fanaticism" and "enthusiasm" in the churches of the Reformation, for Christ "gave ... some pastors and teachers" (Eph. 4:11). Others, however, while holding that there are special church offices, also practice lay preaching. But the ascended Christ, who "gave ... some pastors and teachers," ties official preaching and teaching to the office of pastor/teacher (cf. Westminster Larger Catechism, Q. & A. 158).

It ought also be stated that though there is "inequality" amongst believers regarding the special offices, we are all equal in the office of believer (Eph. 4:7). The way of growing in our God-given office as believers includes not overreaching ourselves as lay preachers. Rather, we grow in grace by acquiescing in our divinely appointed place in the church and by receiving and obeying faithful preaching from true pastors who are given by the ascended Christ for our edification (11-16). This is also the way of preserving biblical church unity (1-6)

As a "pastor" (11), a Christian minister is a spiritual shepherd. A shepherd guides, feeds, rules, leads, protects, numbers and knows the flock that Christ has entrusted to him. He must do this wisely, tenderly and constantly. His care is exercised in preventing straying sheep from getting lost, protecting vulnerable sheep from predators, healing sick sheep from diseases, and feeding hungry sheep with good pasture. As a "teacher" (11), a Christian pastor shepherds the flock through faithfully expounding and applying God’s Word.

Jesus Christ is the model for all pastor/teachers, as the "great shepherd" of His sheep (Heb. 13:20). He is the "good shepherd" who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11) and who "gathers, defends and preserves [them] to Himself by His Spirit and Word" (Heidelberg Catechism, A. 54). This shepherd of our souls (I Peter 2:25), out of love for His flock, gives and equips His under-shepherds as pastors and teachers. We honour Him by heeding them.

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Additional Info

  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 2
Stewart, Angus

Rev. Angust Stewart (Wife: Mary)

Ordained - 2001

Pastorates: Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Ballymena, Northern Ireland - 2001

Website: www.cprf.co.uk/

Contact Details

  • Address
    7 Lislunnan Road
  • City
    Ballymena
  • State or Province
    Co.Antrim
  • Zip Code
    BT42 3NR
  • Country
    Ireland
  • Telephone
    (01144) 28 25 891851

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