@GNWS.. I copied and pasted this for you, because I am tired of trying to untwist your interpretations of things in Scripture. Plus, God has commanded that we NOT get into arguments about "WORDS" because this only leads to dissension. But I do hope gOD WILL OPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND this will help you better understand the meaning and important position of the word and office of a PASTOR ... as JESUS HIMSELF, is known as the CHIEF SHEPHERD (PASTOR) of our souls ... therefore, He ordained shepherds (PASTORS) to watch over HIS sheep (flock/Body of Christ) in the church until He returns.
Ephesians 4:11-16: And Christ/God Himself gave some (meaning IN THE CHURCH) to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some PASTORS and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head�Christ� from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Greek/Hebrew Definitions Strong's #4166: poimen (pronounced poy-mane') of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literally or figuratively):--shepherd, pastor.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon: poimēn
Definition of the word PASTOR: 1) a herdsman, especially a shepherd... 1a) in the parable, he to whose care and control others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow
2) metaphorically - 2a) the presiding officer, manager, director, of any assembly: so of Christ the Head of the church - 2a1) of the overseers of the Christian assemblies - 2a2) of kings and princes
Definitions: In Latin, the word for shepherd is "PASTOR". In English, "PASTOR" is generally used to mean a clergyman or preacher. However in the scriptures it refers exclusively to the shepherds (elders) of a congregation, not the preachers or evangelists.
Greek References and Scripture: There are four Greek words rendered by seven English words. Here are the Greek, English, Strong's reference, and scripture examples: 1. episkopos - overseer (bishop) 1985 cf 1983-4
A comparison of these passages will show that the terms overseer, bishop, shepherd, pastor, elder, presbyter, and ruler, are synonymous and interchangeable. They are simply different words for the same thing. Notice in particular the following points: Whom Paul calls elders in Titus 1:5, he calls overseers/bishops in 1:7.
Acts 20:17,28 and 1Peter 5:1-4 call elders shepherds/pastors.
According to 1Timothy 5:17, elders are to rule.
Both elders and apostles governed the first congregation (Acts 15:1-6).
WHAT IS A PASTOR?
'Pastor' is a common term used for a person who occupies a position of leadership in a local church. Normally, the primary responsibilities of this position involve preaching and personal ministry to members of the congregation. In churches with more than one staff member, it is not uncommon to have multiple pastors on staff, each with a more narrowly defined set of responsibilities, such as: youth pastor, adult ministries pastor, pastor of visitation and so on. The word pastor most closely corresponds to the word poimen in the New Testament, but there are other words that denote this position. Some denominations have the tradition that Pastors, Bishops (or Overseers), and Elders denote different positions. This interpretation does not hold up to Biblical scrutiny, however.
Bishops and PASTORS are not distinct from elders; the terms are simply different ways of identifying the same people. The Greek word for bishop is episkopos, from which the Episcopal Church gets its name. The Greek word for pastor is poimen. The textual evidence indicates that all three terms refer to the same office. The qualifications for a bishop, listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and those for an elder, in Titus 1:6-9, are unmistakably parallel. In fact, in Titus 1:5,7, Paul uses both terms to refer to the same man.
First Peter 5:1-2 brings all three terms together. Peter instructs the elders to be good bishops as they pastor: "Therefore, I exhort the elders [presbuteros] 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, shepherd [pomaino] the flock of God among you, exercising oversight [episkopeo] not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God."
Acts 20 also uses all three terms interchangeably. In verse 17, Paul assembles all the elders [presbuteros] of the church to give them his farewell message. In verse 28, he says, "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [episkopos], to shepherd [pomaino] the church of God."
In general usage, the term elder may be preferred because it seems to be free of many of the connotations and nuances of meanings that have been imposed on both bishop and pastor by our culture.
Episkopos , the word for bishop, means "overseer," or "guardian." The New Testament uses episkopos five times. In 1 Peter 2:25, Jesus Christ is called the episkopos of our souls. That is, He is the One who has the clearest overview of us, who understands us best, and He is "the Shepherd and Guardian of [our] souls." The other four uses of episkopos have reference to leaders in the church.
Episkopos is the secular Greek culture's equivalent to the historic Hebrew idea of elders. Bishops were those appointed by the emperors to lead captured or newly-founded city-states. The bishop was responsible to the emperor, but oversight was delegated to him. He functioned as a commissioner, regulating the affairs of the new colony or acquisition.
Thus episkopos suggested two ideas to the first-century Greek mind: responsibility to a superior power, and an introduction to a new order of things. Gentile converts would immediately understand those concepts in the term.
It is interesting to trace the biblical uses of episkopos. It appears in the book of Acts only once, near the end (Acts 20:28). Of course, at that time, there were relatively few Gentiles in the church, and so the term was not commonly used. But apparently as Gentiles were saved and the church began to lose its Jewish orientation, the Greek culture's word episkopos was used more frequently to describe those who functioned as elders (1 Timothy 3:1).
The New Testament bishop, or overseer, is in a unique leadership role in the church, specifically responsible for teaching (1 Timothy 3:2), feeding, protecting, and generally nurturing the flock (Acts 20:28). Biblically, there is no difference in the role of an elder and that of a bishop; the two terms refer to the same group of leaders. Episkopos emphasizes the function; presbuteros, the character.
Poimen , the word for pastor, or shepherd, is used a number of times in the New Testament, but Ephesians 4:11 is the only place in the King James Version where it is translated "pastor." Every other time it appears in the Greek texts, it is translated "shepherd" in the English version.
Two of the three times it appears in the epistles, poimen refers to Christ. Hebrews 13:20-21 is a benediction: "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd [poimen] of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will." First Peter 2:25 says, "For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd [poimen] and Guardian [episkopos] of your souls."
In Ephesians 4:11, pastor [poimen] is used with the word teacher. The Greek construction there indicates that the two terms go together--we might hyphenate them in English ("pastor-teacher"). The emphasis is on the pastor's ministry of teaching.
Poimen , then, emphasizes the pastoral role of caring and feeding, although the concept of leadership is also inherent in the picture of a shepherd. The focus of the term poimen is on the man's attitude. To be qualified as a pastor, a man must have a shepherd's caring heart.
So the term elder emphasizes who the man is. Bishop speaks of what he does. And pastor deals with how he feels. All three terms are used of the same church leaders, and all three identify those who feed and lead the church, but each has a unique emphasis.
**WHAT ARE THE BIBLICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN *OVERSEER* IN THE NEW COVENANT**??
I Timothy 3:1-7: Whoever aspires to be an **OVERSEER** desires a noble task. Now the **OVERSEER** is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,**ABLE TO TEACH**, not given to drunkeness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. **HE** must must manage **HIS** own family well and see that his children obey him, and **HE** must do so in manner of full respect. If anyone does not know how to manage **HIS** own family, how can **HE** take care of God's church? **HE** must not be a recent convert or **HE** may become conceited and full under judgment as the devil.
Titus 1:7-9: Since an **OVERSEER** manages God's household, **HE** must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick tempered, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, upright, holy and disciplined. **HE** must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that **HE** can encourage others by **SOUND DOCTRINE** and **REFUTE THOSE WHO OPPOSE IT**!!
**WHAT ARE THE BIBLICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AN *ELDER** IN THE NEW COVENANT**??
Titus 1:5,6: An **ELDER** must be blameless, faithful to **HIS** wife, a **MAN** whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient!
I Timothy 5:17: The **ELDERS** who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of a double honor, especially those whose work is **PREACHING** and **TEACHING**!
I Peter 5:1-4: To the **ELDERS** among you, I appeal as a fellow **ELDER** and a witness of Christ's sufferings who will also share in the glory to be revealed. Be shepherds of Gods's flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the **CROWN OF GLORY** that will never fade away!!
Ephesians 4:7,11-16: To each one of us grace has been given **AS CHRIST APPORTIONED IT**.... So Christ Himself {Not the church} gives some to be apostles, some to be **PROPHETS**, some to be **EVANGELISTS**, and some to be **PASTORS** and **TEACHERS**, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach the unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ!...Speaking the truth in love we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the **HEAD**, that is, **CHRIST**!! From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work!!
Yep, I have looked at these FUNCTIONS ( not positions as with a business) over the years and there is a difference between them.
Within the 501C3 Tax exempt Government Corporation known as 'church' ,a person BECOMES known as 'pastor' after they have gone thru Cemetery training for their government required certificates. They receive their master of divinity, some psyco babel called psychology training, they learn to read, write, study and translate the Word, they finish maybe 4 years, graduate and are given the title 'pastor', ( shepherd), yet they have not shepherd ANYTHING, not even a llama.
We cannot find any of this within the Word of GOD Almighty, what we do find is the way GOD Almighty would make a shepherd.
1Timothy 3:1
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
1Ti 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
1Ti 3:3
not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4
one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
1Ti 3:5
(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
1Ti 3:6
not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
1Ti 3:7
Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1Ti 3:8
Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,
1Ti 3:9
holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
1Ti 3:10
But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11
Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
1Ti 3:12
Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1Timothy 3:13
For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Of course we cannot have GOD Almighty's way because that takes too much time to recognize men as Elders, and deacons.
Within the business called 'church', a person BECOMES a 'pastor' by their own works, within the Word of GOD Almighty we see a MAN being molded by GOD Almighty into the man He wants them to be, then the man is broken thru serving the BODY of believers ( deacon) before being recognized by the body as a man called of GOD Almighty to be an Elder; 1st Timothy 3 verses 8-10
Ella, I will say this for the last time.
The so called 501C3 Corporation called 'church' is not of GOD Almighty; it has been the making of the government and bankers. The 'church' is a business, set up just like a business, because the 'church' is under Caesar, not Messiah, The pastors are charlatans, entertaining the sheeple not wanting them to know the truth about the big business 'church' The biggest charlatans are the health and weathers, charismatics, Pentecostals, and Toronto no blessing people.
Do your homework, know the truth and be set free from the religion known as Christianity, become a believer in Messiah Yahshua, be a living testimony within the BODY of Messiah.
GNWS, fi you had even a CLUE about what you're talking about, especially about 501c3, and seminary... you would be dangerous, as an awesome preacher or pastor of God. Sorry, you don't have a clue about nothing you speak, NOR do you meet the qualification to be a pastor, teacher, evangelist, God forbid a prophet or an apostle, or even a deacon in the church/Body of Christ.
You condemn seminary education of ministers, maybe since you disdain EDUCATION so much, you can explain "away" Gamaliel's relationship to the Apostle Paul?...
I must search myself and determine why I waste my time on this site trying to discuss spiritual things with carnal minded self-taught-know-it-all heretics God has warned us about throughout His word... ... I am so sorry for allowing YOU to waste my precious time...
GNWS, ONCE AGAIN, I will say to you... GNWS, IF you had even a CLUE about what you're talking about, especially about 501c3, and seminary... you would be dangerous, as an awesome preacher or pastor of God. Sorry, you don't have a clue about nothing you speak, NOR do you meet the qualification to be a pastor, teacher, evangelist, God forbid a prophet or an apostle, or even a deacon in the church/Body of Christ.
You condemn seminary education of ministers, maybe since you disdain EDUCATION so much, you can explain "away" Gamaliel's relationship to the Apostle Paul?...
So since you condemn EDUCATION, what are YOUR CREDENTIALS AS A QUALIFIED TEACHER OF GOD'S WORD?... What CHURCH, BETTER YET FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING... WHAT ASSEMBLY has commended YOU and RECOGNIZE YOU AS AN ANOINTED AND GIFTED TEACHER WHO RIGHTLY DIVIDES THE WORD OF GOD'S TRUTH?
Answer my QUESTIONS and stop messing around as if you are saying something great and profound in your comments, which only shows that YOU HAVE NO SOUND OR CONCRETE ANSWERS!
I've dealt with people as yourself for years, longer than you have even known the Lord... so I know when you know, what you know in the word and when you're just whitewashing.... you tend to never answer a question directly or with substance. DEFLECTION IS YOUR SO-CALLED GAME!
GNWS, SO... ANSWER MY QUESTIONS: Can YOU explain "away" Gamaliel's relationship to the Apostle Paul?... Did the Apostle Paul have an EDUCATION? Was Dr. Luke Educated/.. just to name two as not to confuse you or require of you searching down the internet for the next week for the answers... there are many other PASTORS, AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS IN THE BIBLE WHO WERE ALSO EDUCATED.... BUT you answer my questions... and did the CHURCH i.e. ASSEMBLE have to pay taxes in the 1st century church in order to stay in business?
Maybe you know not the meaning of the word BUSINESS EITHER...I do think the apostles had a business and the apostle Paul also had a business that helped the churches i.e. ASSEMBLE...
Ella, you are one angry person that judges people without ever having any type of relationship with them. Messiah did not do that,then are you better than Messiah, can you create light. Until then stop judge others by mere appearances and get to know those you judge.
Ella, I know the origins of the 501C3 CORPORATION, tax exempt status, and the purpose why it was given to the 'chrurch people'. I also know who proposed the 501 C3 for the 'church' people, the first Jewish president LBJ.
As far as the cemetery, people might go in with live faith, but exit with dead orthodoxy.
Where in the WORD of GOD Almighty do we find the STATE (Ceasar) issuing certificates or other papers stating that a person is qualified to be a shepherd.
As far as Biblical qualifications are concerned it is you who are not qualified to being an ELDER, or even a shepherd.
Ella, you display a deep rooted anger towards men that speak the WORD of GOD Almighty to you.
You both have good points but I have to agree with Gracethatsaves. You have to be called to be a good leader. Remember knowledge puffs up. I have met men with degrees that weren't even saved. Preacher/ teacher is a gift of the Spirit and he is expected to have the fruit of the Spirit operating in his life. By the way according to Chuck Swindal, the preacher should have one wife at a time, that's what that verse means. If you don't agree with somebody on here and get nasty then you are not exhibiting the FRUIT of the SPIRIT. I tried going to cemetery and some of my class mates acted worse than the world. We need Mature, grown up men, that have a personal relationship with God and the Gift and calling of The Spirit to lead us. There is churches all over and ministries everywhere. This Nation is worse than Its been in my memory, so were are all the leaders? I was talking to an old Salvation Army Major who told me in his day they were called and didn't get paid much, now he said the younger ones are money motivated. If anybody wants to learn the truth, just read church history. I recommend a book called Gods Generals, and I heard that the Methodist church revised the notes from John Wesley's meetings, taking out any wild things in the meeting notes, too bad we will never know what really happened. It was known of Finney that, him just coming into a town would cause people to fall on there knees in repentance. The great awakening was lead by men that had the presence of God in there life.
... I am so sorry for allowing YOU to waste my precious time... 
