What is the difference between pastors, bishops, apostles, reverends, and prophets according to the Bible?
My answer, being what I think the more biblical one, gets me into trouble with those holding the current conventional positions. The care and feeding of the flock of God is not a one-man job.
There are two offices within a local assembly, Bishop and Deacon. Their qualifications are laid out in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 3. The Bishop is the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the assemble and Deacons his assistance. Their function is to see to the care of the physical needs, not to the exclusion of spiritual needs but the Pastors are the spiritual feeders of the flock. The more Pastors the better.
Acts 6:1-4 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
The physical needs of the brethren need to be cared for such as the widows and fatherless. Someone needs to know all the members and their needs and to prioritize them as to most in need for the assembly to aid each other. This is what the Bishops and Deacons are for as well as seeing the bills get paid, the lawn gets mowed, etc.
The qualifications for these men and for pastors require them to be elders. Elders as used in the Scriptures always mean elder in age. These are not paid positions. The men should be retired and financially able to support themselves having time to give and a desire to do so. The office of Bishop is not a calling it is a desire, a desire to work for and help the assembly.
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
Acts 20:17–28 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. …Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Titus 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:
1 Peter 5:1-3 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 the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
The other classifications, preacher, teacher, evangelist, are callings to all that will study and equip themselves to do the job.
2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
These positions are not limited to being carried out in the assembly of believers. Everyone who is saved is called to minister the word of God to all those they come in contact with.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Every saved individual is called to preach the word in some form or fashion. That is the first calling you have. Naturally, one can not preach what one does not know. So to answer this first call requires preparation: Study.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Once you begin studying you can begin ministering the word as you come to know and understand it. The first part of your first calling is to study God’s word and apply it to yourself. Live a life that will complement your testimony of faith toward God, then witness to all you have the opportunity to do so.
If you will faithfully attend to your first calling God will take note and begin to use you in specific witnessing. That is once God knows you have studied and know some things and will open your mouth to witness then he will bring you into contact with those he wants specifically witnessed to. It may be someone who has been praying to him for light or some old drunk whose wife and little congregation have been praying to God to have mercy on him for ten years. Regardless the Lord will have their hearts prepared to hear at a certain point and needs to bring someone he knows will open their mouth and preach the word on cue.
Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
If you prove yourself faithful in this then the Lord will use you as he deems fit. Doors will open for you in whatever direction the Lord desires for you to go. But you have to be careful for there are many corrupt reasons men desire leadership in a congregation and they can deceive themselves.
…the acquisition of such absolute command over the consciences and understanding of a congregation, however obscure or despised by the world, is more truly grateful to the pride of the human heart, than the possession of the most despotic power, imposed by arms and conquest on a reluctant people”.
“History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire” Edward Gibbon, Esq.
Paul speaking of blood-bought saints supposedly serving the Lord states:
Philippians 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
If you are faithful, doors will open. All you have to do is walk through.
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
The word reverend as used in the Bible is not an office of the Church nor the title of any man. To call yourself such is to demand others bow down to you.
Psalms 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Esther 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
There is much more that could be said.
Views: 0