Sunday School Review #5 November 8

Discussing:  Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices

OVERALL THEME:  The way we practice our faith can affect the faith itself.
CHAPTER THEME: The role of the modern day pastor is unbiblical, and hierarchies within the church are pagan and without scriptural basis.

HOW THE AUTHOR'S DEFINE MODERN DAY PASTOR:  They define the modern day pastor as a single leader who is in charge of all, and who handles all, or nearly all of the church services.  All authority is placed in this one individual.

Overview of areas discussed

• Biblical language basis of "pastor"
• Overseers and Elders
• Elders as hierarchy
• Biblical language basis for "ordination"

First, we must acknowledge where the authors are right. They are right in that there is no biblical evidence of any one single pastor who heads any single church or group of churchs. Instead, there is overwhelming biblical evidence that churches were lead by a plurality of leaders called elders.

EXAMINING THE AUTHORS' TREATMENT OF EPHESIANS
The authors try to make the case on page 106 that the word pastor is found only one time in the new testament -- in Ephesians 4:11. This is one of many lines of reasoning they they try to use to say there is too little scriptural evidence to support the office of pastor.

The word for pastor in that Ephesians verse is the greek word "poimen." It means shepherd.  We noted that pastor (poimen/shepherd) is linked with "teacher."   The verse does not say, "he gave some to be pastors and some to be teachers."  Instead it says, "he gave some to be pastors and teachers."  Therefore, those that he gave to be pastors are teachers.

Where did the word pastor come from?  The word pastor was retained from a latin translation and carried over into english when english translations began to be made- but only in this NT verse - everywhere else it is translated as "shepherd."

And this is where the authors make a grave error.  The authors are correct that the word pastor does not occur anywhere else. However, the original word it is translated from (poimen) occurs multiple times throughout the NT.

The following are some examples where poimen occurs.

• Matthew 26:31
• John 10:11-16
• Hebrews 13:20
• 1 Peter 2:25

Notice that all of these poimen/shepherd/pastor verses are applied to Jesus.  Notice in the 1 Peter verse that poimen is linked with the word overseer (NIV) or bishop (KJV).

OVERSEERS and ELDERS
The word "overseer" or "bishop" is translated from the greek word episkopos.  It denotes the office of an elder -- that is -- what an  elder does.

Examine Acts 20:17-28.  Notice in verse 17 he is addressing the Elders.  But also notice that in verse 28 he reminds those elders that they are overseers (episkopos) of God's flock.  Also notice that he charges them to be Shepherds (poimen) of God's church. (if you are using the KJV it says "to feed" which comes from the greek word poimaino, which means "to shepherd") From this passage (and several others 1 Peter 5:1-2 for example) it is clear that elders are overseers and pastors (shepherds).

Now notice the qualifications for elders/overseers in 1 Timothy 3.  In verse 2 he must be able to teach. This is because we've noted from the Acts 20 passage that elders are pastors (poimen/shepherd), and that the Ephesians verse tells us that pastors are teachers.  Therefore, an elder must be able to teach as a matter of qualification.

ELDERS AS HIERARCHY
A word of caution:  The hierarchy (which the authors reject) being described here is not one of the importance of individuals or of the value or worth of individuals, rather it is a hierarchy of authority.

Elders Rule:

• 1 Timothy 3:4 - This qualification requires that an elder rule (KJV) or manage (NIV, NASB) his house well.  The context is rulership and authority.
• 1 Timothy 5:17 - This verse requires that elders (plural) who rule well (KJV, NASB) or direct the affairs of the church well (NIV) be worthy of double honor.  Again, the context is one of authority and rulership.

ORDINATION
In several places throughout the chapter the authors argue that ordination is not an appointment to an office, but that it is simply a recognition by the congregation (or itinerate church planters) of people who are already leaders (page 123). They then go on to argue that ordination is mistranslated and really means "to publicly endorse" (page 124).  

They cite three verses (mid-page 124) to explain their point. Unfortunately these verses do not help their positions at all.

1. Acts 14:23 - in this verse the word ordain (KJV) or appoint (NIV) is translated from the Greek word cheirotoneo which means to appoint to an office with or without votes. It carries with it the meaning of stretching forth a hand.
2. 1 Timothy 3ff - This passage sets requirements that must be met before a person can be recognized or established as an elder.
3. Titus 1:5ff - in this verse Paul tells Titus he must finish what was not completed at Ephesus.  That is, he must set up a church government by appointing (NIV) or ordaining (KJV) elders.  He then gives Titus the qualifications for those elders. The Greek word from which "ordain" and "appoint" are translated is Kathistemi, which means to set in place. 

Now lets take a look at other places where that word Kathistemi is used in the NT and see if the authors are correct in their argument that it means simply to recognize or acknowledge.

• Matthew 24:45-47  - translated in the KJV as 'hath made ruler", and "put in charge" (NIV)
• Matthew 25:21-23  - translated in the KJV as "make thee ruler", and "put in charge" (NIV)
• Luke 12:42-44  - translated in the KJV as "shall make ruler" and "puts in charge" (NIV)
• Acts 6:3  - appoint (KJV), turn this responsibility over (NIV), put in charge (NASB)

Please if you have any questions email me.  And if you want to leave comments or insights to share with the group click on the comments link and write away -- we'd all appreciate it!