{"id":112,"date":"2009-08-08T18:45:31","date_gmt":"2009-08-08T23:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adamosborne.net\/?p=112"},"modified":"2025-05-02T14:23:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T19:23:53","slug":"pastors-overseers-elders-deacons-8-8-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adamosborne.net\/index.php\/2009\/08\/pastors-overseers-elders-deacons-8-8-2009\/","title":{"rendered":"Pastors, Overseers, Elders & Deacons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Bible Study by Adam Osborne, Jr<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

PASTORS<\/span>, OVERSEERS, ELDERS AND DEACONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

PASTOR<\/strong><\/span> (Poimhvn)\u00a0 shepherd who tends herds or flocks and renders care and superintendence over his flocks.<\/p>\n

Strong’s Greek Number 4166 Greek word: poimen poy-mane<\/span><\/strong>‘
Vine’s Word(s): Pastor, Shepherd<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

—John 10:11<\/strong> I am the good shepherd<\/span>:<\/strong> the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.<\/p>\n

—1 Peter 2:25<\/strong> For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd<\/span> and Bishop of your souls.<\/p>\n

—Hebrews 13:20<\/strong> Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd<\/span><\/strong> of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.<\/p>\n

—Ephesians 4:11<\/strong> And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors<\/span><\/strong> and teachers;<\/p>\n

OVERSEERS<\/strong><\/span> (ejpivskopoV) two Greek words combined, to look over, and , to watch over.<\/p>\n

Strong’s Greek Number 1985 Greek word: episkopos ep-is’-kop-os<\/span><\/strong>
Vine’s Word(s): Bishop<\/span><\/strong>
1) an overseer
1a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent
1b) the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church<\/p>\n

1 Timothy 3:2-7<\/strong> A bishop<\/span><\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Titus 1:5-9 <\/strong>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<\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

ELDERS<\/strong><\/span> (presbuvteroV)<\/p>\n

Strong’s Greek Number 4245 Greek word: presbuteros pres-boo’-ter-os<\/span><\/strong>
Vine’s Word(s): Elder, Eldest, Old<\/span>.<\/strong>
1) elder, of age,
1a) the elder of two people
1b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior
1b1) forefathers
2) a term of rank or office
2a) among the Jews
2a1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
2a2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably
2c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God

Acts 11:30 <\/strong>Which also they did, and sent it to the elders<\/span><\/strong> by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.<\/p>\n

Acts 15:1-2 <\/strong>And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 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<\/span><\/strong> about this question.<\/p>\n

Titus 1:5<\/strong> For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders<\/span><\/strong> in every city, as I had appointed thee:<\/p>\n

Acts 20:17<\/strong> And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders<\/span><\/strong> of the church.<\/p>\n

1 Peter 5:1-2<\/strong> The elders<\/span><\/strong> which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder<\/span>, 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;<\/p>\n

Titus 1:5-9<\/strong> For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders<\/span> <\/strong>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.<\/p>\n

DEACON<\/strong> (diavkononV)<\/span><\/p>\n

Strong’s Greek Number 1247 Greek word: diakoneo dee-ak-on-eh’-o<\/span><\/strong>
Vine’s Word(s): Minister, Serve<\/span><\/strong>
KJV – minister<\/span><\/strong> unto 15
– serve 10
– minister 7
– misc 5 [Total Count: 37]<\/p>\n

1)) to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon
1a) to minister to one, render ministering offices to
1a1) to be served, ministered unto
1b) to wait at a table and offer food and drink to the guests,
1b1) of women preparing food
1c) to minister i.e. supply food and necessities of life
1c1) to relieve one’s necessities (e.g. by collecting alms), to provide take care of, distribute, the things necessary to sustain life
1c2) to take care of the poor and the sick, who administer the office of a deacon
1c3) in Christian churches to serve as deacons
1d) to minister
1d1) to attend to anything, that may serve another’s interests
1d2) to minister a thing to one, to serve one or by supplying any thing<\/p>\n

1 Timothy 3:1-13<\/strong> 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. 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons<\/span> be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon<\/span> well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Acts 6:1-4<\/strong> 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. 2 Then 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. 3 Wherefore, 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. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.<\/p>\n