Whether we call them “reverend,” “minister,” “preacher,” or “pastor,” we know who we mean: the spiritual leader of a church, that person who is tasked to lead a Christian congregation and often also to minister to the community as a whole.
The Barna Group cites more than 500,000pastors serving in Christian churches in the United States, and the Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates roughly 5 million Christian pastors worldwide.
In some denominations, the pastor is “ordained.” This means they participate in a ceremony where an ordaining minister lays hands upon their head and prays or otherwise blesses and sends them out on their mission to carry out their ministry.
A pastor usually has to complete schooling, probably involving attending seminary. They often have to be licensed or publicly examined regarding their fitness for ministry.
Some pastors lead a church, teaching and preaching before a body of Christian believers. They often give a sermon during designated worship times. Other pastors have more specialized roles, focusing on congregational care, youth ministry, men’s or women’s ministry, homeless or another outreach ministry, working with the military, serving as a hospital chaplain, or a myriad other ways to serve the Lord.
But what makes a pastor, and what does the Bible say about a pastor’s role? Does a pastor have special duties or requirements, and are they held to a higher standard than other people?
Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about a pastor’s role.
What Is a Pastor?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a pastor as “a spiritual overseer,” and this is a role talked about in the Bible.
The word “pastor” comes from the Latin pastoris, meaning “keeper of cattle” or “shepherd.”
In John 10:11, Jesus tells his disciples, “I amthe good shepherd.” Those who lead the church have Christ as their head and their role model, and similarly strive to “shepherd” their own flock — that is, their congregation. The concept of “keeper” or “shepherd” is a metaphor for the spiritual care and tending a church leader gives to a church body.
What Does the Bible Say about a Pastor’s Role?
The Bible uses the terms “elder,” “overseer,” and “deacon” for pastor, and it outlines what these roles are and what their specific responsibilities include. In 1 Timothy 3:1, the apostle Paul notes, “Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.” The original Greek word for overseer is episcope, which refers to a visitation or coming of divine power, an overseer or bishop in a church, and an office of responsibility and place of leadership.
The chapter goes on to detail certain qualities of this church overseer-leader, such as faithfulness, self-control, and hospitality, noting they are to be “above reproach” (v. 2).
That word, episcope, is the same one used in Acts 20:28, where Paul offered guidance to the leaders of the church in Ephesus, telling them, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
Earlier in that same chapter, Paul also called these church leaders “elders,” so it is inferred the two are synonymous. The original Greek used here is presbyteros, which according to the NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary means “as an official leader of the Jewish community, in the epistles, ‘older man’ and ‘older woman,’ who may or may not be official leaders of the church, depending on the context.”
The apostle Peter used the term “elder” (presbyteros)to describe himself and offered words of wisdom to fellow elders in 1 Peter 5. In this chapter, Peter explains elders must be willing shepherds who take care of their flock of Jesus-followers.
The Bible also uses the term “deacon,” which is similar but a bit different. The original Greek for deacon is diakonos, meaning servant or minister in the church. In 1 Timothy 3:12, the apostle Paul says deacons must reflect the same values as overseers. He said they must be faithful in marriage, must serve well, and must manage their children and household well.(“Children” in the original Greek can apply to offspring as well as children in the faith, and “household” can apply to a home as well as a temple.)
Bottom line: whether an elder, overseer, or deacon, the pastor must serve, care for their congregation, and reflect upright and godly behavior.
Does a Pastor Have Special Duties or Requirements?
A pastor does indeed have special duties or requirements. In 1 Timothy 3:2-7 Paul says the “overseer” must “be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy 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 conceitedand fall under the same judgmentas the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”
In 1 Peter 5:2-3, Peter says the elder must be “shepherds of God’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.”
In Titus 1:6-9, Paul says the 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. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless — not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, 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 doctrineand refute those who oppose it.”
In short, the pastor must:
- Have integrity
- Be worthy of respect
- Possess self-control
- Not get drunk
- Be welcoming and hospitable
- Be gentle and not hot-tempered
- Be a good spouse and parent (and their children and spouse should reflect this in the way they live their lives)
- Believe and be able to teach the gospel
- Not love money
- Not be a brand-new believer
- Be a servant-leader
Is a Pastor Held to a Higher Standard Than Other People?
Among the duties of a pastor is teaching God’s word. And in James 3:1, we’re warned, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
Therefore, the implication is that, yes, pastors are held to a higher standard. If they are to be respected teachers who reflect God’s word, they need to be worthy so that people will listen to them, heed their instruction, and emulate their ways.
Titus 1:7 specifically notes, “Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless.”
While all people are called to repent and believe — that is, put their faith wholeheartedly in Jesus as their savior, turn from sin, and commit themselves to the way of the Lord — those who lead others have a special responsibility because they not only teach but serve as human examples for others to emulate.
What Are Some Other Scriptures about a Pastor’s Role?
Here are some other Bible verses from both the New and Old Testament about a pastor’s role:
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?” (Ezekiel 34:2).
“‘Return, faithless people,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I am your husband. I will choose you — one from a town and two from a clan — and bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding’” (Jeremiah 3:14-15).
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep’” (John 21:15-16).
“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:17).
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the 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 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” (Ephesians 4:11-13).
If you know a pastor, do what you can to help, love, and support them so they can keep doing the will of God. If you are a pastor, remember your role and remember your charge. May God bless you and keep you. Amen!
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