Foundations of Christian Leadership, Student Workbook, SW07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

A Theological Overview of the Equipping Gifts Described in Ephesians 4.11 (continued)

1 Because Paul in Ephesians 4.11 omits the definite article before the word “teachers,” it has long been debated in the Church whether he intended to describe only one office, “pastor- teacher” or two “pastors” and “teachers.” John Calvin outlines the debate when he says, “Pastors and Teachers are supposed by some to denote one office. . . . Chrysostom and Augustine are of this opinion. . . . I partly agree with them, that Paul speaks indiscriminately of pastors and teachers as belonging to one and the same class, and that the name teacher does, to some extent apply to all pastors. But this does not appear to me a sufficient reason why two offices, which I find to differ from each other, should be confounded. Teaching is, no doubt, the duty of all pastors; but to maintain sound doctrine requires a talent for interpreting Scripture, a man may be a teacher who is not qualified to preach” (”Epistle to the Ephesians,” Calvin’s Commentaries, vol. XXI, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981, pp. 279-280). This paper follows Calvin in supporting the possibility of two separate offices, while understanding practically that both offices are often combined in the same individual.

independent office which exists for an isolated exercise of its own ministry gifts.

II. Pastors 1

A. Linguistic Considerations

Poimen

“A shepherd” (literally or figuratively) ( Strong’s Greek Dictionary of New Testament Words ). “Herdsman, shepherd, is an Indo-European word which is frequently used in metaphorical senses: leader, ruler, commander. . . .Plato reminds us of the religious use of the word when he compares the rulers of the city-state to shepherds who care for their flock” (E. Beyreuther, The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology , Vol. 3, Colin Brown, Gen. ed., Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986, p. 564). “[Shepherd is] a word naturally of frequent occurrence in Scripture. Sometimes the word “pastor” is used instead (Jer. 2.8; 3.15; 10.21; 12.10; 17.16). This word is used figuratively to represent the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people (Ps. 23.1; 80.1; Isa. 40.11; 44.28; Jer. 25.34, 35; Nahum 3.18; John 10.11, 14; Heb. 13.20; 1 Pet. 2.25; 5.4). The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like Palestine were very onerous. “In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief” (see 1 Sam. 17.34) (“Shepherd,” Easton’s Bible Dictionary ).