Foundations of Christian Leadership, Student Workbook, SW07

/ 2 9 1

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)

well as pastors and teachers) though they are not specifically called so” (F. F. Bruce, “Epistle to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians,” The New International Commentary on the New Testament , Vol. 10., Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984, p. 347).

C. Summary

Pastors organize, nurture, train, and protect Christian communities and their members. The ultimate goal of the pastoral task is to present everyone “complete in Christ” so that the community of believers acts and speaks in the world just as Christ would. The core task of the pastor is not “doing ministry” but “equipping members to do ministry” by training them in the Word of God and by recognizing their spiritual gifts and helping them to put these gifts into action for ministry and mission. Missionaries with pastoral gifts have a special responsibility to train indigenous leaders to take over the work from their charge.

III. Teachers

A. Linguistic Considerations

didaskalos

“An instructor” ( Strong’s Greek Dictionary of New Testament Words ).

“Acts 13.1 refers to didáskaloi , teachers with prophetai , prophets. From this it is concluded that in the Christian church the didáskaloi , teachers appear as having a special function (Acts 13.1; 1 Cor. 12.23,29; Eph. 4.11; James 3.1). These didáskaloi answer to the Jewish grammateís (pl.), scribes, and are to be viewed as in a special sense acquainted with and interpreters of God’s salvation (Matt. 13.52; Luke 2.46). To them fell the duty of giving progressive instruction of God’s redeeming purpose, a function which, according to Eph. 4.11, may have been united with poimen , pastor, in one person. Notwithstanding, linguists have debated the precise relationship between teachers and pastors in that text. There is a growing consensus that pastors are a sub-group within the larger body of teachers” (Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 1992).