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What is a Pastor - Part 2 - Relevant Scriptures

• 7 min read • By Benjamin Cloughessy
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Introduction

“What is a Pastor?”

This is the question that has been burning in me since 2017, and which I finally set out to answer for myself at the beginning of 2025.

My definition may not be satisfying to you. Your questions may not be my questions - nor your wounds my wounds.

Seven months ago, I was more or less of the idea that there was no such thing as a biblical pastor.

So I started from zero. I attempted to make no assumptions stemming from my bias, from my culture, or from my experiences.

I decided that the bible must be the foundation for answering this question. I did allow for logical conclusions built on the bible, but these could not hold the same authority as the bible itself.

Similarly, I allowed my perspective to be informed by church history. But I could not (and still cannot) allow myself to be convinced of the truth by dead people any more than by living people.

To answer the question of what - if such a thing exists - is a biblical pastor, I found it most useful to write a series of sequential question-and-answer essays exploring what I’ve become convinced of.

The following is one of those essays.

Which Scriptures?

The Bible is a big book, and ours is a big question (what is a pastor?)

To help look for an answer to a big question in a big book, I decided it made sense to find the parts of the book which are explicitly relevant, i.e., which are directly referring to pastors.

In a previous post we started with a single verse - Ephesians 4:11 - and a single word - pastor (poimēn). Following the Greek word like a line through the new testament, we curated a small but mighty list of Greek words which are explicitly relevant in defining ‘pastor.’

Here’s a quick summary:

  • poimēn, poimainō (pastor, shepherd)
  • episkopeō, episkopos, episkopē (overseer, bishop)
  • presbyteros, presbyterion (presbyter, elder, ordained Christian leader)
  • didaktikos, didaskalos, didaskalia (ability to teach, teacher, teaching)

The value of these words is that we can search the scriptures for them, and find our relevant references. This is the content of this post - a collection of relevant scriptures with no attempt to define or interpret.

These Scriptures

Note: The “Outline of Biblical Usage” sections come from Blue Letter Bible’s use of the tool created by Larry Pierce. They are useful to get a quick, general sense of the use of the word but not intended (by me) to comprise a true or nuanced definition.

Complete Scripture Reference List

For Quick Access and Cross-Reference Study

Alphabetical by Book

Matthew

  • Matthew 2:6

John

  • John 10:11
  • John 21:16

Acts

  • Acts 1:20
  • Acts 14:23
  • Acts 15:2, 6, 22
  • Acts 16:4
  • Acts 20:28

Romans

  • Romans 12:7

1 Corinthians

  • 1 Corinthians 9:7
  • 1 Corinthians 12:28-29

Ephesians

  • Ephesians 4:11

Philippians

  • Philippians 1:1

1 Timothy

  • 1 Timothy 3:1
  • 1 Timothy 3:2
  • 1 Timothy 4:13, 16
  • 1 Timothy 4:14
  • 1 Timothy 5:17
  • 1 Timothy 6:3

2 Timothy

  • 2 Timothy 1:11
  • 2 Timothy 2:24
  • 2 Timothy 3:16

Titus

  • Titus 1:5
  • Titus 1:7
  • Titus 1:9

Hebrews

  • Hebrews 13:20

James

  • James 3:1
  • James 5:14

1 Peter

  • 1 Peter 2:25
  • 1 Peter 5:1-2

Revelation

  • Revelation 7:17

Organized by Greek Word/Theme

Shepherd/Pastor (poimēn, poimainō)

  • Matthew 2:6
  • John 10:11
  • John 21:16
  • Acts 20:28
  • 1 Corinthians 9:7
  • Ephesians 4:11
  • Hebrews 13:20
  • 1 Peter 2:25
  • 1 Peter 5:2
  • Revelation 7:17

Overseer/Bishop (episkopeō, episkopos, episkopē)

  • Acts 1:20
  • Acts 20:28
  • Philippians 1:1
  • 1 Timothy 3:1
  • 1 Timothy 3:2
  • Titus 1:7
  • 1 Peter 2:25
  • 1 Peter 5:2

Elder/Presbyter (presbyteros, presbyterion)

  • Acts 14:23
  • Acts 15:2, 6, 22
  • Acts 16:4
  • 1 Timothy 4:14
  • 1 Timothy 5:17
  • Titus 1:5
  • James 5:14
  • 1 Peter 5:1-2

Teacher/Teaching (didaktikos, didaskalos, didaskalia)

  • Romans 12:7
  • 1 Corinthians 12:28-29
  • Ephesians 4:11
  • 1 Timothy 3:2
  • 1 Timothy 4:13, 16
  • 1 Timothy 5:17
  • 1 Timothy 6:3
  • 2 Timothy 1:11
  • 2 Timothy 2:24
  • 2 Timothy 3:16
  • Titus 1:9
  • James 3:1

poimēn (noun - G4166)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. A herdsman, especially a shepherd
    • In the parable, he to whose care and control others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow
  2. Metaphorically:
    • The presiding officer, manager, director, of any assembly: so of Christ the Head of the church
      • Of the overseers of the Christian assemblies
      • Of kings and princes

Additional Context: A shepherd in the Near East was responsible for watching out for enemies trying to attack the sheep, defending the sheep from attackers, healing the wounded and sick sheep, finding and saving lost or trapped sheep, loving them, and sharing their lives to earn their trust.

Key References:

  • Jesus as the Shepherd: John 10:11, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 2:25
  • Role/calling of service to the church: Ephesians 4:11

poimainō (verb - G4165)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. To feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep
    • To rule, govern (of rulers)
    • To furnish pasture for food
    • To nourish
    • To cherish one’s body, to serve the body
    • To supply the requisites for the soul’s need

Key References:

  • Jesus as the Shepherd: Matthew 2:6, Revelation 7:17
  • The calling of Peter: John 21:16
  • Instructions to other shepherds/pastors: Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2
  • In defense of paid ministry: 1 Corinthians 9:7

episkopē (noun - G1984)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. Investigation, inspection, visitation
    • That act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds, character of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad
  2. Oversight
    • Overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder
    • The overseer or presiding officers of a Christian church

Key References:

  • An office of leadership in the church: Acts 1:20, 1 Timothy 3:1

episkopos (noun - G1985)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. An overseer
    • A man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent
    • The superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church

Key References:

  • Jesus as the Overseer: 1 Peter 2:25
  • Distinction of role of service: Acts 20:28, Philippians 1:1
  • Qualifications of an overseer: 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:7

episkopeō (verb - G1982)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. To look upon, inspect, oversee, look after, care for
    • Of the care of the church which rested upon the elders
    • To look carefully, beware

Key References:

  • Instructions to shepherd: 1 Peter 5:2

presbyteros (noun - G4245)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. Elder, of age
    • The elder of two people
    • Advanced in life, an elder, a senior (forefathers)
  2. A term of rank or office
    • Among the Jews:
      • Members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
      • Of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
    • Among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches). The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably
    • The twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God

Key References:

  • In the Gospels: Almost exclusively for the religious leaders (elders)
  • As appointed leaders in the church: Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5
  • Making leadership decisions with the apostles: Acts 15:2, 6, 22; Acts 16:4
  • As teachers and preachers worthy of payment: 1 Timothy 5:17
  • As those responsible to pray for the sick within the church: James 5:14
  • Instructed to shepherd/oversee the flock: 1 Peter 5:1-2

presbyterion (noun - G4244)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. Body of elders, presbytery, senate, council
    • Of the Jewish elders
    • Of the elders of any body (assembly) of Christians

Key References:

  • As imparters of spiritual gifts via prophesying and laying on of hands: 1 Timothy 4:14

didaktikos (adjective - G1317)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. Apt and skillful in teaching

Key References:

  • As a qualification for overseers and “the Lord’s bond-servants”: 1 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 2:24

didaskalos (noun - G1320)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. A teacher
  2. In the NT, one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man
    • One who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so
    • The teachers of the Jewish religion
    • Of those who by their great power as teachers draw crowds around them (i.e., John the Baptist, Jesus)
    • By preeminence used of Jesus by himself, as one who showed men the way of salvation
    • Of the apostles, and of Paul
    • Of those who in the religious assemblies of the Christians, undertook the work of teaching, with the special assistance of the Holy Spirit
    • Of false teachers among Christians

Key References:

  • As an appointed role in the church + spiritual gift: Ephesians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, 2 Timothy 1:11
  • As those subject to stricter judgment: James 3:1

didaskalia (noun - G1319)

Outline of Biblical Usage:

  1. Teaching, instruction
  2. Teaching
    • That which is taught, doctrine
    • Teachings, precepts

Key References:

  • As a spiritual gift: Romans 12:7
  • Instructions to Timothy and elders: 1 Timothy 4:13, 16; 5:17
  • As sound doctrine: 1 Timothy 6:3, 2 Timothy 3:16, Titus 1:9
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About the Author

Benjamin Cloughessy

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Benjamin is a software developer and student of the Word, passionate about both knowing and believing the bible. He particularly is passionate about bringing biblical literacy to the charismatic part of Christ's body.

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