What is a pastor, an elder, and a deacon?

The Church & Christian LifeIn theological review

The short answer

In the New Testament, pastor, elder and overseer describe the same shepherding office: men charged to teach the Word, watch over the flock and lead by example, held to a strict standard of character. Deacons hold a distinct serving office, caring for practical needs and the vulnerable. The titles vary between churches, but the two kinds of work, shepherding and serving, are constant.

The fuller answer

The New Testament uses its leadership words more simply than later church structures suggest. Elder, overseer and pastor name one office viewed from different sides: elder for its dignity, overseer for its watchfulness, pastor, which means shepherd, for its work of feeding and guarding the flock. Peter charges elders to shepherd the flock among them willingly and by example, and Paul tells the Ephesian elders that the Holy Spirit made them overseers to care for the church of God, which Christ obtained with his own blood. The office is weighty because the flock is not theirs.

This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money. An overseer must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money. They must hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Additionally, they must first be tested. Then, if they are above reproach, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women must be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household. For those who have served well as deacons acquire for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (BSB)

First Timothy chapter 3 and Titus chapter 1 give the qualifications, and they are mostly about character, not talent. An overseer must be above reproach, faithful in marriage, self controlled, gentle, not greedy, not a lover of argument, able to manage his own household, and tested rather than newly converted. Teaching ability is required, since he must hold firm to the trustworthy word and correct what contradicts it. Deacons are listed separately in the same chapter of Timothy: dignified, honest, not greedy, holding the faith with a clear conscience, and tested first before they serve.

The reason I left you in Crete was that you would set in order what was unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination. As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

Titus 1:5-9 (BSB)

Deacons take their pattern from the serving work of the church: organising practical care so that widows and the needy are not overlooked, freeing the shepherds for prayer and the Word without making mercy a lesser calling. Churches arrange titles and structures differently, and some of those differences are matters of honest disagreement. What may not be negotiated is the standard itself. When a church lowers the character bar for a gifted man, or treats serving work as unspiritual, it has departed from the pattern these chapters set, whatever its titles say.

As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

1 Peter 5:1-4 (BSB)

Peter's charge to elders gathers the office into one picture: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, he adds, faithful shepherds receive a crown. The standard cuts everyone involved. Churches must not demand of pastors what Peter forbids, pastors must not claim what Peter denies them, and members honour the office best by making it a joy to hold.

Sources

Berean Standard Bible (BSB)

Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend page passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This section is in that queue.

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