The "leader" of the church

[Josiah]

I have an honest question. Where did the idea of "the" "pastor" being the "leader" of the church come from? All I can find in scripture is that they appointed elderS (plural) to guide the individual churches spiritually and deacons to serve in specific roles of leadership.

I don't understand it. Can someone shine some light on this for me?

[LaMontre]

I have an honest question. Where did the idea of "the" "pastor" being the "leader" of the church come from? All I can find in scripture is that they appointed elderS (plural) to guide the individual churches spiritually and deacons to serve in specific roles of leadership.

I don't understand it. Can someone shine some light on this for me?

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The current paradigm (one man "in authority") is actually of Catholic origination. It is one thing that protestantism never seemed to overcome.

:idunno

Four terms that are defined in the bible are:
Elder - Presbureros - Comparative of πρέσβυς presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specifically an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian “presbyter”: - elder (-est), old.

Bishop - Episcopos - From G1980; inspection (for relief); by implication superintendence; specifically the Christian “episcopate”: - the office of a “bishop”, bishoprick, visitation.

Shepherd - Poimen - Of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literally or figuratively): - shepherd, pastor.

Steward - Oikonomo - From G3624 and the base of G3551; a house distributor (that is, manager), or overseer, that is, an employee in that capacity; by extension a fiscal agent (treasurer); figuratively a preacher (of the Gospel): - chamberlain, governor, steward.

What is odd is that inspite of all the different greek terms applied to these positions, they cannot really be said to be "different" and surely, one cannot be said to have more authority than another.

Presbureros, Episcopos, Poimen:
Act 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Presbureros, Episcopos:
Tit 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Presbureros, Poimen:
1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

As you can see, each one of the greek terms used here are applied to what is usually defined as various "offices" in the church. The indication is that there are places of authiority within a church congrgation, but that there isn't really authority vested into any one man, or "leader". Conversly, authority could be placed in many different persons. I think that the only reason for the various words used is to give an indication of the various functions within the office of church leadership. Meaning that any person who is to be a leader in the church has all of these different functions to be responsible for.

From that perspective no one man is capable, much less qualified. It is a team leadership...the church is one.

[Josiah]

From that perspective no one man is capable, much less qualified. It is a team leadership...the church is one.

Agreed.

I just don't understand why many churches don't see it that way. I guess tradition is more important than God's word for a lot of people.

[Freedom]

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The current paradigm (one man "in authority") is actually of Catholic origination. It is one thing that protestantism never seemed to overcome.

:idunno

Four terms that are defined in the bible are:
Elder - Presbureros - Comparative of πρέσβυς presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specifically an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian “presbyter”: - elder (-est), old.

Bishop - Episcopos - From G1980; inspection (for relief); by implication superintendence; specifically the Christian “episcopate”: - the office of a “bishop”, bishoprick, visitation.

Shepherd - Poimen - Of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literally or figuratively): - shepherd, pastor.

Steward - Oikonomo - From G3624 and the base of G3551; a house distributor (that is, manager), or overseer, that is, an employee in that capacity; by extension a fiscal agent (treasurer); figuratively a preacher (of the Gospel): - chamberlain, governor, steward.

What is odd is that inspite of all the different greek terms applied to these positions, they cannot really be said to be "different" and surely, one cannot be said to have more authority than another.

Presbureros, Episcopos, Poimen:
Act 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Presbureros, Episcopos:
Tit 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Tit 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Presbureros, Poimen:
1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

As you can see, each one of the greek terms used here are applied to what is usually defined as various "offices" in the church. The indication is that there are places of authiority within a church congrgation, but that there isn't really authority vested into any one man, or "leader". Conversly, authority could be placed in many different persons. I think that the only reason for the various words used is to give an indication of the various functions within the office of church leadership. Meaning that any person who is to be a leader in the church has all of these different functions to be responsible for.

From that perspective no one man is capable, much less qualified. It is a team leadership...the church is one.

Good post.