Bible Lessons

ANO ANG IBIG SABIHIN NG SALITANG "PASTOR" SA BIBLIA BILANG ISANG MANGGAGAWA SA IGLESIA AT SINO BA SILA?

WHAT IS MEANT BY THE WORD "PASTOR" IN THE BIBLE, AS A WORKER IN THE CHURCH AND WHO ARE THEY?

_____________________________________________________________________
NOTE: Please pardon me for the mistake about saying the Latin word for episcopos is bispos. Here it is, should be, In Greek, the word "overseer" is "episcopos," which in English is "bishop." In Old English, it is "bisceop" which was later adopted as an Ecclesiastical term a leader in the church. The word "bispos" is a plural form of bishop in Portuguese and Spanish
_______________________________________________________________________

In this lesson, our topic is the word "pastor" in the Bible.

The common idea among many is that anyone who preaches the Bible is a pastor. Others think that a pastor is a graduate of a Bible School. Meaning, one is not a pastor unless one is a Bible School graduate. Some think the word "pastor" in the Bible refers to all preachers in the denominations or to non-Catholic preachers.

What is meant by the word "pastor" in the Bible, and who are they?

Let us first take note that the church was not yet established by Christ in Matthew 16:18 because Christ said that He was still to build HIs church by this clause, "I will build my church." The text says, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." Hence, from this event, going back to the Old Testament books, there was no church yet. And so, if we can read the word "pastor" in some versions and translations, particularly in the Old Testament, that is not the pastor in the church or in the New Testament Church built by Christ.

There was no church yet of our Lord when He was born by Mary, during His baptism and when He was talking to Peter in Matthew 16:18.

What is the meaning of the word "pastor"? The word "pastor" is Latin, not a Greek word. Take note that the New Testament was generally written in Greek and partly in Aramaic. Meaning, this word is not originally in the New Testament Greek.

In Greek, it is "poimen," which is "Shepherd" in English. So, if we read the word "Pastor" in our Bible, that is not in the original text. It is taken from the Latin Bible.

Ephesians 4:11 is very clear that not because one is preaching is a pastor or a shepherd. The verse says, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers."

Notice the punctuation mark, the comma. The comma here does not modify or specify a certain word. It enumerates the roles or offices in the church: apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists, and teachers. The construction of the sentence shows that an apostle is not a prophet, a prophet is not an evangelist, and an evangelist is not a pastor. Thus, not because one is preaching is a pastor. Note that in this text, it shows that an evangelist is not a pastor.

If we study this word, "pastor." This is not a title to address a preacher. It is a work or a service. So, as an example, we do not call Juan "Pastor Juan". It should be, Juan, a pastor." Like Timothy, not Evangelist Timothy, but is Timothy doing the word of the evangelist or Timothy, an evangelist. It is like the word "carpenter." We do not say, "Carpenter Juan," but "Juan, a carpenter. This is how the Bible uses the word "pastor," which is "shepherd" in English.

To explain, in Acts 20:17, Paul called the elders of the church. The verse says, "From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church." If we continue reading, in verse 28, Paul told the elders, saying, " Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Note the word "shepherd.," which is "poimen." in Greek. So, to shepherd or a "pastor" is to feed or to shepherd the flock. Whose work is this? It is of the Elders. In other words, "pastoring" is a work of an elder. It is not a title to address a worker in the church. It is a work.

Another, in Acts 20:28, it is very clear that one of the works of an Elder is as an "overseer" or to oversee the flock, which is the church. Meaning, an elder is not only to feed or the shepherd the flock but also to oversee for they're made "overseers" by the Holy Spirit according to Paul.

in Greek, the word, "overseer" is "episcopos," which in the english is "bishop" In the Old English it is "bisceop" which in later adapted to an Ecclesiastical term as a leader in the church. The word "bispos" is a plural form of bishop in the Portuguese and Spanish language.

To again consider Acts 20:29, bishop/overseer/episcopos is a a work of an elder. It is not a title to address someone as one of the leaders of the church.

To further explains, let us consider 1 Pet. 5:1-2 where Peter considered himself as an elder. In the text, note that he's giving an instruction to his fellow-elders. The verse says, "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;'" So, an elder is oversee and to shepherd the flock.

Again, the words "shepherd/pastor" and "bishop/overseer" in the Bible are not titles of a preacher or a worker in the church. These are works or services of an elder in the church.

Who are the "pastors"?

in 1 Tim 3:1-7 we can read the qualifications for the work as an overseer/bishop/episkopos. The text says, This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not [b]given to wine, not violent, [c]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not [d]covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a [e]novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

Remember, an elder is an overseer or a bishop and a shepherd or a pastor. 1 Tim. 3:1-7 mentions the qualification. In the qualification, there are four exclusive qualifications to qualify as an elder for the work as an overseer which are: 1. a husband of one wife; 2. must have children; 3. rule his household well.; and 4 not novice. The rest are a requirement for every Christian.

By 1 Tim. 3:1-7, it becomes clear that "pastor" is an "overseer" Ad to becomes an overseer, the first qualification is must desire a good work or the service as an overseer. The further qualifications are mentioned. This becomes clear that because one is preaching is a pastor. The qualifications to be among the the pastors/bishops/elders are listed in 1 Tim. 3:1-7.

With all the verses given, explained according after the context, a pastor is an elder, a bishop. That not because is preacher is a pastor. That this term is not a title or as an address to a preacher. it a service of an elder it is a work.

ANG BAUTISMO SA MATEO 28:19,20 AT NG MARCOS 16:15-16

THE BAPTISM IN MATT. 28:19,20 AND MARK 16:15-16

So that our understanding of the text is according to the original intention or the purpose of the speaker, we must consider the background of the verses under consideration.

Jesus, during this event, had risen from the grave and was with the disciples before the ascension to heaven. He left a commandment, this so-called Great Commission. which states, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matt. 28:19-20.

This background tells us the Thief on the cross was not subject to this baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit because this commandment had not yet been given at that time. Jesus lived under the Old Testament, during which the religion was Judaism. Our system of faith is Christianity, not Judaism. And the Old Law. Heb. 9:16-17 will tell when the New Covenants, Christ's Last Wills, become binding. So, we cannot use the Thief on the cross to negate the necessity of baptism in Matt. 28:19 and Mark 16:16 for salvation.

Also, the baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is not the baptism of John where Jesus was baptized. John's baptism has ceased. Acts 19:1-5 is very clear on this. And so, we cannot use Jesus's baptism by John to say the baptism in Matt. 28 and Mark 16 is essential to salvation.

Now, let us proceed with the context of the texts. After telling them that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him (verse 18), He commanded His disciples to go to all nations.

In their going, they were to make disciples. The phrase "make disciples" means to make learners or students. This implies that they're going to teach those who can learn and believe. Certainly, they're going to teach infants to learn and believe.

What will they do to the disciples, learners, or students whom they taught? They're to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

By the context, you will notice the word "them." It is a pronoun, and its antecedent, based on the context, is those whom the apostles preached or taught. Meaning, those to baptize are those whom they'd preached. Again, this negates the idea of Infant Baptism because the candidate for baptism is he who has been taught or a learner.

Although we read "all nations," this does not include the infants because the context implies that disciples were to go to different places to make learners or students, implying going to those who can learn and believe to become learners or students.

To further understand this, Mark 16:15-16 can help. This is with the same background, and so with context. This is after Christ's resurrection and near His ascension to heaven.

In Matt. 28:19 it says, Go. Mark 16:15 is the same. Matt. 28:19 says, "make disciples of every creature." Mark 16:15 says, "preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16;15 mentions what the apostles were to preach or teach in the making of disciples, and that is the gospel.

In Mark 16:16 says, "He who believes and is baptized." Matt. 28:19 says, " baptizing them." The pronoun "them" refers to those who have become students of the apostles in their preaching of the gospel. so. Those to baptize are those who believe.

Again, these texts do not support Infant Baptism because the candidate for baptism has been taught the gospel and believes it. The infant cannot believe.

To further explain that the candidates for baptism are those who can believe, we also consider verse 20. It says, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” We, again, note the pronoun "them." This "then" are those who have been baptized and are disciples by the preaching of the apostles. This "them" were to be taught "to observe " all that Jesus had commanded.

"Make disciples" and "teach them all to observe all things" fully implies that the candidates for the baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of Holy Spirit are those who can learn, believe, and obey. It thus excludes infants.

With these two verses, it is also clear that those baptized were those who believe for it says, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved." Of course, those who do not believe in the gospel, who do not believe in the instruction by Jesus Christ will not submit to baptism and therefore, is condemned.