Philip Dampier's Blog

Shepherds (Pastors) in the New Testament

Lately I have seen multiple threads on Facebook asking the question “Can a woman be a pastor of a church?” The question itself indicates a lack of understanding of what a Biblical “pastor” is. The answers that are given in the affirmative also indicate a misunderstanding of the Biblical term.  In the space below I will try to help those who are seeking the Biblical answer to this question find the true answer.

Many who answer in the affirmative give general answers to the question but provide no Biblical proof. This question cannot be answered in generic terms or with broad sweeping answers. The Bible answers the question or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t then broad answers are okay. In that case it is alright to say, “I think.” But, if it does answer the question then broad statements won’t do. You cannot generalize specific statements made by God.

Where does the word ‘pastor’ come from? We do not find this word in modern English translations. It was placed in the King James Bible because it was copied from the Latin text. It is a Latin word, not an English word. What then is the English equivalent of the Latin pastor? The closest translation of the Biblical Greek word is ‘shepherd.’ A pastor is a shepherd. When used as a verb it means that one takes care of the sheep. The shepherd feeds and waters the sheep, protects the sheep, doctors the sheep and so forth.

The Greek word in this case is ‘poimen.” Poimen is one of three words used in the New Testament to designate an official leader of a New Testament congregation of the Lord’s church. The other two are ‘presbyteros’ and ‘episkopos.’ In English these words are translated, elder and overseer. These three terms are found in 1 Peter 5:1,2, Acts 20:17,28 and Titus 1:5-7.

Peter tells us that the elders’ work is to shepherd the flock providing oversight  of the church where they shepherd. Much confusion is caused by the modern use of the term ‘pastor’ to designate a pulpit minister or preacher. A Biblical shepherd is much more than a preacher or teacher. When we refer to a preacher as a pastor we use the wrong term a do a disservice to the office of a Shepherd.

Our question, if we understand the term we are using, is can a woman serve as a Shepherd or Overseer in the church. Regardless of what we think about women and their role in the church the question is assumed to be “Can a woman be a pastor in the church according to the Bible?” Do we wish the Bible answer or a Facebook answer? Facebook answers tend to be general in nature as mentioned earlier. The Bible answer is much more direct and decisive.

Much can be learned about the qualifications of elders, shepherds, overseers, in Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3. Paul begins that list in his letter to Timothy with this statement, “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach…” (1 Tim. 3:2)

Regardless of how we view pastors, the Bible views them as being men of high caliber and the husband of one wife. This verse alone eliminates women from serving in the capacity of a shepherd.

The Bible also covers whether a woman can preach or teach in the church but that’s another question not being covered here.

Task for Today: When you refer to someone as your pastor, be sure they have met the qualifications outlined in the Bible and have been so appointed to their office. Honor those who preach and teach but do not elevate them to Shepherd status if they are not shepherds.