Pastors, Overseers and Elders: Three words used in Scripture to describe the exact same office in the church. Often in religious circles these terms are separated and applied to different offices in the church, e.g. one man is a pastor while another is an elder. However, we will see clearly from Scripture that they are one and the same. Together, these three descriptive words paint a composite picture of what these men are to do in Christ’s church.
Let’s look at the first example where these 3 terms are used together.
In Acts 20, while on his way to Jerusalem, the apostle Paul sent and called for the “elders” of the congregation in Ephesus (vs. 17). As he was giving them many final instructions and warnings, he said this:
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (bishops), to shepherd (pastor) the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).
The elders of Ephesus were to oversee God’s church in Ephesus. The Greek word for overseers is also translated “bishop” (1 Timothy 3:1). So the elders were also the “bishops.” But there is another term used here by Paul and that is “shepherd,” which also means “pastor.” The congregation of God’s people at Ephesus was a flock of sheep in need of shepherds (pastors).
In today’s religious circles, the term “pastor” seems to be applied to anyone who stands in a pulpit and preaches. That is not the original sense of the word in the New Testament churches. The pastors of the congregations were the elders who were appointed to oversee (bishop) the church after meeting God’s requirements for the office (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). Yes, in a sense, we all are shepherds when we lead others and teach them about God, but those called “pastors” in the New Testament were the elders.
Pastors, Overseers and Elders: One and the same office in the church
Here is the second passage where all 3 of these descriptive words are used in addressing the same office in the local congregation:
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd (pastor) the flock of God among you, exercising oversight (bishops) not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:1-4).
Once again from Peter we see the elders were called to shepherd (pastor) God’s flock. They were to exercise oversight (be the bishops) of the souls entrusted to their charge.
Here is an article where each of these three terms is briefly explained: