The Short Answer
There’s no biblical difference between “pastors” and “elders.” The two terms refer to one and the same New Testament church office.
Anyone who aims to parse out some distinction between pastors and elders is creating a modern invention and placing it on top of the biblical text. There may certainly be good reasons why a local church would use different titles for various church leaders, but the only case for doing so is a pragmatic or prudent one, not a biblical one.
Now, I hope you’ll read the remainder of this article in order to weigh the merit of my rationale for making such a claim.
Defining Our Terms
In the New Testament, the most common title or label for the leading, teaching, and shepherding office of the church is “elder” (πρεσβυτερος), appearing directly at least thirteen times in the New Testament. The word “overseer” (ἐπισκοπος) is the second most common title for the office, and it shows up at least six times.
The label “shepherd” or “pastor” (ποιμην) is used only once as a label for the New Testament teaching and leading office of the local church. Most often (fifteen times), this word appears in the Gospels, and it refers to actual shepherds (tenders of sheep) or to Jesus as the metaphorical shepherd of His people.
Almost every time the label “shepherd” or “pastor” is used in the other New Testament books (besides the Gospels), it shows up in its verbal form (ποιμαινω). In other words, in the Bible, “shepherd” or “pastor” is usually what church leaders do… it’s not what church leaders are.
However, many Evangelicals today are familiar with the term “pastor” as a label for church leaders, because this word has been used by Protestants for hundreds of years. Baptists have been especially fond of the word “pastor” because it distinguishes Baptist church leaders from those of Presbyterian or Anglican churches.
Baptist churches have also often emphasized their understanding of the doctrine of the priesthood of believers. Because all Christians are in some sense “priests” (1 Peter 2:9), and because they collectively exercise priestly authority as gathered assemblies in the name of Jesus Christ, Baptists refuse to acknowledge a special clergy or ministerial class of Christians.
And yet, despite the Baptist allergy to a professionalized pastoral ministry, it is quite common for Evangelicals (including Baptists) to act as though pastors are indeed separated Christian professionals. For example, most Evangelical churches in America have no unpaid pastors. Such a reality betrays the assumption that pastors are in some sense professional (or vocational) Christian teachers and leaders.
Since the Bible most often uses the term “elder” and since many wrongly assume pastors must be paid professionals, I believe it is probably helpful for Evangelicals (especially Baptists) to recover the use of the term “elder” for the pastoral office.
Describing the Officers
The two offices of the New Testament are elders and deacons. The former is an office of servant-leadership and loving instruction, and the latter is an office of selfless service. In the Bible, church leaders are always elders, and deacons always serve both the elders and the church body.
In short, elders are qualified, recognized, and committed men who do the work of shepherding among a particular local church (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).
Here are the various ways in which the Bible describes and/or prescribes the function and responsibilities of those who serve in the office of elder.
Elders (πρεσβυτερος)
- Acts 11:30 – Elders (πρεσβυτερους) received material gifts from other churches in order to distribute them to the needy among their own congregation.
- Acts 14:23 – Multiple elders (πρεσβυτερους) were “appointed” by Paul and Barnabas in “every church” in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.
- Acts 15:1-29 – Elders (πρεσβυτερους) are listed beside the Apostles as leaders of the church in Jerusalem.
- Acts 16:4 – Elders (πρεσβυτερων) are listed beside the Apostles as having made an authoritative decision regarding the clarity and extent of the gospel.
- Acts 20:17-38 – Paul addressed the elders (πρεσβυτερους) in Ephesus, calling them to be “overseers” (ἐπισκοπους) of God’s “church” (ἐκκλησιαν).
- Acts 21:17-26 – “All the elders” (πρεσβυτεροι) were gathered in Jerusalem to listen to Paul’s account of God’s work through his ministry, and Paul submitted to their counsel regarding his actions in their Jewish community.
- 1 Timothy 4:14 – A “council of elders” (πρεσβυτεριου) commissioned Timothy for the task of ministry.
- 1 Timothy 5:17 – Elders (πρεσβυτεροι) are those who “rule” or “manage” (προεστωτες [literally ‘stand over’]), and some elders make their living by “preaching and teaching” (λογω [literally ‘word’] and διδασκαλια).
- 1 Timothy 5:19 – Christians are to be alert to the possibility of slanderous accusations against an elder (πρεσβυτερου).
- Titus 1:5-6 – Elders (πρεσβυτερους) were appointed to churches in every town, and such appointments were necessary to put things in their appropriate order. Note in this passage that more than one elder was to be appointed in each singular town (i.e., church). This – a plurality of elders in each church – is the universal reality in the New Testament.
- James 5:14 – The elders (πρεσβυτερους) of the church (ἐκκλησιας) are to pray for ill church members.
- 1 Peter 5:1-3 – The Apostle Peter wrote to the elders (πρεσβυτερους) among the dispersed Christians as a “fellow elder” (συμπρεσβυτερος), calling them to “exercise oversight” or “oversee” (ἐπισκοπουντες) the affairs of their respective congregations.
Overseer (ἐπισκοπος)
- Acts 20:17-38 – Paul says that the elders in Ephesus have been made “overseers” (ἐπισκοπους) in the “church” (ἐκκλησιαν) by God Himself.
- Philippians 1:1 – Paul addressed his letter to the “saints” (ἁγιοις) and the “overseers” (ἐπισκοποις) and the “deacons” (διακονοις) in Philippi.
- 1 Timothy 3:1 – Paul labels the teaching and managing office in the church that of an “overseer” (ἐπισκοπης).
- 1 Timothy 3:2-7 – Paul describes the qualifications for anyone who aspires to the office of “overseer” (ἐπισκοπον).
- Titus 1:17 – Paul again describes the teaching and stewarding office in the church as that of an “overseer” (ἐπισκοπον).
Pastor (ποιμην)
- Ephesians 4:10-14 – Paul says that “shepherds” (ποιμενας) are gifts from Christ to the local church.
- 1 Peter 5:1-3 – Peter exhorted “elders” (πρεσβυτερους) to “shepherd” (ποιμενατε) the “flock of God among them.”
Conclusion
As I said at the top of this article, the use of various titles for different staff positions in the local church is a mostly pragmatic decision. But when our pragmatic decisions about titles threaten or confuse the biblical definitions of our terms, then it is not prudent at all to embrace pragmatism over biblical fidelity.
If one simply reads the New Testament, without a previous commitment to the use of various terms among modern Evangelicals, he or she must necessarily conclude that the leading and teaching and shepherding office of a New Testament local church is that of elder. Furthermore, he or she would also conclude that the office of elder must be occupied by faithful and exemplary men, who voluntarily take on the weighty task of caring for souls among a particular local church.
Of course, every church member also bears the responsibility of caring for the souls of their brothers and sisters in Christ. None of what I have argued above is intended to suggest that non-elder church members do not teach or shepherd or lead in any way. Rather, what I have argued and explained is that elders oversee, lead, teach, and shepherd as formally qualified and recognized leaders of the local church.
May God raise up many more qualified elders among local churches, and may God grant faithfulness and fruit throughout their pastoral ministry.
Marc Minter is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Diana, TX. He and his wife, Cassie, have two sons, Micah and Malachi.
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Marc Minter 
The elders that pique my interest are the ones in the book of Revelation – “the four and twenty elders” They are spoken of six times in that book. And they are usually coupled with the four beasts.
i have read it,and ihaved been much elited with this guidline of this page thanks so much about your training ihave read and undestoon about leadership so continiou help me as iam junior everngelist try to know more about God ministry
Most (but not all) churches of Christ take the Biblical view you describe of unpaid elder / shepherds appointed by the church members taking responsibility for teaching, counseling, and overseeing the local church. Usually paid supported evangelists take some of the public preaching and outreach responsibilities – but are not referred to as pastors but usually as preachers or ministers.
Excellent presentation of this question about Elders and Pastors. I will make use of it.
I do think the comment “There’s no biblical difference between pastors and elders. The two terms refer to one and the same New Testament church office. ” is misleading. The office is Elder, and the functions are shephering and overseeing.
It is clearly possible for a man to do shepherding without being an elder since elders are recognised by the church acording to the gifts God has given. Elders are chosen by acknowledging the Christian service that is already being done in the congregation. The congregation recognses God’s appointment of shepherds by seeing this in practice. They don’t only start shepherding once they become elders.
I’m very confused as to the term evangelist. It seems many churches try to circumvent the qualifications and responsibilities for overseers (elders) by calling their preacher an evangelist. In my view this cancels out the idea of and elder that is worthy of double honor because now the evangelist usurps the Elders role and authority.
Does someone have clearer understanding on this issue.
Ken,
Thanks for reading, and thanks for the thoughtful question. You’ve touched a topic that I haven’t delved much into… the distinction of “evangelist” among the other labels mentioned in Ephesians 4:11. That’s the only place I know in the Bible where there might appear to be a distinction between an “evangelist” and a “shepherd-teacher” (i.e., pastor/elder/overseer).
Contrary to seeing “evangelist” and “shepherd-teacher” as distinct, Paul clearly urges Timothy (a pastor/elder/overseer in Ephesus) to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). This seems to me at least sufficient warrant to keep the two concepts “evangelist” and “shepherd-teacher” united, and not separate. There most definitely is no other office mentioned in the New Testament besides “elder/pastor/overseer” and “deacon.”
I’m sorry that I can’t point you to someone or somewhere else on this specific matter. As I said, I’ve not looked far into it, so I don’t know who has written or spoken well on it.
May the Lord bless your efforts to learn and grow. Thanks again for reading.
I am new to the term evangelist as a governing position in the church.
I have a good friend that calls himself an evangelist. He gives most all of the churches sermons.
He rails against the idea that we see in another church where the ‘evangelist’ works under the eldership.
He believes he has as an ‘evangelist’ an equal position as the elders.
Sort of like 1 president has equal power to the congress and senate.
I believe that he should more accurately see himself as one of the elders. Maybe one worthy of double honor.
Paul never called upon ‘the evangelist’ like he called for the elders to meet with him.
When he went to Jerusalem, it was to meet with the Apostles and deacons.
Timothy and Titus were probably better recognized as apostolic assistants more than anything else.
Titus was on the island of Crete. Some scolars think that he was dealing with many churches on the very large island of Crete.
The original text and all of the comments that follow are excellent. However, I do have one word of advisement (although I could be wrong); my experience in working with the leadership within the churches I’ve served over the past 30 years, the difference between Pastors and Elders is this;
Pastors are called by God into the pastorate, they prepare themselves in both education and the intense praying-through and studying of God’s Word in order to become the Pastor that He designs him to be. His weeks are filled with intense praying for his congregation and studying God’s Word to learn what it is that God would have him preach.. every, single, time, he, preaches.
There are many Pastors leading many churches today “who think” they are called by God, but, if they failed to prepare themselves haven’t lived-out their pastorate as mentioned above, they weren’t.
Elders, on the other hand, are Godly men who too are called by God to serve as an Elder. However, their focus is on leading the church and teaching the congregates under the direction of the Pastor. Some Elders do have pastorate education, but, most are ordained by the church they serve and do not have the “Pastorate-calling-Bible-studying-congregate-praying-soul-saving-passion” of a Pastor as mentioned above.
Again, I could be wrong but the above is what the Lord laid on my heart to share…
So you are saying a Pastor is = to elders correct. So who keeps the Pastor on a straight and narrow if he sits on the Elder board and attends all of the meeting and are buddies with the elders?
The short answer to your question is… his fellow elders (1 Timothy 5:19-20) and the congregation (Galatians 1:6-9). Your question seems to assume that “the Pastor” should have some sort of counter-balance, as though any man who serves in this role must be suspect in his practices and doctrine. But if a man is suspect, in my understanding, he is not fit to continue in the pastoral office (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).
Can there only be elders in a church say3 but no one higher
Thanks l have learnt alot
Love your article. Here is something I have written lately…
”Lead” pastor is not a biblical role. Nothing against pastors but Biblically churches are to be lead by a group of elders together; and that includes teaching and sermons. Pastor / Elder / Overseer are all the same meaning, yet Pastor is only used one time in the New Testament as a title. Elder is the norm. If you just read the New Testament, you don’t see one person being the “Lead” of the church. This is a cultural addition we have made. This might explain why our churches suffer from pastor burnout, pastor failure, cult-of-personality pastors, congregations feeling like they’ve heard the same sermons many times before, narrowness of church theology, new pastors always coming from outside our own churches, etc. The church pulpit needs to be open to more voices (in an orderly manner) because that’s the default position in the New Testament. And in a church of most any size, there is more than one person with God given teaching gifts. Furthermore, just because someone goes to seminary doesn’t mean they have a teaching gift; that’s not how that works. Pastors are great, nothing against them, but just like we as Protestants broke from the professionalism of Catholicism where only priests were really qualified to understand and teach the Bible, we as protestants are slowly returning to that professionalism; not even realizing that “Lead” Pastor is a convention that we’ve made up that carries consequences.