Lesson: Who are the Biblical Pastors (Day 3) Yesterday, it was shown that the Biblical ELDERS or PRESBYTERS served as BISHOPS or OVERSEERS to LOOK OUT for the flock and PROTECT them from HARM. The ELDERS or PRESBYTERS must also FEED THE FLOCK by serving as SHEPHERDS or PASTORS. This TELLS us that elders, presbyters, bishops, overseers, shepherds, and pastors are ONE and THE SAME PERSONS according to the Bible. Today, let us explore ANOTHER PASSAGE of Scriptures to CHECK whether or not the elders, presbyters, bishops, overseers, shepherds, and pastors are REALLY ONE and THE SAME PERSONS according to the Bible. In Peter 5:1 we can read, “So I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.” Here Peter was exhorting the PRESBYTERS, and he IDENTIFIED himself as a FELLOW PRESBYTER. Other Bible TRANSLATIONS use the world “ELDERS” instead of “PRESBYTERS.” Now let us examine WHAT SHOULD these presbyters or elders DO? In 1 Peter 5:2-3 we can read, “Tend the flock of God in your midst, [overseeing] not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock.” The presbyters or elders SHOULD TEND THE FLOCK of God. The phrase “TEND THE FLOCK” is rendered as “SHEPHERD THE FLOCK” in other Bible translations. WHAT ELSE SHOULD the presbyters or elders DO? They MUST OVERSEE the flock and MUST LIVE as EXAMPLES to the flock. This CLEARLY TELLS us again that elders, presbyters, bishops, overseers, shepherds, and pastors are REALLY ONE and THE SAME PERSONS according to the Bible. But HOW COME that in many DENOMINATIONAL groups, the ELDERS or PRESBYTERS are different from the BISHOPS or OVERSEERS and different from SHEPHERDS or PASTORS? There must be HUMAN TEACHINGS involved in CHANGING the word of God in the Bible. Let us NOTE what Peter SAID in the next verse. In 1 Peter 5:4 Peter said, “And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” Here Peter IMPLICITLY TELLS us CHRIST is the CHIEF SHEPHERD. The word “CHIEF” is a translation of the Greek word “ARCHE.” The word “ARCH” that is PRESENT in some COMPOUND WORDS like ARCHDIOCESE, ARCHBISHOP, etc. are DERIVED FROM this Greek word “ARCHE.” Since we have PROVEN that the “SHEPHERD” is the same person as the “BISHOP,” then CHRIST has a rank of ARCHBISHOP only. HOW COME that SOME PEOPLE in the religious world HAVE RANKS HIGHER than ARCHBISHOP? They MUST BE CLAIMING to be some body GREATER than Christ. So BEWARE!
Posted on: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 00:56:04 +0000
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