Pastor/Teacher Word Study

Ephesians 4:11

Greek: “Pastors and Teachers”o “Poimen kai didaskalos”

Poimen = (1) Herdsman, shepherd, or (2) presiding officer, manager, or head of an assembly. Same word used for “Christ as HEAD of the church”.

Matthew 9:36 Jesus moved with compassion on the multitudes because they are sheep without a shepherd.

Note the difference in 1 Peter 2:25 “Shepherd and Overseer” are two distinct things. Shepherd = Poimen, and “overseer” is better translated “bishop”, as in KJV, and that word is “episkopos”, or guard, superintendent, or church leader.

Thus, pastor does not necessarily imply leadership in the church organization, although it certainly suits that position well.

o “kai” This is a conjunction, similar to and, but often has an implication of cumulative

force Contrast with “de”, the adversative or continuative primary particle, like

“and” would be in English. Matthew 1:2 “Abraham begot Isaac, de Isaac begot Jacob, de Jacob begot

Judah kai his brothers The difference: Abraham begot Isaac, and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob

begot Judah and cumulatively his brothers. Judah and his brothers are mutually inclusive and thus the particle kai

would be appropriate here, but not de. Example:

o Peanut Butter and Jelly assumes the inclusion of both peanut butter and jelly and logically implies that there is no possibility of the use of the word “or” in its place. There is no “peanut butter or jelly” sandwich. The peanut butter and jelly are cumulative, and would thus require the use of the word kai.

o To add chips, however, would be to use de. You can have peanut butter and jelly and chips. Chips is just a variable for which anything else, including nothing, can be exchanged. The possibility of “or” logically exists and thus de would be the proper particle.

Similarly, the gift of pastor kai teacher is mutually inclusive in the Greek here. It is not to be interpreted “pastor and teacher” means “pastor and/or teacher”. These are peanut butter and jelly, and are implied cumulatively.

Some may have better manifestations of one or the other, but as one can see, we are to grow in each of them if we are gifted here (see 1 Tim 4).

o “Didaskalos” A Teacher In the NT:

One who is fitted for teaching Rabbi Those who by great power of teaching draws crowds Those who in the assemblies of Christians undertook the work

In context, this word clearly has the same approximate meaning as the English word “teacher”

Thus, I thought it appropriate to search the Webster 1828 definition: TE'ACHER, n. One who teaches or instructs. 1. An instructor; a preceptor; a tutor; one whose business or occupation

is to instruct others. 2. One who instructs others in religion; a preacher; a minister of the

gospel. The teachers in all the churches assembled themselves. 3. One who preaches without regular ordination.

Conclusiono Gifts are not mutually exclusive, but rather inclusiveo We are to grow in each

If strong as a shepherd moved with compassion, pray and work diligently to grow in teaching

If strong as a teacher, pray for compassion and Jesus’ heart of compassion