When I was taking Bible classes at Oral Roberts University, I liked to share with my friends what I’d been learning. In church services, I’d dig into the sermon verses so I could verify or refine what I was hearing.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was acting like a pastor and a teacher.
As I got older, I thought I’d have to choose between these two. I could serve the Lord as a pastor in a church or I could teach in a Bible college or seminary. But I didn’t want to favor one; I wanted to do both. I had some professors who were also ministers, so I knew it was possible. I was hoping that the Lord would make it possible for me, too!
But was I mistaken about wanting to fill two roles? If I focused on one, I could commit my whole self to that assignment. The people I served would be better off, too, because my time and energy wouldn’t be scattered.
And it looks like Paul supports this idea.
“So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers” – Ephesians 4:11
Many preachers refer to this list of offices as the “fivefold ministry.” They’re the leaders Jesus set in the church. And each one is different from the others.
But some scholars argue that the last two are synonymous. In other words, “pastors” and “teachers” are two different ways of referring to the same people. That would mean Paul presented a fourfold set, not a fivefold.
Each group has the definite article (“the”) to distinguish it from the others. Apostles aren’t prophets who aren’t evangelists, etc. They’re all servants of Jesus Christ, of course, but they don’t have the same jobs. Their ministries carry out different functions.
Yet while “pastors” has a definite article, “teachers” doesn’t. It looks like Paul was combining them into something like a “pastor-teacher.”
This brief excursion into Greek grammar helped me understand the verse, but it also shed light on my own heart. Unlike academicians, I thought like a pastor. And unlike many ministers, I thought like a scholar. I came to accept that, at least for me, pastoring and teaching belong together.
Sometimes God’s Word will speak to us about a matter in our life. We hear what the Lord is telling us and we obey Him. For example, let’s say we’re struggling with anxiety. We’ve tried to dispel it on our own, without success. But one day, we read this passage in the Bible:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
That’s a great promise, thank God! All we have to do is talk to the Father about our burdens and Jesus will comfort us. No more worry!
At other times, we experience something before we know what God’s Word says about it. In my case, I realized that Jesus had given me a heart to shepherd and instruct His people as they grow in Christ. After all, that’s why He gave the church these leaders:
“To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” – Ephesians 4:12-13
I knew I had a pastor-teacher mindset before I saw this truth reinforced by Ephesians 4:11. And I praise the Lord for the privilege I now have of training ministers through West Coast Bible College and Seminary.
It doesn’t matter which comes first in our lives. Scripture and the Spirit work in tandem, so we can always be confident in God’s guidance. The Spirit will help us to enact what the Bible says. And the Word will back up the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Through these means, Jesus will clarify our role in His kingdom. Pastor, teacher, butcher, baker, candlestick maker–it doesn’t matter what it is! He wants to use each of us in the ministry of making disciples.
Because that’s His goal!
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