The Four-Fold Ministry

The Four-Fold Ministry

While the church in general talks about five-fold ministry, the Bible only talks about four-fold. If we separate the 'fourth' and the 'fifth', we are in trouble.

And He Himself gave some, on the one hand, as apostles, and, on the other hand, as prophets, and still again some as bringers of good news, and finally, 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬. - Eph 4:11 (WUEST NT)

In the Greek, shepherds (pastors) AND teachers are placed together as one office. In fact, the word 'shepherd' in Eph 4:11 is '𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐦𝐞́𝐧'. It is 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 in the New Covenant under this context. The other two times in Hebrews & 1 Peter point to Jesus Himself.

The word 'teachers' in Greek is '𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐬', which is used several times in the New Covenant. It is usually mentioned in the church setting (Acts 13:1; 1 Cor 12:28-29; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 4:3; Heb 5:12; James 3:1).

And God has appointed 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 first apostles, second prophets, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, then miracles... - 1 Cor 12:28

In the church setting, the list does not include evangelists because they are outside the church. Comparing Eph 4:11 and 1 Cor 12:28, we see that the third-fold office is that of a teacher (cum pastor/shepherd). There is no separation.

The shepherd is the role, while teaching is the function. A shepherd/pastor must be able to teach. There is no such thing as a shepherd who is only pastoral but unable to teach.

In John 10, Jesus said that He is the Good Shepherd. It was in the context of false teachers that had come to destroy the sheep. For Jesus was the 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 the sheep truths.

Some, however, argued that the role of a pastor is written as 'overseer' in the Bible. They said that when the Bible uses 'teachers', it refers specifically to teachers.

Well, the word 'overseer' is 'episkopos' in Greek and it is used in 1 Tim 3:2 and Titus 1:7.

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡... - 1 Tim 3:1-2

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 and also to rebuke those who contradict it. - Titus 1:9

The Scriptures are clear. The pastor/overseer/shepherd (interchangeable) must be g̵̴̵r̵̴̵a̵̴̵d̵̴̵u̵̴̵a̵̴̵t̵̴̵e̵̴̵d̵̴̵ ̵̴̵f̵̴̵r̵̴̵o̵̴̵m̵̴̵ ̵̴̵o̵̴̵f̵̴̵f̵̴̵i̵̴̵c̵̴̵i̵̴̵a̵̴̵l̵̴̵ ̵̴̵s̵̴̵e̵̴̵m̵̴̵i̵̴̵n̵̴̵a̵̴̵r̵̴̵y̵̴̵  𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡. For a '𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐦𝐞́𝐧' (shepherd) must also be a '𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐬' (teacher). It's role is to tend the flocks and it's function is to teach in order to fulfill it's role.

To separate this one-fold office into two is to produce sheep that have all kinds of doctrines.