The word "pastor" (singular form) does not not appear in our KJV New Testament. It occurs once in the plural form in
Ephesians 4:11 where it is listed with apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers as gifts that God has given to the Church. The word "poimen" translated pastors in
Ephesians 4:11 is translated "shepherd" in the other places it occurs as single or plural nouns and also as a verb as in "to shepherd" the flock.
Offices in the church are episkopos (translated bishop or overseer) and presbyteros (translated) elder. In reading 1 Timothy and Titus it seems the terms are used interchangeably but episkopos was translated "bishop" in the KJV because the KJV was intended to support the English/Anglican Catholic Church and their system of government and doctrine. Elder has more reference to the experience, growth and maturity of the person and overseer/bishop refers more to the position of authority.
In the book of Acts when Paul was on his way to Jerusalem it says he sent to Ephesus for the "elders" to meet with him as he was passing that way. The meeting is spoken of in
Acts 20:17-38 and is thought to have happened in late April of AD 57. Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem which would have been May 28 that year. These leaders are called elders/presbyteros in verse 17. When Paul speaks to them he calls them overseers/episkopos and says they are to feed (poimen or shepherd or pastor) the flock.
The term overseer signifies some authority. In
1 Timothy 5:17 Paul speaks about elders ruling. In
Hebrews 13:7 it speaks about "them that have the rule over you" who have spoken unto you the Word of God. To me this seems to mean the elders/bishops/overseers/pastors/shepherds who have been placed over us and who teach us. In
Hebrews 13:17 we are told to "obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves." In
1 Peter 5:1- the Apostle Peter calls himself an elder and addresses the elders. He tells them to "poimen" (feed/shepherd/pastor) the flock and to take "the oversight thereof" so that indicates a position of authority in my opinion.
Based on the above it is my opinion that God has placed elders/bishops/overseers/pastors/shepherds in the body in positions of authority and responsibility and we are to "obey" them.
I do not think we are to blindly obey every whim or idiosyncrasy they may put forth but only submit to them and their teaching as long as they follow Christ and His Word.
I am almost 75 years old. I have been a Christian for over half a century. My pastor is the age of my children. Yet, because he is my pastor I believe I am to "submit" to him or "obey" him. I would not preach or teach anything to anyone who is part of that congregation that would contradict what he teaches/preaches. If I know ahead of time that I will not be in a service on the weekend or midweek or in weekend outreach I let him know. If I am going to preach somewhere I let him know. This is not to get his permission but just respect for the office he holds and position of authority over me.
Submission of a church member to a pastor is to be like submission of a wife to her husband. It is to be voluntary and done with an attitude of respect. It is to be done with love and not a sense of fear. And the authority is to be motivated by the same self-denying, compassionate, and empathetic love that Jesus has toward the church.
A good, reasoned response!
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