QUESTION: What are the differences in the five gifts described in Ephesians 4:11,12>

ANSWER: In previous issues we have looked at the gifts of apostles, prophets and evangelists. In this issue we will look at the gift of pastor.

The Greek word used for pastor is "Poimen" and literally means, "a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks (not merely one who feeds them." (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words).

Pastors or shepherds are gifts given by a risen and ascended Christ to the whole church of God. Scripture does not speak of "a" pastor over "a" church or assembly.

The work of a pastor may by its very nature be largely individual and private, being used by God to:

1. Feed God's sheep [His people] with timely spiritual food (Acts 20:28).

2. Guide God's sheep in their pilgrim pathway (Acts 11:23).

3. Comfort God's sheep in times of trial or testing. See Hebrews 10:32-37 for an example of ministry to comfort suffering Christians.

4. Correct and restore God's sheep when they go astray. See 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 as an example of corrective ministry.

The result of true pastoral work will be the strengthening and encouraging of believers. A real effort will be made to restore to the Lord those who have strayed from Him.

A very touching account of the responsibility of shepherding God's people is recorded in John 21. Peter had boasted of his love for the Lord and yet had denied Him three times. After the Lord's resurrection the Lord asked Peter the question, "Lovest thou Me more than these?" Two more times the Lord asked Peter, "Lovest thou Me?" Each time Peter affirms his love for the Lord. And each time the Lord gave Peter a loving command as follows: "Feed My lambs" (v. 15); "Feed," or literally, "shepherd My sheep" (v. 16); and finally, "Feed My sheep" (v. 17). The Holy Spirit through Peter in his first epistle exhorts the elders among the Lord's people to "feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2,3).

From the above we can see how important and necessary the gift of a pastor is. Although all Christians should be able to encourage and help one another, a true pastor is one who is especially gifted by the ascended Christ to provide the necessary and timely spiritual food which God's people need. Let's remember to pray for those whom the Lord has raised up to feed and guide His people.

—John D. McNeil