Pastors, Elders, and Bishops?

In the New Testament, there are three terms used for leaders of local churches:

• Elder, or “presbyter”.
• Shepherd, or “pastor” (Eph. 4:11 KJV).
• Overseer, or “bishop” (Tit. 1:7 KJV).

It is often thought that these three terms denote three different ranks of church leaders. Based on this understanding, some churches have two or more ranks of church leaders, like “Elder”, “Pastor”, and “Bishop”.

However, in the New Testament, these three terms are actually used interchangeably for the same office. We find this most clearly in three passages:

• Acts 20:17–18. The Apostle Paul called for the “elders” of the church in Ephesus (v. 17). Speaking to these “elders”, Paul said that the Holy Spirit has made them “overseers” (v. 18). He told these elders that their job was to “care for” the church of God, using a verb which is related to the word for “shepherd”.
• Titus 1:5–7. The Apostle Paul instructed Titus to appoint “elders” in every city in Crete (v. 5). He then listed the qualifications that a man must have in order to be an elder (v. 6). Paul explained that an elder must have these qualities because he is an “overseer” (v. 7). Clearly, the terms “elder” and “overseer” are being used interchangeably here.
• First Peter 5:1–2. The Apostle Peter addressed “elders” (v. 1). He instructed these elders to “shepherd” the flock of God by “exercising oversight” (v. 2). These two words correspond to the terms for “shepherd” and “overseer” respectively.

Therefore, by biblical definition, the terms “elder”, “pastor”, and “bishop” refer to the same office, though emphasizing different aspects of the office.