I have asked this question often, because many churches affirm different roles between pastors and deachonos and yet functionally confuse these functions. Particularly in the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, deacons often bear the title of “deacon,” but actually act as a pastor with “pastoral”-type authority. Many factors may be the cause, but the main reason for this confusion is short-term breeders. Pastors come and go. But deaconos stay and miss this position when it’s vacant. However, the Bible has different roles for these two biblical offices. Here are three distinctions:
Teaching versus well taught
- The list of Paul of Timothy (1Timotheus 3:1-13) demonstrates an important distinction that is significant in understanding the different roles of these two functions: the pastor must be able to teach (v.
- 2).
- The pastor’s call is to preach and teach the Word of God in order to keep the good depository of the gospel entrusted to this function (2 Timothy 1:14).
- Although we have a narration in Acts 8 of a deacon who has instructed others in the faith.
- Nowhere has the scriptures Education as one of the deacon’s responsibilities.
- Attachment to the clear teachings of faith is necessary for both pastors (Titus 1.
- 9) and deaconos (1 Timothy 3.
- 9).
- The implicit reason is that none of them should deviate from evangelical fidelity.
- Additional reasons for exhorting and disprofuting false teachings apply only to the pastor.
Supervision against a service
A pastor’s office is also called a “supervisor’s” office. (V. 1), which also defines functions as distinct from those of a deacon. Peter affirms this distinction as he urges his former companions (pastors) to feed the flock, caring for jealous, sacrificed, and humble (1Pedro 5. 2-3). The main role of a deacon is that of service. This is not to say that deaconos do not oversee certain ministries, nor does it imply that pastors should not serve. refers to the main biblical role of each office, where pastors exercise control (direct, supervise, administer) over all matters in the local church and deaconos direct service, submitting to pastors.
Herding vs practical work
Peter exhorts the elders (pastors) in relation to his main vocation: feeding the flock (1 Peter 5. 2) The office of pastor is an extension of the care of the High Shepherd (1 Peter 5. 4) Most of the shepherd’s qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7) demonstrate the heart of a shepherd who must be willing to give his life for his flock. Although the pastor is sometimes involved in the role of a deacon, the main gifts needed for a deacon are skill sets that allow a deacon to serve in a variety of roles that meet the unique and urgent physical needs of a church. Although men chosen to serve widows by the Apostles in Acts 6. 1-7 are not called deaconos, they present a useful model of the role of deaconos that is then established in the church. In the end, the deaconos will not be accountable to the High Shepherd of the souls of their flock; the office of pastor is the only office that bears this joyful and heavy burden (1 Peter 5. 1-4; Hebrews 13. 17).
Each of these two biblical services has a unique, important, and magnificent divine purpose in the church; the absence of one or the other will leave an abyss that cannot legitimately be filled by a talented teacher, commission or board of directors. plan and allow these different roles to thrive side by side, for the glory of Christ and his wife.
By: Brian Croft. © 2016 Pastor Practice. Facebook; Twittering; Original: What is the difference between a pastor and a deacon?
Translation: Camila Rebeca Almeida. Review: William Teixeira. © 2016 Faithful Ministério. All rights reserved. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. Original: What is the difference between pastor and deacon functions?
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