The Doctrine of the Pastor/Teacher

1).    Eph 4:11  And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

In order to understand this, the prominent verse on the Pastor/Teacher in the New Testament, we must understand a vital rule of the Greek syntax. Kenneth Wuest on page 22 of his book “The Practical Use of the Greek New Testament” (Moody Press, Chicago. 1946,1982), defines this rule: “There is a rile in the Greek syntax that is connected with the presence and absence of the article, called Granville Sharp’s rule (you can do a google search on Granville Sharp).  It is as follows: ‘when the copulative kai connects two nouns of the same case, if the article  o’ or any of  it’s cases precedes the first of the said nouns or participles, and is not repeated before the second noun or participle, the latter always relates TO THE SAME PERSON THAT IS EXPRESSED OR DESCRIBED BY THE FIRST NOUN OR PARTICIPLE, DENOTING A FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST NAMED PERSON.’” (Emphasis mine)

The Granville Sharp rule of Greek syntax unlocks the meaning and describes, then, the chief function of the Pastor as the Lord Jesus Christ designed for him in the Church Age (from His Ascension until the Rapture).  Pastors and teachers, in Eph 4:11, are the words poimenas and didaskalous.  They are joined by the copulative kai “and” in English and poimenas is preceded by the definite article “tous” (accusative masculine “Male Gender”, as are evangelists and as were the Apostles and Prophets.  The reason for this is obviously clear in 1 Tim 2:12-14: But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression).   Since the article precedes “poimenas” but not “didaskalous”, then, according to Sharp’s rule, Teachers and Pastors describes ONE OFFICE, and “teachers” simply describes further the chief function of the Pastor!  This rule of Greek syntax makes it abundantly clear that the MAIN FUNCTION OF THE PASTOR IS TEACHING!

2).  Jer 3:15  "Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.

God’s heart for the Pastor is for him to feed the flock.  He does not feed them with social and personality rapport. He feeds them with “knowledge and understanding”.  These are two words that define Doctrine or the teaching of The Word of God.  In Jeremiah’s day the remnant would have God-appointed, not self-appointed, Pastors who according to God’s heart, mind and purpose would feed the flock with the Word of God.

3).  Putting the principle of Eph 4:11 together with Jer 3:15 we come to this conclusion.  The Pastor/Teacher with God’s heart will primarily exercise a teaching ministry to the flock.  This teaching ministry will yield increase of the remnant and of the Body of Christ as both Jer 3:16 and Eph 4:12-16 indicate:

Jer 3:16  "It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land," declares the LORD, "they will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again.

Eph 4:12  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:14  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
Eph 4:15  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Eph 4:16  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

4).  The thrice repeated commission by the Risen Lord to Peter in Jn 21:15-17 to Feed My lambs, Feed My sheep, Feed My sheep must be understood in the light of the aforementioned verses.  The feeding would consist in the exercise of a “didastic” or teaching ministry toward the flock.  This teaching ministry has as a primary motivation the Pastor’s personal love for the Lord Jesus Christ and not primarily a personal love for the people in his congregation, though of course he loves them and proves his love by teaching them and imparting knowledge and understanding of God’s essence, plan, purpose, mandates, principles, the Person and Work of our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.  If personal love for the flock is the primary motivation, the Pastor/Teacher will not serve them for Christ’s sake, but will begin to have mere social or familiar relationships that benefits neither the Pastor or the flock and hinders greatly the increase of the Body of Christ.

5). Charges to the Pastor/Teacher:

Tit 2:1  But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

Tit 2:15  These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

2Ti 4:1  I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2Ti 4:2  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

2Ti 2:24  The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
2Ti 2:25  with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
2Ti 2:26  and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

1Ti 4:13  Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
1Ti 4:14  Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
1Ti 4:15  Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
1Ti 4:16  Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
In conclusion, as a gift from Christ to the Church (His future Bride), the Pastor/Teacher, instructs and teaches the flock (his local assembly) for the building-up, edification and growth of the saints.  Each believer has a Pastor/Teacher, through prayer and fellowship with Christ the Holy Spirit will led those who are willing to their right Pastor/Teacher and local assembly by faith.  The Father Himself will provide all that is needed for the saint to sit under their right P/T to be instructed in the “The Mind of Christ” and He will protect us from false teachers.  Joh 7:17  "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.   If anyone is willing Jesus promises: "The sheep hear His voice" Joh 10:3  "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  This is true faith which pleases God: Heb 11:6  And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.