The objective of this Bible-study article is to show that the terms pastor (shepherd), bishop (overseer) and elder refer to one and the same church office and can be used interchangeably.

Greek vocabulary

The following are the Greek words relevant to this study. In parentheses are the number of occurrences in the context of church leadership.

New Testament verses

Elders are overseers and shepherd the church.

[Acts 20:17-28] Paul sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: … Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God

Elders shepherd and oversee the church.

[1 Peter 5:1-2] I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight

In the above verse, “exercising oversight” is the Greek word episkopeō (G1983).

The terms elder and overseer are used interchangeably.

[Titus 1:5-7] This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town … For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach.

In Paul’s five-fold ministry list, only shepherds (pastors) are mentioned, not overseers and elders.

[Ephesians 4:11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers

[Ephesians 4:11] And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers

In the context of the local church leadership, only overseers and deacons are mentioned.

[Philippians 1:1] Paul and Timothy … to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons

[1 Timothy 3:1-13] If anyone aspires to the office of overseer (G1984), he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach … Deacons likewise must be dignified

In both the old and the new covenant, elders are those in leadership positions. In the new covenant, elders lead the local church.

[1 Timothy 5:17] Let the elders who lead well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

The term elder is the only one mentioned when leaders were appointed in local churches. No mentioned is made of overseers and pastors.

[Acts 14:23] When they had appointed elders for them in every church … they committed them to the Lord

[Titus 1:5] This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might … and appoint elders in every town

In the context of the church in Jerusalem, apostles and elders are mentioned together no less than six times: Acts 15:2, 15:4, 15:6, 15:22, 15:23, 16:4. Again, no overseers and pastors here.

[Acts 15:4] When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders

[Acts 15:6]The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

Peter, who was asked by Jesus to shepherd His sheep, was an elder.

[John 21:16] He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep.”

[1 Peter 5:1] I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ …

Finally, Jesus is referred to as a shepherd and overseer.

[1 Peter 2:25] You were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

[Hebrews 13:20] May the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep …

Conclusions

Based on the presented evidence, it is safe to conclude that the Bible uses the terms pastor (shepherd), bishop (overseer) and elder interchangeably because there is no difference between these three terms. In particular, elder is not a distinct office from that of the pastor, and bishop is not a hierarchical office above that of the pastor.

Of the three terms, elder is by far the most frequent one in the New Testament, being used seventeen times in reference to church leadership. In contrast, overseer is used four times, while pastor, the preferred term in Protestant Christianity, is used only once!

As a side note, the term πρεσβύτερος (G4245, elder) is the one used for Orthodox and Catholic priests in modern Greek.