The city of Lystra gave Paul both a high point and a low point in his ministry. On the low end, he was stoned by an irate mob, dragged out of town and left for dead. On the high end, it was there that he met Timothy, his “true son in the faith,” a faithful friend and assistant in his work. These are Paul’s intructions to the young man.
Here is a question from Daniel Cordell:
Greetings Dave,
I had a question about Ephesians 4:11. I’ve heard multiple times (including in your podcast today) that there is no word “and” between “pastors” and “teachers” but isn’t the greek word καί there?
Is there a specific greek text being used that doesn’t include the conjunction?
Thanks for your help with this!
And here is my response:
Thanks Daniel!
Oops. That’s what happens when one begins to deviate from one’s notes to make a spontaneous point, as I do pretty much every week. So here, to be more thorough and accurate:
Yes, the word “kai” is there in all Greek texts as far as I know and that’s why we see it in our English texts. It’s the definite article (like our “the”) which would show up in translation as “some” that is missing before “teachers”.
Though there is some debate on the interpretive principle in question (Granville-Sharp rule), as far as I know, most guys that think about this stuff would say that the construction here indicates a strong (but not complete) overlap between the two words “pastors” and “teachers”. I’m not really enough of a Greek expert to do anything but parrot back what I’ve read, but I’ve seen it explained that the one group “pastors” is a part of the other group “teachers”. In other words, according to this view, not all who teach always need to hold the office of pastor, but those who hold the office of pastor ought to be able to teach. To go on a bit more, this would be confirmed by the lists of qualities for elders-overseers in 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1 who are supposed to be able to teach. I take elders, overseers and pastors to be roughly synonymous due to Paul’s speech in Acts 20 and 1 Peter 5:1-2, which then brings us back around to “sheperds” in Eph 4:11.
So thanks for pointing that goof out. And if the mere existence of the word “and” is all you were asking about, then the short answer would still be “yes, it’s there and I spoke off the cuff incorrectly.” All the rest of that stuff i just said was to help clarify the point I was making as I goofed. Perhaps the main lesson for me is to stick to my notes – as I hadn’t really intended to make this point at all!
But for anyone who is really interested in digging into this further, most commentaries probably have something to say on it. An “exegetical commentary” would have something to say on this for sure. Craig Blomberg and Harold W. Hoehner from Denver Seminary say it like this:
“The distinction between the gifted individuals in 4:11 proceeds along the following lines: evangelists win converts, apostles establish churches and prophets fill in needed revelation. With Wallace, “pastors and teachers,” since plural, are not an exact fulfillment of Granville Sharp’s criterion; all pastors should teach but not all teachers pastor. “
You can read that whole article here:
http://www.denverseminary.edu/article/ephesians-an-exegetical-commentary/
Only occasionally do people rise above the level of their leaders. It happens now and then, to be sure, but not often. This is especially true in the area of personal character. Thus, lousy leaders produce pathetic people and together they share the unhappy effects of their common corruption. This was the problem in the days of Jeremiah and it was the cause of great calamity.
For the shepherds have become dull-hearted,
And have not sought the Lord;
Therefore they shall not prosper,
And all their flocks shall be scattered.”
– Jeremiah 10:21 (NKJV)
The remedy, of course, is that leaders must lead well. They must lead with integrity, always setting a good example, and tending to the deepest needs of the people entrusted to them. Simon Peter understood this and he offers the following counsel.
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd* the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd** appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. – 1 Peter 5:1-4 (NKJV) ***
May all of us who in any way lead God’s people take the apostle’s advice and see the satisfying results multiplied in many hearts and lives.
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For those who like to study words, I offer the following tidbits:
* Jesus used this verb form of shepherd when He said to Peter, “Feed My sheep,” in John 21:16
** The noun Shepherd is translated “pastor” in Ephesians 4:11.
*** This passage is one of two in the New Testament that bring the three terms shepherd (pastor), elder (presbyter) and overseer (bishop) together, placing them in the same context more or less as synonyms. The other passage to do so is in Acts 20; see verses 17 & 28.
Palmer St. is the address of our beloved Old School #18, the 100+ year-old building owned by our church. It’s where so much of our ministry happens.
Parentheses are qualifying or amplifying words, phrases, or sentences. They can also be asides or tangents or irrelevancies.
I hope the things I write here won’t be irrelevant. If successful, these will be “amplifying sentences”. Certainly, they won’t be the main thing. Jesus Christ will always be that. If anything I post here can cause someone to think about Him, then these little asides will have accomplished something worthwhile.
OK, so I’m just starting at this, but eager to learn. Expect more in the near future. For right now, though, there are a few pages to view on the right, including two with notes and mp3s from Sunday mornings.
Central Reflections 