Endtime Prophets

The Five-Fold Ministry is Founded on Error

The following is a Greek analysis of the scriptures that those of the "Five Fold" ministry use to justify their beliefs. I'm using Thayer's Greek Lexicon and Vines Expostory Dictionary of Biblical Words for this analysis.

The Five-Fold ministry is based on this ONE verse:

" And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers."(Eph. 4:11)

According to the Greek text the "ministries" of "pastors and teachers" are connected by *kai* which is a copulative and thus it should have been translated, pastor-teacher as they represent two aspects of the same office.

Here is the passage in the Greek:

Kai autos edoken tous men apostolous, tous de prophetas, tous de euangelistas, tous de poimenas kai didaskalous.

So, this passage is only talking about *4* ministries, not 5.

Meanings of the words Pastor - Teacher:

In Ephesians 4:11, Pastor is #4166 in the Greek, *poimen*, and it means a shepherd, one who not only tends and guides the flock but feeds it as well. And how does a Christian shepherd feed his flock? By teaching them the Word.

This word "Pastor," is only translated as Pastor in this one verse in the KJV. The word Pastor does not appear again in the NT but #4166 is often translated as Shepherd. A Pastor/Shepherd not only taught the Word but also exposed those teaching error as we can see in this next verse:

"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds [pastors #4166] of the Church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock,. EVEN FROM YOUR OWN number men will arise and DISTORT THE TRUTH in order to draw away disciples after them. "(Acts 20:28)

So here we have scriptural proof that a Shepherd/pastor had to be not only a good shepherd and protect his flock but also be a good teacher and defend and protect and uphold the Word of God at the same time.

And here is an admonition against Pastors/Shepherds milking the sheep of money:

"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:2-3)

So a good pastor must be a good Shepherd, caring for his flock in every way which included teacher (see above) and not taking advantage of them financially (this leaves out Benny Hinn and a host of other Prosperity, Faith it and Believe it, Word of Faith pastors).

Now let's look at the word Overseer/Bishop used in the same verse and see what it means (#1985): This is the Greek word *episkopos* and means "to look or watch" (same word used in Acts 20:28).

So a good shepherd/pastor/teacher also had to be an overseer, one who watched over the flock. But we already know that.

Now lets look at the word "Teacher" *didaskalos #1320. It means one who teaches the things of God and how man should behave. How can a Pastor Shepherd his flock unless he teaches them the things of God???

Christ is called the greatest teacher of all in Matt. 23:8. And Scripture often warns of false teachers not sparing the flock:

"I GIVE YOU THIS CHARGE: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season: correct, rebuke and encourage ---with great patience and careful instructions (#1322--teaching). For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine (#1319--i.e., sound teaching). Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers (#1320) to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Tim. 4:1-3)

wolf in sheep's clothing

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereigh Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves." (2 Peter 2:1-3)

So any pastor who doesn't teach his flock sound doctrine (the true gospel) is a false shepherd.

Some claim that being as the word "Pastor" does not show up in 1 Cor 12:27 that it proves they are separate "offices" However , as clearly shown above, a Pastor/Sheperd cannot be a good shepherd unless he is also a good Teacher and speaks the Word of God and protects and defends it from false teachers and false prophets.

So the fact that word "Pastor/Shepherd" does not show up in 1 Cor. 12:27 is just more proof that Pastor and Teacher are one and the same, because not every teacher is a pastor but a Pastor/Shepherd cannot be a good Pastor unless he is also a good teacher.

So again we come back to only 4 ministries being mentioned in Eph 4:11.

Also see Are There Any True Apostles Today?

Lori Eldridge
Copyright © 1-31-04 - Updated 10-24-20
All Rights Reserved


Other sites exposing the five-fold ministry

The Five Fold Ministry and Spiritual Abuse by TN Valley Bible Students Association

The Faulty Foundation of the Five-Fold Ministry by Robert M. Bowman, Jr.