Shepherds

Faith only churches typically fall under the Local Bishop they call the Pastor of the church, without using separate presbyters.

A few such as Methodists adopted the regional Bishop system with local Pastors.

Unfortunately, neither system is accurate.

In Ephesus the terms Bishop (Overseer), presbyteros (elder),and pastor (shepherd0 are used together of the same men. It is somewhat hidden in English because the greek words are translated into different English words.

They are the same greek words as Bishop, elder, and (Pastor) shepherd.

Act 20:17 AndG1161 fromG575 MiletusG3399 he sentG3992 toG1519 Ephesus,G2181 and calledG3333 theG3588 eldersG4245 of theG3588 church.G1577

Act 20:18 AndG1161 whenG5613 they were comeG3854 toG4314 him,G846 he saidG2036 unto them,G846 YeG5210 know,G1987 fromG575 the firstG4413 dayG2250 thatG575 G3739 I cameG1910 intoG1519 Asia,G773 after what mannerG4459 I have beenG1096 withG3326 youG5216 at allG3956 seasons,G5550

Act 20:19 ServingG1398 theG3588 LordG2962 withG3326 allG3956 humility of mind,G5012 andG2532 with manyG4183 tears,G1144 andG2532 temptations,G3986 which befellG4819 meG3427 byG1722 theG3588 lying in waitG1917 of theG3588 Jews:G2453

Act 20:20 And howG5613 I kept backG5288 nothingG3762 that was profitableG4851 unto you, but have shewedG312 you,G5213 andG2532 have taughtG1321 youG5209 publickly,G1219 andG2532 from house to house,G2596 G3624

Act 20:21 TestifyingG1263 bothG5037 to the Jews,G2453 andG2532 also to the Greeks,G1672 repentanceG3341 towardG1519 God,G2316 andG2532 faithG4102 towardG1519 ourG2257 LordG2962 JesusG2424 Christ.G5547

Act 20:22 AndG2532 now,G3568 behold,G2400 IG1473 goG4198 boundG1210 in theG3588 spiritG4151 untoG1519 Jerusalem,G2419 notG3361 knowingG1492 the things that shall befallG4876 meG3427 there:G1722 G846

Act 20:23 SaveG4133 thatG3754 theG3588 HolyG40 GhostG4151 witnessethG1263 in every city,G2596 G4172 sayingG3004 thatG3754 bondsG1199 andG2532 afflictionsG2347 abideG3306 me.G3165

Act 20:24 ButG235 none of these things move me,G4160 G3056 G3762 neitherG3761 countG2192 I myG3450 lifeG5590 dearG5093 unto myself,G1683 so thatG5613 I might finishG5048 myG3450 courseG1408 withG3326 joy,G5479 andG2532 theG3588 ministry,G1248 whichG3739 I have receivedG2983 ofG3844 theG3588 LordG2962 Jesus,G2424 to testifyG1263 theG3588 gospelG2098 of theG3588 graceG5485 of God.G2316

Act 20:25 AndG2532 now,G3568 behold,G2400 IG1473 knowG1492 thatG3754 yeG5210 all,G3956 amongG1722 whomG3739 I have goneG1330 preachingG2784 theG3588 kingdomG932 of God,G2316 shall seeG3700 myG3450 faceG4383 no more.G3765

Act 20:26 WhereforeG1352 I take you to recordG3143 G5213 thisG4594 day,G2250 thatG3754 IG1473 am pureG2513 fromG575 theG3588 bloodG129 of allG3956 men.

Act 20:27 ForG1063 I have notG3756 shunnedG5288 to(G3361) declareG312 unto youG5213 allG3956 theG3588 counselG1012 of God.G2316

Act 20:28 Take heedG4337 thereforeG3767 unto yourselves,G1438 andG2532 to allG3956 theG3588 flock,G4168 overG1722 the whichG3739 theG3588 HolyG40 GhostG4151 hath madeG5087 youG5209 overseers,(Bishop)G1985 to feedG4165 (Pastor)theG3588 churchG1577 of God,G2316 whichG3739 he hath purchasedG4046 withG1223 his ownG2398 blood.G129

Act 20:29 ForG1063 IG1473 knowG1492 this,G5124 thatG3754 afterG3326 myG3450 departingG867 shall grievousG926 wolvesG3074 enter inG1525 amongG1519 you,G5209 notG3361 sparingG5339 theG3588 flock.G4168

Also,the term shepherd (Pastor) is not a noun as if an office in Acts 20:28, but a verb as if a work (feeding the church).

In Ephesians 4:11,it is a masculine word, ruling out women pastors. Some believe it should be translated pastoring teachers instead of pastors and teachers.

Ephesians 4:11 - greek poiman (noun)

Acts 20:28 - greek poimano (verb)

Peter uses pastor and Bishop together in describing Jesus.

1Pe 2:25 ForG1063 ye wereG2258 asG5613 sheepG4263 going astray;G4105 butG235 are nowG3568 returnedG1994 untoG1909 theG3588 ShepherdG4166 andG2532 BishopG1985 of yourG5216 souls.G5590

Shepherd emphasizes leadership while Bishop emphasizes over sight.