Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 9/25/2006

Question
I had heard that there are only two offices of the church that is listed in the Bible, that is only two ordained by God and they are Pastor and Elder or Deacon. That there is no provision made by the Bible for other offices like Bishop, Cardinal and the such. Please if you can answer this and direct me to the passage, chapter,verse I will be grateful and more enlightened about God's word. Thank you.

Answer
Hi James,

Thanks for this great question.

You are close.... there are two officers... the pastor and the deacon.  Below is an explanation of that from the Bible:

The Greek word for deacon means servant.  A deacon is given to the church in order to help free the pastor from the things that could steal his time from the Bible and prayer.  This passage is generally known as describing the first deacons... notice what they did.
Acts 6:1-7


And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Notice not the three words used interchangably in the Bible for the same office... it will be important to see the Greek meaning for these three terms...and see that these three terms are used interchangably for the same office in the following scriptures...

Pastor/ Elder/ Bishop

1.   Elder= mature
2.   Bishop= overseer
3.   Pastor= shepherd

Acts 20:17,28
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Acts 14:23
23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Acts 15:23
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

There is no mention anywhere in the Bible about a Cardinal or a Pope.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don