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what's the difference in pastors, ministers, reverends, etc?
- Thread starter kloth
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Pegg
Jehovah our God is One
some of the titles are denomination specific.
For example, “cardinal” is not a biblical title. The New Catholic Encyclopedia explains: “The word is derived from the Latin word cardo meaning ‘hinge,’ and in the words of Pope Eugene*IV, ‘as the door of a house turns on its hinges, so on the cardinalate does the Apostolic See, the door of the whole Church, rest and find support.’”
Cardinals are addressed as 'Your Eminence.’” And they wear a red gown and a red cap.
ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church are addressed dominee, a title derived from the Latin word dominus, meaning “lord" even though Jesus instructed his disciples: “You know that in the world, rulers lord it over their subjects, .*.*. but it shall not be so with you.” Matthew 20:25, 26
Roman Catholics and Anglicans use the term “Padre,” meaning “father,” even though Jesus taught his disciples: “You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.” Matthew 23:9
The Pope is titled “Holy Father” But he is also addressed as 'Santissimo Padre', which means “Most Holy Father.” This is a biblical title, however it appears only once in the Bible (john 17:11) as an exclusive title of Jehovah God.
For example, “cardinal” is not a biblical title. The New Catholic Encyclopedia explains: “The word is derived from the Latin word cardo meaning ‘hinge,’ and in the words of Pope Eugene*IV, ‘as the door of a house turns on its hinges, so on the cardinalate does the Apostolic See, the door of the whole Church, rest and find support.’”
Cardinals are addressed as 'Your Eminence.’” And they wear a red gown and a red cap.
ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church are addressed dominee, a title derived from the Latin word dominus, meaning “lord" even though Jesus instructed his disciples: “You know that in the world, rulers lord it over their subjects, .*.*. but it shall not be so with you.” Matthew 20:25, 26
Roman Catholics and Anglicans use the term “Padre,” meaning “father,” even though Jesus taught his disciples: “You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.” Matthew 23:9
The Pope is titled “Holy Father” But he is also addressed as 'Santissimo Padre', which means “Most Holy Father.” This is a biblical title, however it appears only once in the Bible (john 17:11) as an exclusive title of Jehovah God.
A "pastor" is just one in charge of a particular parish, and is often synonymous with "parish priest" in the Orthodox and Catholic traditions. Reverend is an honorary title more than an actual job position; one commonly sees priests referred to as "the Very Reverend Father _____." However, the title of "minister" is generally one seen more in the low-church Protestant circles, since they have no priests.
It seems to me that this is in fact a fairly arbitrary choice. Each church uses whatever terminology it wants to, with some of the more traditional having a long story of favoring their own terms, sometimes with centuries or even thousands behind them.
I don't think there is a whole lot of actual biblical support for many (if any) of those terms, though. Nor do they really need that IMO.
Evangelist, however, is a perhaps more specific word. It comes from the latin for "Gospel" and therefore is usually understood to apply to someone who either wrote one of the Gospels or makes a point of spreading its message.
"Gospel", by its turn, means literally "Good News" - in Christian terms, that Jesus came to save humanity from its sins and teach its message - and by extension it also means Christianity itself as a movement, and more specifically the various books that are styled with that name and that deal specifically with the description of Jesus and his doings while alive on Earth. Four of those books are a core part of most if not all Bibles - the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. At least a few more exist but are not acknowledged by mainstream Christianity, although they are valued by Gnostic Christians.
I don't think there is a whole lot of actual biblical support for many (if any) of those terms, though. Nor do they really need that IMO.
Evangelist, however, is a perhaps more specific word. It comes from the latin for "Gospel" and therefore is usually understood to apply to someone who either wrote one of the Gospels or makes a point of spreading its message.
"Gospel", by its turn, means literally "Good News" - in Christian terms, that Jesus came to save humanity from its sins and teach its message - and by extension it also means Christianity itself as a movement, and more specifically the various books that are styled with that name and that deal specifically with the description of Jesus and his doings while alive on Earth. Four of those books are a core part of most if not all Bibles - the Gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. At least a few more exist but are not acknowledged by mainstream Christianity, although they are valued by Gnostic Christians.
Right, although a lot of people do object to certain titles using various scripture verses as the source of their objection. 'Pope' and 'Father' are the main ones that usually are objected to.Luis Dantes said:
That is the way it is viewed in some Protestant churches, such as in the charismatic ones. From a Bible-only view 'Evangelist' is much more general than that. Its a very general word that means a messenger. There is someone called "Phillip the Evangelist one of the Seven" in the NT, but no explanation is given as to why it is noted that he is an evangelist. You have to come up with your own reason. A lot of people think it means he was especially important in the spread of the gospel, but the NT doesn't say. It isn't listed in I Corinthians 12:28 as one of the 5. It is mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 on the other hand. Some ministers like to call themselves 'Evangelists' because it is so vague that they can claim to 'Walk in multiple offices of the spirit', such as prophecy and apostleship, conduct healing services, sell holy cloths they have blessed and so forth. I have never heard of a humble person serving as 'An evangelist'. They are always self-obsessed jerks who are excellent at delegating responsibility. If there are any real evangelists nobody calls them by that title any longer. Its meaning has been spoiled.
SpentaMaynu
One God, All in all
All of the above are correct. Just want to add the following:
- Pastor means someone who herd sheep, in other words he is supposed to care for the people in the church and keep them on the right track. As far as I know this term is prefered by Pentecostal and Charismatic churches (in which I grew up).
- There are also those who call themselves Prophets and Apostles. These are not church specific however and are mostly used by church leaders who have, what they call, their own ministries. Though these two terms does appear in the Bible I don't think they are being used exactly in the correct way.
- Pastor means someone who herd sheep, in other words he is supposed to care for the people in the church and keep them on the right track. As far as I know this term is prefered by Pentecostal and Charismatic churches (in which I grew up).
- There are also those who call themselves Prophets and Apostles. These are not church specific however and are mostly used by church leaders who have, what they call, their own ministries. Though these two terms does appear in the Bible I don't think they are being used exactly in the correct way.
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Bishop has become popular too.