Drawing together the biblical evidence from 1 Timothy, Titus, Acts, 1 Peter, and Ephesians, we can reasonably conclude that an elder is an overseer, that an overseer is a pastor, and that a pastor is an elder. The apostles use these notions interchangeably for the role and responsibilities of church leaders.

When Paul talks about those who care for the church, he uses the term episkopos or “overseer” (1 Tim. 3:1). And when he tells Titus to appoint leaders in Crete who will give doctrinal instruction to the local church, he uses the term presbyteros or “elder.” How do these terms relate, and are they different from the term “pastor” (from poimen)?

I want to show that the terms “pastor” and “elder” and “overseer” all refer to the same position.

Let’s start in Titus 1. Paul tells Titus to “appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (Titus 1:5). He then gives qualifications for elders and explains it this way: “For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach” (1:7). In Titus 1, an overseer is not different from an elder. An elder is someone who exercises oversight, and they must be biblically qualified.

Let’s go to Acts 20. In Acts 20:17, Paul “sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.” The Ephesian elders arrive, and Paul told them, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). In Acts 20, Paul calls these Ephesians elders overseers because they exercise oversight in the Ephesian church.

Let’s consider 1 Timothy 3. Paul lists the character qualifications for “overseers” (1 Tim. 3:1–7), and he gives parallel qualifications for “elders” in Titus 1:5–9. In 1 Timothy, the terms for “elder” and “overseer” are interchangeable. For example, in 1 Timothy 3:3 the “overseer” must be able to teach, and in 5:17 those who labor in teaching are called “elders.”

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