Lord’s Library contributor Timothy Robinson offers this overview of Biblical pastoral qualifications in Scripture outlining what the Bible says about the subject. Timothy serves as the Pastor of Open Door Baptist Church in Massachusetts. Lord’s Library’s Ministry Leaders Series is a collection of contributed articles written by ministry leaders on key Christian topics.
One question that continues to provide many different and hilarious answers is, “what is a pastor supposed to be doing?” I have been a pastor for 11 years and it never amazes me how the answer to that question varies depending on who you are talking to. For example, go online and look at job descriptions for churches seeking a new pastor. The man needs to be Jesus, but also an auto mechanic, an electrician, and a great host. There is a joke I heard that says, “a pastor’s job description is whatever needs to be done.”
I personally did not find that funny at all, but it did cause me to investigate the pastoral role more deeply. The members of a church are not the only ones that get this question wrong, even pastors themselves have a misunderstanding. Many pastors think their job is like any other 9-5. They think they are being faithful by just staying in their office on their laptop for a full day. Some pastors try to be everything to everyone and destroy their health and their families.
Now, it is harder for pastors who pastor smaller churches (20-100 people) because you have a personal relationship with every person. So over time, people start to depend on you, and they call you when they need you, and you want to be there for your congregation. So, you marry them, bury them, help them move, laugh with them, cry with them, and learn some new trades so you can be there for them. I know, I have been there, but the Bible is clear on what a pastor is supposed to be doing, and these instructions must not be neglected.
Biblical Pastor Qualifications
We have been given what is known as pastoral epistles (See 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus). Yet I have found a lot of insight and encouragement from the Book of 1 Peter on being a faithful pastor. Peter took being a pastor very seriously. In fact, Peter says that he is a fellow elder and he commands all elders to shepherd the flock of God.
See 1 Peter 5:1-5: “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
I‘ll start right there: a pastor is a shepherd. Some pastors believe that preaching and teaching is the bulk of their job description. Preaching and teaching is important, but you cannot read the Pastoral Epistles and the epistles written by Peter and conclude that preaching and teaching is the number-one thing you are supposed to be doing as a pastor. Shepherds are a major metaphor for spiritual leaders in the Scriptures.
A shepherd cares for the sheep. Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:2: “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”
The role of shepherding entails guiding believers in doctrine, protecting them from false teaching, and lovingly nurturing their spiritual growth. You see, in order to shepherd as God has called us to do, we cannot just stay in our office or run errands all day. Now if you are an elder and reading this, I suggest you spend some time in 1 Peter 5. Peter really gets at the heart of what it means to be a shepherd under the Chief Shepherd Jesus Christ.
Yet, I have found 1 Peter 2:9-10 to also be a blessing to my understanding of my elder role: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
The Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:11-12: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” And there is our job description and Biblical pastoral qualifications.
Peter helps us do that with 1 Peter 2:9-10 as well: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
Let me explain: Peter says that God’s people are a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people that belong to God. First, as a pastor, we get to help Christians embrace their new identity in Christ. At our church we do an informal Tuesday night bible study, meaning we welcome questions and conversation. This is a time when I really get to help people who are struggling with applying what we read in the Word to our everyday life.
For many new believers, coming to Jesus meant that they lost a lot of their friends and family members. As leaders, we are called to strengthen the body through the word and also our example. Does your congregation see you living out your new Identity in Christ in public? This is hard to do when you are stuck in an office all day. Do people see the seriousness of representing Jesus faithfully through your lifestyle? In your personal life, do you cherish being a child of God more than any other affiliation? Does your congregation see you taking sin seriously and confessing sin publicly? We are called as shepherds to help Christians grow into maturity in Christ.
Next, Peter says the people of God proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. The Biblical definition of Proclaim “κηρύσσω (kērýssō)” is the act of announcing, declaring, or making known a message, often with authority and formality. Jesus calls us to be his witnesses by spreading the Gospel to the world. See Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8:
- Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
- Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Many times, we preach that, but we do not help people learn ways to evangelize. At the church I currently pastor, we do an evangelism workshop day. We take the day and look at what the Word of God says about the call to evangelism and diverse ways we see it done in Scripture. This year I am even going to bring in some paid actors so our people can practice. Now listen, I know that it is the Lord that opens heart to respond to the Gospel, not our presentation, but it is not a sin to practice. Pastor, do you evangelize? Do you teach evangelism to your people? Evangelism is a mark of discipleship.
Last, Peter says that the people of God are a people who have received mercy. There is this weird thing that happens to many of us. We are saved by grace, but we find it hard to offer grace to others. We quickly forget that we were dead in our sins. See Ephesians 2:1: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:” Yet Peter in this passage reminds us of our story. We are no better than the worst sinner, and we must never forget that.
When we do forget that we forget to offer grace and we forget that we are standing in the righteousness of Jesus, not our own righteousness. Pastor, are you a man of grace? Do you forgive quickly? Are you meek? Do you preach and teach mercy and forgiveness? Do you take the time to counsel your people who have been deeply hurt and struggle with forgiveness? Have the sheep seen you walk in mercy and forgiveness publicly?
My point in all of this is that God has given his shepherds their job description in His Word. We must not let others change that job description.
Some Christians consider their pastor their own personal pastor. If we are honest, it feels good to be needed. Yet, we are called to assist in transforming God’s people into the image of Christ. See Romans 8:29: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
If your one of the pastors that spends most of your time in the office plowing through the Word, I love and respect you. The Word is the sword that we fight with. Yet, preaching and writing sermons and answering emails is 10 percent of what we are called to do as pastors. Get out of your office and spend time around the sheep. I have heard it said that we shepherds should smell like the sheep. I love that imagery; we need to be up and close with our people. Close enough for us to learn about them, and for them to learn from us. And see the best part in 1 Peter 5:4: “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Amen!
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- Biblical Pastor Qualifications in Scripture: What the Bible Says - September 28, 2026
