If you google 'Assistant pastor' it will take you to the Banner of truth website and an article I wrote some years ago when we had our first assistant pastor, Robin Asgher. It begins thus -Towards the end of his life the great 18th Century Baptist preacher John Gill became rather weak and unwell. It was suggested to him by his deacons that he might benefit from the help of an assistant pastor. He did not take kindly to the suggestion. 'I've read plenty in the Bible' he is reported to have said 'about pastors but I don't recall reading anything about assistant pastors'. It is true that you will not find the phrase 'assistant pastor' in the Bible.
There is plenty about pastors (shepherds). The elders or overseers of the churches were to look after their flocks like shepherds look after sheep. See Acts 20:28, Eph 4:11, 1 Pet 5:1-3 for example. Although there is no direct mention of assistant pastors we ought not to be too quick to assume that the Bible says nothing on the subject. Just because a word is absent from the Bible does not prove it says nothing about the subject. In his day Gill was a great defender of the biblical doctrine of the Trinity, a doctrine very much under attack at the time. The word Trinity appears nowhere in Holy Writ; indeed it was not invented until some time later. But it was a word that Gill used because it sums up the Bible's teaching that God is one and yet three; a triune being; Father, Son and Holy Spirit - three equal persons but one God. 'God in three persons, blesséd trinity'. In a similar way, though the phrase assistant pastor is not in the Bible we have good reason to believe that nevertheless the idea certainly is. In this, as in everything, the Bible must nevertheless be our guide.
There is plenty about pastors (shepherds). The elders or overseers of the churches were to look after their flocks like shepherds look after sheep. See Acts 20:28, Eph 4:11, 1 Pet 5:1-3 for example. Although there is no direct mention of assistant pastors we ought not to be too quick to assume that the Bible says nothing on the subject. Just because a word is absent from the Bible does not prove it says nothing about the subject. In his day Gill was a great defender of the biblical doctrine of the Trinity, a doctrine very much under attack at the time. The word Trinity appears nowhere in Holy Writ; indeed it was not invented until some time later. But it was a word that Gill used because it sums up the Bible's teaching that God is one and yet three; a triune being; Father, Son and Holy Spirit - three equal persons but one God. 'God in three persons, blesséd trinity'. In a similar way, though the phrase assistant pastor is not in the Bible we have good reason to believe that nevertheless the idea certainly is. In this, as in everything, the Bible must nevertheless be our guide.
Is the idea biblical? General models
Certainly the idea of assistants or helpers is there. We have the idea both in general and in both the Old and New Testaments in the cases of certain individuals.
First we consider three general models. We take these from the spheres of family, state and church.
· A model from family government - wives. At the very beginning the idea of a helper is introduced with the description of how Adam was alone and needed a helper suitable for him. That is why God created Eve and this is the model for marriage. One of the strengths of families is that we are able to help one another.
· An example from civil government - officials. Then in Ex 18 we learn how Moses's father-in-law came to meet him and the Israelites in the desert. Seeing Moses' heavy workload he warned him that he was likely to wear himself and the people out and suggested that if it was God's will Moses should select capable men from all the people - men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. There would then be a structure in which easier cases could be dealt with by them so that Moses would need only to deal with difficult ones. And that is what was done. This principle goes on to this day in every well run state.
· An example from church government - Levites. Similarly, when the priestly system was introduced though the sons of Aaron were to do the main work the other Levites were to help (Num 3:6,7; 8:26; 18:3). In 2 Chron 29:34 we read how when there were too few priests to skin all the burnt offerings their kinsmen the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated, for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been. Temple servants (Ezra 8:20) are a further extension of this idea.
Certainly the idea of assistants or helpers is there. We have the idea both in general and in both the Old and New Testaments in the cases of certain individuals.
First we consider three general models. We take these from the spheres of family, state and church.
· A model from family government - wives. At the very beginning the idea of a helper is introduced with the description of how Adam was alone and needed a helper suitable for him. That is why God created Eve and this is the model for marriage. One of the strengths of families is that we are able to help one another.
· An example from civil government - officials. Then in Ex 18 we learn how Moses's father-in-law came to meet him and the Israelites in the desert. Seeing Moses' heavy workload he warned him that he was likely to wear himself and the people out and suggested that if it was God's will Moses should select capable men from all the people - men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. There would then be a structure in which easier cases could be dealt with by them so that Moses would need only to deal with difficult ones. And that is what was done. This principle goes on to this day in every well run state.
· An example from church government - Levites. Similarly, when the priestly system was introduced though the sons of Aaron were to do the main work the other Levites were to help (Num 3:6,7; 8:26; 18:3). In 2 Chron 29:34 we read how when there were too few priests to skin all the burnt offerings their kinsmen the Levites helped them until the task was finished and until other priests had been consecrated, for the Levites had been more conscientious in consecrating themselves than the priests had been. Temple servants (Ezra 8:20) are a further extension of this idea.
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