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Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898–1904) · Public Domain

Pastor (Hastings' Dictionary)

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898–1904)· Public Domain

This word was at first used literally (like its Lat. equivalent) of a keeper of sheep. So in the OT, Jer 2° 3 107! 1910 1718 9922 931.2, But already in AV it has assumed a metaph. meaning. In Eph 4" (the only NT occurrence) RV retains ‘ pastor’ ; but elsewhere (except Jer 28, RV ‘ruler’) changes ‘pastor’ into ‘shepherd,’ probably on account of the special modern use of the word to designate the minister of a Christian congregation. For the lit. use see Mt 25" Rhem.

‘As the pastor eee the sheep from the goates’; and for the transition Mt 26%! Rhem. ‘I wil strike the Pastor, and the sheepe of the flocke shal be dispersed.’ Cf. also Knox, Hist. 266, ‘Our Brother, our Pastour, and great Bishop of our soules’; and for the mod. sense see the quotation from Calderwood’s Hist., under MINISTER.

Also in the Encyclopedia
Pastor — ISBE (1915) article

This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Pastor

Pastor pas'-ter (ro`eh; poimen; literally, a helper, or feeder of the sheep (the King James Version Jer 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16; 22:22; 23:1-2, and in Eph 4:11, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American))): Besides the literal sense the word has now a figurative meaning and refers to the minister appointed over a congregation. This latter meaning is recognized in the translation of the King James Version. ⇒See a list of verses on PASTOR in the Bible. See MINISTRY. ⇒See the definition of pastor in the KJV Dictionary ⇒See also the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia.

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
  3. Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
  4. Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
  5. Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
  6. Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia

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