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Pastors Or Shepherds?

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by TCGreek, Apr 12, 2008.

  1. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    I have to commend the ESV for translating poimen consistently.

    Poimen is the word for "Shepherd" in John 10:11, "I am the good Shepherd."

    It is what Peter uses for Christ as principal "Shepherd (1 Pet 5:4).

    But when we come to Paul's use of it in Eph 4:11, we have "pastors" instead of "shepherds," which is being consistent.

    Only one version has "shepherd" everywhere poimen appears--ESV.
     
    #1 TCGreek, Apr 12, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 12, 2008
  2. jdlongmire

    jdlongmire New Member

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    [SIZE=-1]A pastor is a minister or priest of a Christian church. The word itself is derived from the Latin word pastōr which means shepherd. :)
    [/SIZE]
     
  3. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    So where did pastor come from? Well, it came from the Latin Vulgate, which influenced the first English translation of the Bible and since then, just about all other major English translations.

    But here's the difference: Jerome consistently rendered Greek poimen with the Latin pastor in the Vulgate.

    So in John 10:11 it's pastor, in Eph 4:11 pastor, and 1 Pet 5:4 pastor.
     
  4. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    ...so what's the question again :confused:
     
  5. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    If we go with the word's original meaning, then we get a "feeder" then "shepherd" then its use metaphoric use of God as our shepherd then appointed leaders as shepherds of God's people then to refer to church officials, elders in this case.
     
  6. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    I'm just commending the ESV (2007) as the only major English translation, being willing to depart from an inconsistency in translation for all these years.

    In fact, the ESV's 2001 edition had "pastors" at Eph 4:11, but now in the 2007 text, we find "shepherds."
     
  7. Jerome

    Jerome Well-Known Member
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    Of course John Darby beat them to it by more than a century:)
     
  8. TCGreek

    TCGreek New Member

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    Thanks for the referral.

    Here's Darby everyone:

    "and *he* has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers" (Eph 4:11)
     
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