Having considered what is essential as far as internal and external calling are concerned, we shall now proceed to consider the particulars of the offices God has established in His church, as well as the labors pertaining to each office.
The Office of the Ministry
Due to their position and labor (and thus due neither to superiority nor territorial influence) we must first of all consider the pastors and teachers, that is, the ministers. The apostle refers to them by these two names in Eph 4:11. This is not to suggest that these titles represent two different offices in the church and thus require a different person for each office. Neither does it suggest that the pastoral office is superior to the teaching office. Much less is it suggested here that the office of a teacher, referred to as Doctor Theologiae, is a superior office to that of a pastor, and thus has higher prerequisites. Rather, these two titles refer to one and the same office, since a pastor is required both to teach and to feed his flock. In our time, however, Doctor of Theology is an honorary title. A person may have this title and be acknowledged as such.
The pastoral (or ministerial) office is an office instituted by God, executed in the Old Testament under the title of “priest” and in the New Testament under the title of “pastor.” Although commission and calling are executed by human agency, they are nevertheless executed in the name of God. Each pastor must therefore conduct himself as an ambassador of God. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor 5:20).
Concerning the pastoral office, we must consider the qualifications of the persons and the distinctive elements of their labors.
The Qualifications for the Ministry
As a personal quality it is a general requirement that such a person be suited for this task and that he be faithful in its execution.
First of all, it is a specific requirement that such a person be a learned person. I do not understand this term to refer to the knowledge of several languages, for knowledge of languages does not constitute scholarship, but is merely a means thereto. Knowledge of the Latin language adorns a minister, but such knowledge is not absolutely necessary for this office. It is nevertheless very helpful, since philosophy, theology, and the most prominent expositions of the Holy Scriptures are recorded in this language. Knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek languages is much more essential, as the Holy Scriptures were originally written in these languages. They ought therefore to be known by every minister. Learning, however, consists in a thorough knowledge of many matters, wisdom in the utilization of this knowledge, and aptitude to present this knowledge in a manner that is beneficial to others. It is therefore beneficial that a minister be trained in philosophy or natural wisdom. This will render him the more qualified to deal with theological matters. A thorough knowledge of theology is, however, an absolute requirement for a minister. He ought not to be satisfied with having memorized a summary statement of truth—having lodged some propositions in his brain merely to pass the examination in a respectable fashion—and with possessing only as much knowledge as is necessary to put together a sermon by using a variety of books. Wretched minister and wretched congregation where such is the case!
To be a good theologian one must have a deep, penetrating knowledge of a variety of theological issues with which he has become conversant due to frequent dealings with them. This requires much study of Scripture. A minister therefore ought not only to read the Word much but also search out the intent of the Spirit and the context, comparing text with text and ascertaining what is the fulfillment of prophecies and types. All of this is nevertheless of no avail if he himself has not been illuminated and converted by the Holy Spirit, so that the truths which he reads in God’s Word are also found in his own heart. He should know by personal experience what conversion, prayer, believing in Christ, the wrestlings of faith, the subtle delusions as well as the assaults of Satan, darkness, the sealing work of the Spirit, self-denial, and mortification of sin, etc. are. He will then be a Timothy who from a child had known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make him wise unto salvation (2 Tim 3:15). He will then be a “scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven,” and “like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old” (Matt 13:52). He will then be able to say, “That … which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; that … declare we unto you” (1 John 1:1, 3).