Should a man of God be called reverend

[Innocent Stephen]

**Should*a Minister of* *God Be Addressed as *'Reverend'* ?

When we look into the Bible, we find the word *reverend* which refers only to God Himself, and not once is it applied to a man. The lone instance of the word, found in Psalm 111:9 in the King James version, says: "He [God] sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever: holy and *reverend* is His name." God alone has a name worthy of reverence. No man, including any minister of God, has a name worthy of such respect or worship.

The use of religious titles, such as "Reverend," began when the great apostasy set in at the close of the first century. Ministers put themselves "in the place of" Christ  taking upon themselves the attributes and titles of divinity. God's true ministers have never done so.

Let us humbly look at the instruction of Jesus Christ in Matthew 23:8-11: "8 but you are not to be called Rabbi, for you have one teacher and you are all brothers.9 And do not call anyone on Earth father for you have one father and he is in heaven.10 Nor are you to be called instructors,for you have one instructor,the messiah 11.The greatest among you will be your servant."
Some men of God today,will rain curses on you for calling them servants but our Savior commands that those He calls to serve the brethren of the church should not take upon themselves titles that arrogate God and Christ's own titles and positions, such as *Reverend*." Instead, as servants and brothers, ministers should live and work in humility as *servants* of God.

Since  some ministers might take offense if they are not addressed by some title, perhaps "Pastor," "Elder," or "Evangelist"—all biblical titles of ministerial office—should  suffice their names  instead. Let us be humble before the powers of creation, brothers,Do not render yourselves as God and demand worship from members of the church, remember,when the most handsome and the greatest musician in Heaven(Satan) did same,he received the wrath of God.
 

edited out a personal email address....Alive

Edited October 8, 2020 by Alive
email address

[warrior12]

So, here is a translation that says something a bit different.   Why is the KJV the "only "correct word ?.   Just asking , as I really don't know. 

As I have read, the NASB, is supposed to  be the most literal translation.  So ?

Psalm 111 English Standard Version (ESV)

He sent redemption to his people;
    he has commanded his covenant forever.
    Holy and awesome is his name!

Psalm 111 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ^[l]ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and ^[m]awesome is His name.

[Jedi4Yahweh]

According to Jesus words we should not call our selves nothing other than servant.  I have issues with Christians ministers that boast about their title.  I know Paul boasted about his title as Apostle in every letter he wrote, but event that seems to go against what Jesus taught.

[warrior12]

9 minutes ago, Jedi4Yahweh said:

According to Jesus words we should not call our selves nothing other than servant.  I have issues with Christians ministers that boast about their title.  I know Paul boasted about his title as Apostle in every letter he wrote, but event that seems to go against what Jesus taught.

So  you think Paul was in error in addressing himself as such.  After all that he wrote and taught, you would think he would be wise not to address himself as such, but he did.  So, if we look at him addressing himself as an apostle and you think that was incorrect, then may I humbly ask, if you see anything else that he may have taught incorrectly.   

As far as I can recall, the only title that Scripture said that we should not call a minister is "Father"

Matthew 23 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

⁹ And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven.

[FrankIeCip]

53 minutes ago, Jedi4Yahweh said:

According to Jesus words we should not call our selves nothing other than servant.  I have issues with Christians ministers that boast about their title.  I know Paul boasted about his title as Apostle in every letter he wrote, but event that seems to go against what Jesus taught.

The Bible is God’s Word not Paul’s. He wrote what he was inspired to write. 

Edited September 29, 2020 by FrankIeCip

[R. Hartono]

3 hours ago, Jedi4Yahweh said:

According to Jesus words we should not call our selves nothing other than servant.  I have issues with Christians ministers that boast about their title.  I know Paul boasted about his title as Apostle in every letter he wrote, but event that seems to go against what Jesus taught.

Some people are calling themselves as apostles, isnt that weird ?

[appy]

In today' language we get the word "Apostle" from old english, "apostol" which literally means “messenger” from Greek apostolos "messenger, envoy," literally "person sent forth," from apostellein "send away, send forth The meaning has not changed since bible times.

Paul at the beginning of his letters is simply saying that he was sent to proclaim the gospel to those who have not heard the good news. His Apostolic credentials were under massive assault by the false teachers in bible times. They criticized everything about him, and there are still people today who seek to discredit his authority, his morality, his message, his integrity.

 

[other one]

The Hebrew word that is translated reverend here and others that use the word awesome loose the original context of the sentence.

 

Quote

OT:3372
<START HEBREW>ar@y*
<END HEBREW> yare' (yaw-ray'); a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten:

KJV - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence (-end),  see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
 

The Septuagint uses the word fear instead of any of the others and it follows contextually with the next verse

Ps 111:10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
NASB

And we are told not to fear people here on earth for they can only kill you physically.

 Sometimes we need to go back to the Hebrew and Greek to grasp the contextual meanings of scripture. Words don't always carry the same context as the original language or in the case of the KJV even the English words contextual meanings can change over time.

So should we call someone reverend today.....   I would say it depends on whether you are using the word as an adjective, or a noun...   If used as part of his name it's a noun and OK. 

 

Quote

reverend

 adjective

rev·er·end | \ ˈrev-rənd  , ˈre-və-; ˈre-vərnd \

Definition of reverend

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1: worthy of reverence : REVERED

2a: of or relating to the clergy

b: being a member of the clergy —used as a titlethe Reverend Mr. Doethe Reverend John Doethe Reverend Mrs. Jane Doe

reverend

 noun

Definition of reverend (Entry 2 of 2)

: a member of the clergy —sometimes used in plural as a title

 

[Who me]

14 hours ago, Innocent Stephen said:

Some men of God today,will rain curses on you for calling them servants but our Savior commands that those He calls to serve the brethren of the church should not take upon themselves titles that arrogate God and Christ's own titles and positions, such as *Reverend*." Instead, as servants and brothers, ministers should live and work in humility as *servants* of God.

 

If that is there attitude, then have nothing to do with them.

 

But the attitude you are encouraging is equally as bad.

The minister is our shepherd, and shepherds lead, guide there rock and the flock obeys there shepherd.

A minister has to have the authority to be able to rebuke an erring brother, he has to have the stature to hear sad stories and give unwelcome advice.

 

The pastors load can be a heavy one, don't make it harder than it already is.

[missmuffet]

The title "reverend" is given to a person who has undergone formal ministry training. A reverend is a person who has been formally ordained in the ministry 1 Timothy 5:17.