QUESTION: What is the difference between a preacher, priest, teacher, elder, and evangelist?

ANSWER: A priest of the New Testament is simply a Christian (I Peter 2:9). Elders are those who have been given the oversight of individual congregations (Acts 20:28; I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9; I Peter 5:1-4). Teachers are generally thought of as those who teach others in either a semi-formal setting or in a formal classroom group setting. However, all Christians are to be teachers in the broader sense of the term (Hebrews 5:12). There is little difference between an evangelist and a preacher. Paul told Timothy to do the work of an evangelist (II Timothy 2:5); to preach the word (II Timothy 4:2); and to teach (I Timothy 4:11). Therefore, Timothy was all of these things! The term of evangelist carries with it the idea of one who preaches as he travels from place-to-place. All preachers, elders, teachers, and evangelists must be priests (Christians)! All Christians (priests) are to evangelize by teaching (Matthew 28:18-20)!

It is important to realize that the above terms are not officially assigned titles in which one may glory. They are simply descriptive terms that define the activity in which, at some particular time, a person may be engaged!