A BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE KEY WORDS IN THE BIBLE
Bible Corner - No. 6 BISHOP
Bishop comes from a Greek word meaning 'an overseer' and has a close connection with the idea of shepherding, hence pastoral work. It suggests someone who guards the flock, looking after its members with care and concern. In the New Testament the titles 'bishop' and 'elder' are used interchangeably. Thus when the elders of the church at Ephesus come to say farewell to Paul, he addresses them as bishops, who have a duty of tending the flock of God. (Acts 20: 17-21, 25-28 - Authorised Version).
Bishop/overseer only occurs five times in the New Testament. In 1 Timothy 3: 1-7 and Titus 1: 5-9) the personal and moral qualities of such leaders are set out; and 1 Timothy 4: 11-14 may indicate that the teaching and preaching role of the apostles was gradually being taken over by local elders gifted in that aspect of ministry; it may be that these 'teaching elders' acquired the title 'bishop' to distinguish them from other elders. If so, this was a step towards the later practice of reserving the word for those in charge of a group of churches.There is no evidence to suggest that either the bishop (teaching elder) of a local church or the bishop (presiding elder) of a group of churches was other than 'the first among equals'. Only later - and probably as a practical safeguard against the dangers of internal disunity and heresy - were certain men given authority over other church leaders, in time becoming 'monarchical bishops'. According to the church father Jerome, this was 'more owing to custom that to any ordinance of the Lord'
Howard Rady
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