Authority Figures in the New Testament–“Bishop”– Inspector and Model

Christ is himself the Head of the Church, But visible, local churches, as human organizations, also need visible leadership. "Bishops" or "overseers," as mentioned in the New Testament refer to people who have the function of overseeing others' work and providing a model of right living, not an office of lordship over the church,

            However, within the framework of mutual submission in the spiritual Body of Christ, local churches, as human organizations, need to have some visible leadership. The New Testament repeatedly uses two words to describe church leaders: “elder” (presbuteros) and “bishop” or “overseer” (episcopos). It does not always sharply differentiate these as two separate classes of leaders. Indeed, in several places, the same group is addressed as both “elders” and “overseers,” suggesting that, while the functions are not the same (as discussed below), it was the same people performing the both functions. The New Testament also speaks, though not as frequently, of “pastors” or “shepherds” (poimen) and “deacons” (diakonos), though without indicating that either group has the command or administrative roles that they are given in many modern churches.

            In most of the passages in which the words “bishop” or “overseer” is found in English translations of the New Testament, the Greek word used was episcopos, which refers to the person of the overseer rather than his office. The word itself is compounded from noun skopos, a target or a mark on which to fix the eye, or the related verb skopeō, to look or watch, and the prefix epi-, which means generally “on, upon, at, over,” and looks toward the effect or end-result of the verb (or abstract verb-derived noun) to which it is prefixed. Therefore, the compound word epsicopos has the primary meaning “one who watches over” an activity with the purpose of bringing it to its intended result. Indeed, the word had the secular meaning “inspector.” Thus, the function of a bishop or overseer is not to command, or to be responsible for initiating everything that happens, but to inspect, to watch over what others are doing to see that it remains proper or in conformity with the prescribed standard, directed at the correct end-result. The New Testament never really says that a bishop or overseer has a fixed “office;” instead, an overseer is one who is recognized by the church to have a special function as an inspector of the work of others.

            First Timothy 3:1 is not an exception to this statement. In 1 Timothy 3:1, Paul writes that “whoever aspires to be an overseer (episcope) desires a noble task.” Vines’ Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words explains the use of the word episcope in this verse as meaning “overseership,” with the further note that “there is no word representing office.” Thus, an accurate translation of the verse would be “if anyone (the application of the Greek construction here to a person is implied, but not expressly stated) desires the overseership, he desires a noble task.” The work of an overseer is a good work, for which Paul then goes on to list the minimum qualifications without which one should not be recognized as an inspector in the church. 1 Timothy 3:2-7. A similar list of qualifications is stated in Titus 1:5-9, where it is applied to “elders” and an “overseer” (KJV, “bishop”), who appear to be the same people in this passage:

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 1:5-9 (NIV).

            It is interesting that this list, and the parallel list in First Timothy¹, never mention many of the things modern churches seek when recruiting their leaders. Paul does not list formal education, training or managerial work experience. He does not mention wealth, worldly fame, entertainment talent, political skill or friendship with those in power. He does not even insist on a charismatic personality or successful experience in sales. Instead, the primary qualifications for leadership are a stable family, a good reputation and personal character demonstrating commitment and self-control.² That is, the bishop (inspector) must first be a model of those qualities he or she will be seeking to find and to develop in those under their care. After these personal characteristics, Paul speaks of knowledge of the Word, consistency in holding it, and an aptitude to teach it. Worldly management and sales abilities and political skills are not mentioned at all, since the function of the bishop is not to give orders or to “sell” Christ but to model Him, and to hold the rest of the church to the same standard.  

A Note About Grammatical Grammar, Common Historical Usage and Binding Effect of These

In the New Testament, episcopos is grammatically masculine, and overseers are always presented as being male.  And in First Century Jewish, Greek and Roman society, almost everything of any importance was led exclusively by males–the Vestals of Rome and the Pythia of the Delphic Oracle were exceptions that proved the rule. But, for the purposes of this, series insistence on male dominance would be counter-productive.  Some of Jesus’ closest followers were women, and there is some evidence that, in the earliest phases of the Church, there were some female leaders, including, for example, the “apostle” Junia mentioned in Romans 16:7. And women are capable of meeting all of the other qualifications that do not presuppose the cultural expectation that males must lead.

NEXT: Authority Figures in the Church — Elders.