פקיד, ἐπίσκοπος, signifies _an overseer_, or one who has the
inspection and direction of any thing. Nehemiah speaks of the overseer
of the Levites at Jerusalem, Neh. xi, 22. The most common acceptation of
the word _bishop_ is that in Acts xx, 28, and in St. Paul’s Epistles,
Philip, i, 1, where it signifies the pastor of a church. St. Peter calls
Jesus Christ “the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls,” 1 Peter ii, 25; and
St. Paul describes the qualities requisite in a bishop, 1 Tim. iii, 2;
Titus 1, 2, &c. It is not improbable that the overseers of Christ’s
church are in the New Testament called ἐπισκόποι, from the following
passage in Isaiah: “I will also make thy officers peace, and thine
_overseers_” (ἐπισκόπȣς,) “righteousness,” Isa. lx, 17. The word, as
used by the Apostolic writers, when referring to the pastors of
Christian churches, is evidently of the same import as _presbyter_ or
_elder_; for the terms, as they occur in the New Testament, appear to be
synonymous, and are used indifferently. Thus the same persons that are
called ἐπισκόποι, _bishops_ are also called ϖρεσβύτεροι, _elders_.
Hence, when St. Paul came to Miletus, he sent to Ephesus for the
presbyters of the church, and thus addressed them: “Take heed unto
yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made
you” (the presbyters) “ἐπισκόπȣς, bishops,” or overseers, Acts xx, 17.
“Here,” says Dr. Campbell, “there can be no question that the same
persons are denominated presbyters and bishops.” Nor is this the only
passage in which we find the terms used convertibly. In Titus i, 5, it
is said, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set
in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders” (Greek,
ϖρεσβυτέρȣς) “in every city;” and then it follows in verse 7, “For a
bishop” (ἐπίσκοπον) “must be blameless.” In like manner, the Apostle
Peter, 1 Peter v, 1: “The elders” (ϖρεσβυτέρȣς) “which are among you I
exhort; feed the flock of God which is among you, _taking the oversight
thereof_; ἐπισκοποῦντες, that is, discharging the office of bishops.”
See EPISCOPACY.
inspection and direction of any thing. Nehemiah speaks of the overseer
of the Levites at Jerusalem, Neh. xi, 22. The most common acceptation of
the word _bishop_ is that in Acts xx, 28, and in St. Paul’s Epistles,
Philip, i, 1, where it signifies the pastor of a church. St. Peter calls
Jesus Christ “the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls,” 1 Peter ii, 25; and
St. Paul describes the qualities requisite in a bishop, 1 Tim. iii, 2;
Titus 1, 2, &c. It is not improbable that the overseers of Christ’s
church are in the New Testament called ἐπισκόποι, from the following
passage in Isaiah: “I will also make thy officers peace, and thine
_overseers_” (ἐπισκόπȣς,) “righteousness,” Isa. lx, 17. The word, as
used by the Apostolic writers, when referring to the pastors of
Christian churches, is evidently of the same import as _presbyter_ or
_elder_; for the terms, as they occur in the New Testament, appear to be
synonymous, and are used indifferently. Thus the same persons that are
called ἐπισκόποι, _bishops_ are also called ϖρεσβύτεροι, _elders_.
Hence, when St. Paul came to Miletus, he sent to Ephesus for the
presbyters of the church, and thus addressed them: “Take heed unto
yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made
you” (the presbyters) “ἐπισκόπȣς, bishops,” or overseers, Acts xx, 17.
“Here,” says Dr. Campbell, “there can be no question that the same
persons are denominated presbyters and bishops.” Nor is this the only
passage in which we find the terms used convertibly. In Titus i, 5, it
is said, “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set
in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders” (Greek,
ϖρεσβυτέρȣς) “in every city;” and then it follows in verse 7, “For a
bishop” (ἐπίσκοπον) “must be blameless.” In like manner, the Apostle
Peter, 1 Peter v, 1: “The elders” (ϖρεσβυτέρȣς) “which are among you I
exhort; feed the flock of God which is among you, _taking the oversight
thereof_; ἐπισκοποῦντες, that is, discharging the office of bishops.”
See EPISCOPACY.