Bible Dictionaries
Bishop

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

lit., "an overseer" (epi, "over," skopeo, "to look or watch"), whence Eng. "bishop," which has precisely the same meaning, is found in Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 2:25 . See OVERSEER.

Note: Presbuteros, "an elder," is another term for the same person as bishop or overseer. See Acts 20:17 with verse Acts 20:28 . The term "elder" indicates the mature spiritual experience and understanding of those so described; the term "bishop," or "overseer," indicates the character of the work undertaken. According to the Divine will and appointment, as in the NT, there were to be "bishops" in every local church, Acts 14:23; 20:17; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5; James 5:14 . Where the singular is used, the passage is describing what a "bishop" should be, 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7 . Christ Himself is spoken of as "the ... Bishop of our souls," 1 Peter 2:25 . See ELDER.

besides its meaning, "visitation," e.g., 1 Peter 2:12 (cp. the Sept. of Exodus 3:16; Isaiah 10:3; Jeremiah 10:15 ), is rendered "office," in Acts 1:20 , RV (AV, "bishoprick"); in 1 Timothy 3:1 , "the office of a bishop," lit., "(if any one seeketh) overseership," there is no word representing office.

Note: The corresponding verb is episkopeo, which, in reference to the work of an overseer, is found in 1 Peter 5:2 , RV, "exercising the oversight," for AV "taking the oversight." See OVERSIGHT.