A) BISHIPS AND DEACONS.

B) THE NEW TESTAMENT.

C) TO THE EPISTLES.

 

 

A) BISHOP’S AND DEACONS

 

 

The office described by the title “Deacon” appears in the New Testament as the correlative of a “Bishop.”  The two are mentioned together in Philemon 1:1; First Timothy 3:2; 3:8.  The original meaning of “Deacon” was implied as being, “a helper, an assistant.”  In general, The “Bishops” were the “elders,” while the “Deacons” were the young active men of the Church.  The narrative of Acts 6:1-6 is commonly referred to as giving an account of the institution of “Deacons.”

 

The word “Bishop” is evidently an abbreviation of the Greek word, “epískopos,” of which the Latin is, “episcopus.”  The word is once applied to Christ Himself, “unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls,” First Peter 2:25.  It abounds in Pauline literature and is used as an alternative for “presbuteros,” meaning “elder” (Tit. 1:5 & 7; 1Ti. 3:1; 4:14; 5:17 & 19).

 

As early as 50 A.D., Paul appointed “elders,” Greek, “presbuteros,” in every Church, with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:23), referring to the Asiatic Churches then being established.  However, in writing to the Philippians (Php. 1:1), he speaks of “bishops” and “deacons.”  In the Gentile Christian Churches, this title evidently had been adopted; and it is only in the Pastoral Epistles that we find the name “elder [Greek, presbuteros]” applied.

 

The name “presbuteros,” or “elder,” familiar to the Jews, signifies their age and place in the Church; while the other term “bishop,” refers rather to their office.  However, both evidently have reference to the same persons.  Their office is defined as “ruling,” as in Romans 12:8, and “overseeing,” as in Acts 20:17 & 28; First Peter 5:2, and caring for the flock of God (see Acts 20:28).

 

By contrast, the word “archein,” meaning “to rule,” in the hierarchical sense, is never used when applied to a “Bishop.”  Moreover, each Church had a college of “presbuteros-bishops” (Acts 20:17 & 28; Phi. 1:1; 1Ti. 4:14).  During Paul’s lifetime, the Church was evidently still unaware of the distinction between “presbuteros” and “Bishops.”

 

 

B) THE NEW TESTAMENT

 

 

In the New Testament, the office of a “Bishop” is not clearly defined.  Indeed there appears to have been many degrees of ministry in the infant Church:  “apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, presbyters or elders, Bishops, or overseers, and Deacons.”  They were looking for the speedy return of Christ, and consequently did not organize the Church in Its infancy, as it was afterward found necessary to do.  For this reason, while the different persons who composed the body of Christian ministers did not overlap or infringe on each other’s work, yet the relative rank or priority of each minister was not clearly defined.

 

“Bishops,” or better, overseers, were probably certain “elders,” chosen out of the body of local “elders.”  Under the Jewish dispensation, the “elders” stayed at home, that is, they did no ministerial visiting, other than locally.  This necessitated visiting families in their own homes.  Thus, it became necessary to shepherd the sheep.  Someone had to oversee or superintend the general work.  As such, “Deacons” came into play.

 

According to First Timothy 3:2 (see also 2:24; but it applies to all), a “Bishop” was to be a father of a family, not rich or engaged in business, possessing a good voice, apt to teach, etcetera.  The term, “episkopos,” (Greek G1985), was one with which the Hellenistic Jews and Gentiles were well acquainted; and it became thus a fitting term by which to designate the men called out of the body of “elders” to this special work of oversight.

 

In the Book of Acts, the term is found only twice, one in reference to Judas, “his bishopric [or overseer-ship] let another take,” Acts 1:20.  The other is in Paul’s address to the “elders of Ephesus,” as he warns them to feed the Church over which they have been made “overseers,” which for our study, means “Bishops” (Acts 20:28).  However, it is impossible to say whether this “overseer-ship” refers to all the “elders” addressed, or to such of those “elders” as had been made “overseers,” or “bishops.”

 

 

C) TO THE EPISTLES

 

 

In the Epistles, we find the Church more clearly organized, and in these writings, we find more definite allusions to “Bishops” and their duties (see Php. 1:1; 1Ti. 3:1 & 2; Tit. 1:7; 1Pe. 2:25).  Paul tells Timothy, “If a man desire the office of a bishop [or overseer] he desireth a good work.”  “A bishop [or overseer] must be blameless,” First Timothy 3:1 & 2.  He tells Titus that “he is to ordain elders in every city,” and that a “bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God,” Titus 1:5 & 7.

 

By contrast, special directions as to the qualifications for, and the duties of “Deacons,” are found specifically in (maybe Acts 6:1-6) First Timothy 3:8-12.  From the analogy of the Synagogue, and from the scanty notices in the New Testament, we may think of the “Deacons,” or “young men” at Jerusalem, as preparing the rooms for meetings, distributing alms, maintaining order at the meetings, baptizing new converts, and distributing the elements at the Lord’s Supper.

 

On the other hand, there are numerous texts where “elders” and their duties are mentioned and where there is no references whatsoever to “bishopric,” or “overseer,” or “Deacon.”  The Epistles show that of necessity, there had grown to be a more distinct organization of the ministry, and that following the custom of the Synagogue, some of the “elders” had been committed to a “bishopric,” or oversight ministry.  At the same time, the rank of a “Bishop,” or “overseer,” was not yet one of the highest.  Notice how Paul does not even enumerate it in the order of ministry, which he gives to the Ephesians -- “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers,” Ephesians 4:11.

 

That Timothy had an oversight over the “elders - presbuteros,” is evident from the fact that Paul enjoins him to rebuke those that sin:  “(19) Against an elder receive not an accusation, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses. (20) Them that sin reprove in the sight of all,” First Timothy 5:19-20.  This, of course, refers to a formal trial by one in authority of persons inferior to him in rank.

 

The “Bishop” delegated the power to teach, to preach, to baptize, and to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.  Even as late as 755 A.D., at the “Council of Vern,” it was determined to, “forbade priests to baptize, except by distinct permission of their bishop.”  Thus, the term “Bishop” is never once used to denote a different office from that of an “elder - presbuteros.”  These different names are simply titles of the same office, “bishop” designating the function, namely, that of oversight, and “presbuteros,” the dignity appertaining to the office, and as such, Christ is figuratively called “the bishop [episcopos] of souls,” First Peter 2:25.