The office of a bishop

Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 3
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

The traditions of men have certainly made understanding the Bible more difficult. When a person uses the word 'bishop' today many people think of a high churchman who is dressed in long flowing robes with some kind of funny hat on his head. They think of a guy who supposedly has authority over other preachers. This is too bad because that is not what a bishop is.

The word used here is a word that speaks of overseeing the church of Jesus Christ. The same word is used to describe the work that the elders in Ephesus did:

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

When Paul addressed the elders (see Acts 20:17) he said the Holy Ghost had made them overseers. This is the same Greek word translated 'bishop' in 1 Timothy 3:1. An elder is an overseer or bishop. He tells these men to 'feed' the church of God. 'To feed' is the verb form of the Greek word translated 'pastor' in other places in the New Testament.

Peter too used these words in the same way.

1 Peter 5:1-2 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind

Peter tells the elders to 'feed' or pastor the flock of God, taking the 'oversight'. Once again, 'oversight' is the same word in Greek translated 'bishop' in 1 Timothy 3:1.

What does this mean? It means that the words 'elder', 'pastor', and 'bishop' are three words used to describe the same office in the church. An elder is a pastor is a bishop. And according to the Bible, this is a good work. The Holy Ghost calls these men and utilizes them in his work of ministry in the church. These men are local men. They live and serve in a local congregation and are known by the flock. They do what Jesus told Peter to do:

John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

Jesus has given as gifts gifted men to the church.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers

These men desire to serve and are qualified to serve. Their job is to feed or pastor the lambs of Jesus. These men do a good work. Let's pray that God protect and keep those who are bishops. Let us pray for God to raise up more men to do this good work.

In Christ,
Rody