Bishops in the New Testament – Study on Episcopos

In the New Testament, the term “bishop” or its Greek equivalent ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos), meaning “overseer,” appears in several passages.

The English word “bishop” derives from the Greek word “episcopos”:

The references to bishops in the NT are tied to early Christian leadership roles, often interchangeable with “elders” (presbuteros) in some contexts, reflecting the developing church structure.

My thesis from my book The Catholic Perspective on Paul is that the later mono-episcopate was held by the Apostles in the apostolic era and after the Apostles died, one of the esteemed or older bishops/presybers fulfilled the role of mono-episcopus.

Verses Mentioning Bishops (Episkopos)

Below are all the verses in the New Testament that explicitly mention “bishops” or episkopos, along with brief context. There are six direct mentions of episkopos in the New Testament: Acts 1:20-26, Acts 20:28, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:1-2, Titus 1:7, and 1 Peter 2:25. Four (Acts, Philippians, 1 Timothy, Titus) refer to church leaders, while one (1 Peter) applies to Jesus Christ as “bishop”.

1. Acts 1:20-26

   • Text: “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it”; and “Let another take his episcopate.” So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us… must become a witness with us of his resurrection.’ …And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
   • Greek: The word translated “office” in v. 20 is ἐπισκοπήν (episkopēn), the accusative form of episkopē, meaning “office of overseer” or “position of oversight.” This is from Psalm 109:8 (LXX 108:8), quoted by Peter.
   • Context: After Judas’s betrayal and death, Peter cites Scripture to justify replacing him. Matthias is selected via lots to join the Twelve, restoring their number as witnesses to Jesus’s ministry and resurrection. The office of Apostle is that of Bishop.
2. Acts 20:28
   • Text: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”
   • Greek: ἐπισκόπους (episkopous, plural of episkopos).
   • Context: Paul addresses the elders (presbuteroi, v. 17) of the Ephesian church, calling them “overseers” (episkopous), suggesting a role of guardianship over the congregation. This implies bishops and presbyters were synonymous here.
3. Philippians 1:1
   • Text: “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”
   • Greek: ἐπισκόποις (episkopois, dative plural of episkopos).
   • Context: Paul greets the church at Philippi, mentioning “bishops” (episkopois) alongside “deacons” (diakonois), indicating a structured leadership. The plural suggests multiple overseers, possibly local leaders. Paul is functioning as mono-episcopus over the the native bishops (presbyters) and deacons at Philippi.
4. 1 Timothy 3:1-2
   • Text: “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,”
   • Greek: ἐπισκοπῆς (episkopēs, v. 1, “office of overseer”); ἐπίσκοπον (episkopon, v. 2, accusative singular of episkopos).
   • Context: Paul outlines qualifications for an overseer (episkopos), emphasizing moral and teaching roles. This is a key passage for understanding the bishop’s duties in early church governance. Notably, the bishop is married and already has children, presumably older children that are practicing adult Christians.
5. Titus 1:7
   • Text: “For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,”
   • Greek: ἐπίσκοπον (episkopon, accusative singular of episkopos).
   • Context: Paul instructs Titus on appointing elders (presbuterous, v. 5), then describes the overseer (episkopos), suggesting that the presbyter and bishop are the same office. The focus is on character and stewardship.
6. 1 Peter 2:25
   • Text: “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
   • Greek: ἐπίσκοπον (episkopon, accusative singular of episkopos).
   • Context: Peter uses episkopos as a title for Jesus Christ, calling Him the “Bishop” of souls alongside “Shepherd.”

Notes on Translation and Scope

• Translation Variations: Protestant translation often render episkopos as “overseer,” while older translations like the KJV use “bishop.” Both are correct; “bishop” reflects later ecclesiastical usage, while “overseer” aligns with the Greek’s literal meaning.
• Related Terms: The noun episkopē (“office of overseer,” 1 Timothy 3:1) and verb episkopeō (“to oversee,” e.g., 1 Peter 5:2 in some manuscripts) appear but aren’t direct mentions of “bishops.” I’ve focused on episkopos itself.
• Exclusions: Passages about “elders” (presbuteros, e.g., Acts 14:23, James 5:14) or “shepherds” (poimēn, e.g., Ephesians 4:11) aren’t included unless episkopos is explicitly used, despite overlap in early usage.

Summary

As I stated earlier, my book The Catholic Perspective on Paul suggests that the later mono-episcopate of Saint Ignatius of Antioch was already functionally true in the New Testament with this structure:

1. Apostle (mono-leader)
2. Bishops/Presbyters (local clergy under the leader)
3. Deacons (assistants for ministry)

We also see a distinction emerging among the presbyters in 1 Timothy. There are “ruling elders” worthy of “double honor.” These ruling elders of double honor are the jurisdictional leaders who also preach and teach.

1 Timothy 5:17

• Text: “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”
• Greek:
  • “Elders” = πρεσβύτεροι (presbuteroi), plural of presbuteros, meaning “elders” or “presbyters.”
  • “Rule well” = καλῶς προεστῶτες (kalōs proestōtes), from proistēmi, meaning “to lead,” “manage,” or “rule,” with kalōs adding “well” or “nobly.”
  • “Double honor” = διπλῆς τιμῆς (diplēs timēs), implying both respect and possibly material support.
• Context: The next verse (5:18) states, “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer deserves his wages.’” Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 and likely Luke 10:7 (or a similar saying), linking “double honor” to financial support alongside respect.

The Apostle reveals that there were already distinctions among the local clergy. Presumably not all presbyters ruled and not all presbyters preached and taught. Those that did were worthy of double honor and were “higher” in rank over the other clergy.

By the time of Ignatius of Antioch in AD 107 and certainly by the middle of the second century, the structure of the Church was universally ordered as:

1. bishop (a presbyter, who preaches, teaches, rules, and unites the local congregations)
2. the body of presbyters who surround the bishop and oversee local congregations)
3. the body of deacons who assist the bishop and presbyters