Ecclesiology : Bishops, Pastors an Elders.

1. Bishop [ἐπίσκοπος episkopos]

Thayer Definition:

1) an overseer

1a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent

1b) the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church

Builders with Overseer <museumvictoria.com>

2. Elder G4245 [πρεσβύτερος; presbuteros]

Thayer Definition:

1) elder, of age 1a) the elder of two people 1b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior 1b1) forefathers

2) a term of rank or office 2a) among the Jews 2a1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)

2a2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice

2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably

2c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God

3. Pastor - Shepherd.

Gk. Poimen - a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks [not merely one who feeds them] is metaphorically of Christian “Pastors” Eph 4:11 Pastors guide as well as feed the flock of God;

Act 20:28  Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God's church which he acquired with his own blood.

Act 20:17  From Miletus he sent to Ephesus for the Elders of the Church to come to him.

Act 20:18  Upon their arrival he said to them, "You Elders well know, from the first day of my setting foot in the province of Asia, the kind of life I lived among you the whole time,

These verses indicate that this service v.28 was committed to elders [bishops or overseers].

See also 1Pe 5:1  So I exhort the Elders among you--I who am their fellow Elder and have been an eye-witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and am also a sharer in the glory which is soon to be revealed.

1Pe 5:2  Be shepherds of God's flock which is among you. Exercise the oversight not reluctantly but eagerly, in accordance with the will of God; not for base gain but with cheerful minds;

Be Shepherds tend the flock of God; by exercising the oversight.

Caring for the flock in a flood

De Pressense comments about Paul, “ He never mentions three degrees in Ecclesiastically hierarchy; he recognises only two - the office of Elder or Bishop and that of deacon.”

He says further “The identity of the Office of bishop with that of elder is very apparent in the New Testament that it was admitted by the whole ancient Church, even at the time of the rise of the episcopate properly so called. “ The elder is identical with the bishop,” said St Jerome, “and before parties has so multiplied under diabolical influence, the churches were governed by a council of elders.” E. De Pressense, Early Years of Christianity in H.C. Thiessen Lectures in Systematic Theology.

Compare 1 Tim 5:17 and Roman 12:8

Qualifications for Bishop

1Ti 3:1  Faithful is the saying, "If any one is eager to have the oversight of a Church, he desires a noble work."

1Ti 3:2  A minister then must be a man of irreproachable character, true to his one wife, temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved, hospitable to strangers, and with a gift for teaching;

1. A man of Irreproachable character WNT

irreproachable ἀνεπίληπτος anepilēptos

Thayer Definition:

1) not apprehended, that cannot be laid hold of

2) that cannot be reprehended, not open to censure, irreproachable

blameless: This is a different word (ἀνεπίλημπτον  anepilēmpton) from that rendered “blameless” in Luk_1:6; Phi_2:15; Phi_3:6 (ἄμεμπτος  amemptos); compare however, Luk_1:6 note; Phi_3:6 note. The word here used does not mean that, as a necessary qualification for office, a bishop should be “perfect;” but that he should be a man against whom no charge of immorality, or of holding false doctrine, is alleged. His conduct should be irreprehensible or irreproachable. Undoubtedly it means that if “any” charge could be brought against him implying moral obliquity, he is not fit for the office. He should be a man of irreproachable character for truth, honesty, chastity, and general uprightness. Barnes Notes

2. True to his one wife.

Second - must be the husband of one wife. He should be a married man, but he should be no polygamist; and have only one wife, i.e. one at a time. It does not mean that, if he has been married, and his wife die, he should never marry another. Some have most foolishly spiritualized this, and say, that by one wife the Church is intended! This silly quibbling needs no refutation. The apostle’s meaning appears to be this: that he should not be a man who has divorced his wife and married another; nor one that has two wives at a time. It does not appear to have been any part of the apostle’s  design…...A.Clark

3. temperate, sober-minded, well-behaved

temperate νηφάλεος  /  νηφάλιος nēphaleos  /  nēphalios

Thayer Definition: 1) sober, temperate

1a) abstaining from wine, either entirely or at least from its immoderate use

1b) of things free from all wine, as vessels, offerings

Soberminded : σώφρων sōphrōn

Thayer Definition:

1) of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses

2) curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate

well-behaved [composed] κόσμιος

kosmios

Thayer Definition: 1) well arranged, seemly, modest

4 hospitable to strangers,

φιλόξενος philoxenos

Thayer Definition:

1) hospitable, generous to guests

φιλοξενον, literally, a lover of strangers; one who is ready to receive into his house and relieve every necessitous stranger. Hospitality, in those primitive times, was a great and necessary virtue; then there were few inns, or places of public entertainment; to those who were noted for benevolence the necessitous stranger had recourse. A Christian bishop, professing love to God and all mankind, preaching a religion, one half of the morality of which was included in, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, would naturally be sought to by those who were in distress and destitute of friends. To enable them to entertain such, the Church over which they presided must have furnished them with the means. Such a bishop as St. Paul, who was often obliged to labor with his hands for his own support, could have little to give away.

5.  and with a gift for teaching [apt to teach]

One capable of teaching; not only wise himself, but ready to communicate his wisdom to others. One whose delight is, to instruct the ignorant and those who are out of the way.

1Ti 3:3  not a hard drinker nor given to blows; not selfish or quarrelsome or covetous;

1Ti 3:4  but ruling his own household wisely and well, with children kept under control with true dignity.

1Ti 3:5  (If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how shall he have the Church of God given into his care?)

6. not a hard drinker [Not given to wine]

μη παροινον. This word not only signifies one who is inordinately attached to wine, a winebibber or tippler, but also one who is imperious, abusive, insolent, whether through wine or otherwise. A. Clark

7. No Striker (πλήκτην) nor given to blows

Only here and Tit_1:7. Some soften down the meaning into a pugnacious or combative person. In any case, it is a peculiar state of things which calls out such admonitions to Bishops.

8.not selfish or quarrelsome or covetous

not selfish ἐπιεικής epieikēs

Thayer Definition: 1) seemingly, suitable 2) equitable, fair, mild, gentle

He must be patient; επιεικη, meek, gentle; the opposite to πληκτην, a quarrelsome person, which it immediately follows when the spurious word αισχροκερδη is removed. Where meekness and patience do not reign, gravity cannot exist, and the love of God cannot dwell.A.Clark

not quarrelsome He must not be a brawler; αμαχον, not contentious or litigious, but quiet and peaceable.

not covetous He must not be covetous; αφιλαργυρον, not a lover of money; not desiring the office for the sake of its emoluments. He who loves money will stick at nothing in order to get it. Fair and foul methods are to him alike, provided they may be equally productive. For the sake of reputation he may wish to get all honourably; but if that cannot be, he will not scruple to adopt other methods. A brother heathen gives him this counsel: “Get money if thou canst by fair means; if not, get it by hook and by crook.”A. Clark

9. A good manager of his own household.

1Ti 3:4  but ruling his own household wisely and well, with children kept under control with true dignity.

1Ti 3:5  (If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how shall he have the Church of God given into his care?)

10. Not a Novice or new Convert

1Ti 3:6  He ought not to be a new convert, for fear he should be blinded with pride and come under the same condemnation as the Devil.

Margin, “one newly come to the faith.” The Greek word, which occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, means, properly, that which is “newly planted.” Thus it would mean a plant that was not strong, or not fitted to bear the severity of storms; that had not as yet struck its roots deep, and could not resist the fierceness of a cold blast. Then the word comes to mean a new convert; one who has had little opportunity to test his own faith, or to give evidence to others that he would be faithful to the trust committed to him. The word does not refer so much to one who is young “in years,” as one who is young “in faith.” Still, all the reasons which apply against introducing a very recent convert into the ministry, will apply commonly with equal force against introducing one young in years. Barnes

11. of Good reputation outside the church.

1Ti 3:7  It is needful also that he bear a good character with people outside the Church, lest he fall into reproach or a snare of the Devil.

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