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Bible Dictionaries
Bishop
People's Dictionary of the Bible
or Bishop. 1 Timothy 3:2. The original word means "overseer," such as Joseph was in Potiphar's house, Genesis 39:4, or as the 3600 men were in Solomon's temple, 2 Chronicles 2:18, or as Uzzi was of the Levites, Nehemiah 11:22. In the New Testament the term is synonymous with presbyter or elder, with this difference—that bishop is borrowed from the Greek and signifies the function; presbyter is derived from an office in the synagogue and signifies the dignity of the same office. Comp. Acts 20:17; Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1-30; Philippians 1:1-30; 1 Timothy 3:1 ff.; Titus 1:5 ff. These presbyters or bishops of the apostolic period were the regular teachers and pastors, preachers and leaders, of the congregations. We may imagine, however, that among themselves there would be a division made according to individual fitness. Each congregation of Christians as gathered by the apostles, was organized into a church, having a number of elders, or bishops, ordained over it, Acts 15:23; Acts 20:17; Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5; Titus 1:7, indicating that the office was the same. See Elder.
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Rice, Edwin Wilbur, DD. Entry for 'Bishop'. People's Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/rpd/b/bishop.html. 1893.
