Term
Bishop
Also known as Episkopos
A ministry of leadership in the Christian church, from the Greek for 'overseer'. In the New Testament, the role is not clearly distinguished from that of an elder.
Filed underEcclesiology
Definition
A ministry in the Christian church, the term stemming from the Greek episkopos, 'overseer'. In the NT episkopos, as a term for persons exercising some leadership in the Christian community, is used expressly in Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:7-9; but is not really distinguished from presbyteros, 'elder'.
Scripture
- Philippians 1:1
- 1 Timothy 3:1–7
- Titus 1:7–9
Connections
Follow this entry through the Lexicon.
- Broader than
- chorepiscopusTerm
- Related to
- dioceseTerm
- ElderTerm
- MonepiscopacyTermMonepiscopacy is the singular rule of a bishop.
- PastorTerm
- PatristicsTerm
- See also
- EpiscopateTerm
- Narrower than
- MetropolitanTerm
Sources
- 1.Alan Richardson and John Bowden The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983). 71Original citation: Richardson, Alan, and John Bowden. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983, 71.
Last revised August 14, 2026