A modern definition of the word bishop is: an ordained member of the clergy who is in a position of oversight of a defined territory. The bishop is considered to be the chief pastor of the defined territory.
Bishop in English is derived from the biblical
Greek word ἐπίσκοπος (transliterated into English as episkopos).
This is the word from which episcopal is derived.
ἐπίσκοπος, as described in Strong’s 1985, is
derived from two words, ἐπί (epi) and σκοπός (skopos).
The preposition ἐπί (Strong’s 1909) is translated as on, upon, at,
over, by, before, across, up against, beside, in, above, among, or on the basis
of. The male noun σκοπός skopos (Strong’s 4649) is translated as
look, watch over, to peer about, to act as a to consider, a sentry, an
observer, and the mark toward which runners ran in a race.
ἐπίσκοπος is usually translated as an elder, bishop, watcher,
or overseer. The biblical documents use only male pronouns for these
persons. Whether or not this restricts eligibility for the office of bishop
only to men is a contested issue among modern Christians. These persons are
expected to be noble, above reproach, and able to teach.
In the Bible,
bishops represented a single local church and served as a team of elders within
that church. The idea of a bishop over a region or an entire country developed
later as the Christian community became more organized and needed overall
leadership. Just as with the office of bishop, the particular type of church
governance is still a contested issue among modern Christians.
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