◄ 1985. episkopos ►
Lexicon episkopos: Overseer, Bishop Original Word: ἐπίσκοπος Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: episkopos Pronunciation: eh-PIS-ko-pos Phonetic Spelling: (ep-is'-kop-os) Definition: Overseer, Bishop Meaning: (used as an official title in civil life), overseer, supervisor, ruler, especially used with reference to the supervising function exercised by an elder or presbyter of a church or congregation. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bishop, overseer. From epi and skopos (in the sense of episkopeo); a superintendent, i.e. Christian officer in genitive case charge of a (or the) church (literally or figuratively) -- bishop, overseer. see GREEK epi see GREEK skopos see GREEK episkopeo HELPS Word-studies 1985 epískopos (a masculine noun, derived from 1909 /epí, "on/fitting contact," which intensifies 4649 /skopós, "look intently," like at an end-marker concluding a race) – properly, an overseer; a man called by God to literally "keep an eye on" His flock (the Church, the body of Christ), i.e. to provide personalized (first hand) care and protection (note the epi, "on"). "Though in some contexts 1985 (epískopos) has been regarded traditionally as a position of authority, in reality the focus is upon the responsibility for caring for others" (L & N, 1, 35.40). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from epi and skopos Definition a superintendent, an overseer NASB Translation guardian (1), overseer (2), overseers (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1985: ἐπίσκοπος ἐπίσκοπος, ἐπισκόπου, ὁ (ἐπισκέπτομαι), an overseer, a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian, or superintendent; the Sept. for פָּקִיד, Judges 9:28; Nehemiah 11:9, 14, 22; 2 Kings 11:15, etc.; 1 Macc. 1:51. The word has the same comprehensive sense in Greek writings from Homer Odys. 8, 163; Iliad 22, 255 down; hence, in the N. T. ἐπίσκοπον τῶν ψυχῶν, guardian of souls, one who watches over their welfare: 1 Peter 2:25 ((τόν παντός πνεύματος κτίστην καί ἐπίσκοπον, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 59, 3 [ET]); ἀρχιερεύς καί προστάτης τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, ibid. 61, 3 [ET]; (cf. Sir. 1:6)), cf. Hebrews 13:17. specifically, the superintendent, head or overseer of any Christian church; Vulg.episcopus: Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7; see πρεσβύτερος, 2 b.; (and for the later use of the word, see Dict. of Chris. Antiq. under the word ). Topical Lexicon Word Origin: Derived from ἐπί (epi, meaning "upon" or "over") and σκοπός (skopos, meaning "watcher" or "guardian"). Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of oversight and guardianship in the Hebrew Scriptures can be related to terms such as פָּקַד (paqad, Strong's Hebrew 6485), which conveys the idea of attending to, visiting, or overseeing. While not a direct equivalent, it shares thematic elements of responsibility and care. Usage: The term ἐπίσκοπος is used in the New Testament to refer to a leader within the early Christian church, often translated as "overseer" or "bishop." It denotes a role of spiritual oversight and pastoral care. Context: The term ἐπίσκοπος appears in several New Testament passages, highlighting its significance in the early church's structure. In Acts 20:28, Paul addresses the elders of the church in Ephesus, instructing them to "Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood." Here, the role of ἐπίσκοπος is closely associated with pastoral care and spiritual oversight. In 1 Timothy 3:1-2, Paul outlines the qualifications for someone aspiring to the office of ἐπίσκοπος, emphasizing qualities such as being "above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach." This passage underscores the moral and spiritual integrity required for the role. Similarly, in Titus 1:7, Paul reiterates the importance of character for an ἐπίσκοπος, stating, "Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain." The role of ἐπίσκοπος is also mentioned in Philippians 1:1, where Paul addresses "all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons." This indicates a structured leadership within the church, with ἐπίσκοποι serving alongside deacons. The concept of ἐπίσκοπος reflects the early church's need for organized leadership to maintain doctrinal purity, provide pastoral care, and oversee the community's spiritual growth. The role is foundational to the development of church governance and has evolved into various forms of ecclesiastical leadership in different Christian traditions. Forms and Transliterations επίσκοποι επισκοποις επισκόποις ἐπισκόποις επισκοπον επίσκοπον ἐπίσκοπον επίσκοπος επισκόπου επισκοπους επισκόπους ἐπισκόπους επισκόπων επίσπαστρον episkopois episkópois episkopon epískopon episkopous episkópous Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Acts 20:28 N-AMP GRK: ἅγιον ἔθετο ἐπισκόπους ποιμαίνειν τὴν NAS: has made you overseers, to shepherd KJV: you overseers, to feed INT: Holy did set overseers to shepherd the Philippians 1:1 N-DMP GRK: Φιλίπποις σὺν ἐπισκόποις καὶ διακόνοις NAS: including the overseers and deacons: KJV: with the bishops and INT: Philippi with [the] overseers and deacons 1 Timothy 3:2 N-AMS GRK: οὖν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνεπίλημπτον εἶναι NAS: An overseer, then, must KJV: A bishop then must INT: then the overseer blameless to be Titus 1:7 N-AMS GRK: γὰρ τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνέγκλητον εἶναι NAS: For the overseer must KJV: For a bishop must be INT: indeed the overseer blameless to be 1 Peter 2:25 N-AMS GRK: ποιμένα καὶ ἐπίσκοπον τῶν ψυχῶν NAS: to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. KJV: the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. INT: shepherd and overseer of the souls Strong's Greek 1985 5 Occurrences ἐπισκόποις — 1 Occ. ἐπίσκοπον — 3 Occ. ἐπισκόπους — 1 Occ.