Bishop

The word ‘bishop’ translates the Greek word episkopos meaning ‘overseer’ - or ‘biscop’ in Anglo Saxon (e.g. Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:2). It is used by the Apostle Paul as a title for a church leader who has the task of overseeing a group of believers. In the New Testament, the terms overseer, elder, leader, shepherd or teacher are often used interchangeably, although each emphasises a different aspect of the role. Later, in the second century AD, the term bishop began to mean a church leader who oversees many churches within a specific region. (See Overseer, Elder)