“BISHOP” is derived from the Greek word, “episkopos,” which is itself a compound of “epi,” over, and “skopos,” one who watches, a guardian, a protector. The English equivalent is “overseer.” The official appointed to superintend the affairs of a subject state was so called by the Greeks. It is met with in the Septuagint. Eleazer was an “episkopos,” i.e., he had charge of the Tabernacle and its furniture (Num. iv. 16). The officers of the army were called “episkopoi” (xxxii. 14), and so were the foremen at the repairing of the Temple (II. Chron. xxxiv. 12; cf. also Neh. xi. 14).
In I. Pet. ii. 25, “episkopos” is used of the Lord Jesus to describe His care over His people. Elsewhere it is used of those brethren whose gift and experience qualify them to be leaders and guardians of the saints (Acts xx. 28; I. Tim. iii. 2; Tit. i. 7). It is acknowledged by some of the greatest New Testament Greek scholars, such as Bishop Lightfoot, that the New Testament “bishop” is quite different from the modern diocesan bishop. All true ministers of Christ are bishops in the New Testament sense of the word, that is, overseers of the flock entrusted to them by the Great Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.