New Testament study of the word "bishop" by Stella Paterson

A New Testament study of the word “bishop” also reveals a subtle insertion of words, suggesting that God has ordained that some of His children be “over” others. The word “hierarchy” defines this man-made system which has infiltrated the Body of Christ, for the most part reducing it to a Lifeless institution. Apostasy is increasing at an alarming rate, as Paul the Apostle warned in his letter to the Thessalonians.

I urge you to take each of the Greek words in this study and look closely at the English words into which they were translated, comparing them with the proper definition. Then read the verses in which they occur. It will become obvious how far we creatures of flesh have gone in the defection from truth (apostasy) and how distorted God’s word has become.

As always, I invite everyone to participate by using the comments function at the end of the study.

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Greek #1980

episkeptomai (ep-ee-skep'-tom-ahee) Middle voice from G1909 and the base of G4649 [See below for #4649]

Definition: “to inspect, that is, (by implication) to select; by extension to go to see, relieve”

Translated: “look out, visit”

Greek #4649

skopos (skop-os') (“scope”); From skeptomai (to peer about [“skeptic”] perhaps akin to G4626 through the idea of concealment; compare G4629)

Definition: “a watch (sentry or scout), that is, (by implication) a goal”

Translation: “mark”

Greek #1983

episkopeō (ep-ee-skop-eh'-o) From G1909 and G4648 [See below]

Definition: “to oversee; by implication to beware”

Translated: “look diligently, take the oversight”

Greek #4648

skopeō (skop-eh'-o) From G4649 [See above]

Definition: “to take aim at (spy), that is, (figuratively) regard”

Translated: “consider, take heed, look at (on), mark” (Compare G3700)

Greek #1984

episkopē (ep-is-kop-ay') From G1980

Definition: “inspection (for relief); by implication superintendence; specifically the Christian ‘episcopate’”

Translation: - the office of a “bishop”, bishoprick, visitation.

Greek #1985

episkopos (ep-is'-kop-os) From G1909 and G4649 (in the sense of G1983)

Definition: “a superintendent, that is, Christian officer in general charge of a (or the) church (literally or figuratively)”

Translated: “bishop, overseer”

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Greek #1980

episkeptomai (ep-ee-skep'-tom-ahee) Middle voice from G1909 and the base of G4649

Definition: “to inspect, that is, (by implication) to select; by extension to go to see, relieve”

Translated: “look out, visit”

- The word “look” was used in both the revised KJV and the 1611 version.

Acts 6:3: “Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”

- Variations of the word “visit” were used in both the revised KJV and 1611 versions.

Matthew 25:36, 43: “Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ...I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.”

Luke 1:68, 78: “Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; for he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, ...Because of the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,”

Luke 7:16: “And fear took hold on all: and they glorified God, saying, a great prophet is arisen among us; and God hath visited his people.”

Acts 7:23: “But when he was well nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.”

Acts 15:14, 36: “Simeon hath rehearsed how first God did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. ...And after some days, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare.”

James 1:27: “Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Hebrews 2:6:”But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

Greek #4649

skopos (skop-os') (“scope”); From skeptomai (to peer about [“skeptic”] perhaps akin to G4626 through the idea of concealment; compare G4629)

Definition: “a watch (sentry or scout), that is, (by implication) a goal”

Translation: “mark”

- The word “mark” was used in the revised KJV, changed from the more correct “goal” in the 1611 version.

Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Greek #1983

episkopeō (ep-ee-skop-eh'-o) From G1909 and G4648

Definition: “to oversee; by implication to beware”

Translated: “look diligently, take the oversight”

- The words “looking diligently” were used in the revised KJV, changed from “lookingcarefully” in the 1611 version.

Hebrews 12:15: “Looking carefully lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby the many be defiled;”

- The words “taking the oversight” were used in the revised KJV, changed from “exercising the oversight” in the 1611 version.

1 Peter 5:2: “Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according unto God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”

Greek #4648

skopeō (skop-eh'-o) From G4649

Definition: “to take aim at (spy), that is, (figuratively) regard”

Translated: “consider, take heed, look at (on), mark” (Compare G3700)

- The word “considering” was used in the revised KJV, changed from “looking” in the 1611 version.

Galatians 6:1: “Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

- The word “heed” was used in the revised KJV, changed from “look” in the 1611 version.

Luke 11:35: “Look therefore whether the light that is in thee be not darkness.”

- The words “look” and “mark” were used in both the revised KJV and the 1611 versions in the following verses:

2 Corinthians 4:18: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Philippians 2:4: “Not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.”

Philippians 3:17: “Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them which so walk as ye have us for an ensample.”

Greek #1984

episkopē (ep-is-kop-ay') From G1980

Definition: “inspection (for relief); by implication superintendence; specifically the Christian ‘episcopate’”

Translation: “the office of a “bishop”, bishoprick, visitation”

- The phrase “office of a bishop” was used in both the revised KJV and the 1611 version.

1 Timothy 3:1: “Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”

- The word “bishopric” was used in the revised KJV, changed from “office” in the 1611 version.

Acts 1:20: “For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be made desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his office let another take.”

Geneva Bible puts it this way: “For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be void, and let no man dwell therein; also, Let another take his charge.”

Psalm 69:25: “Let their habitation be desolate; let none dwell in their tents.”

- The word “visitation” was used in both the revised KJV and the 1611 version.

Luke 19:44: “And shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”

1 Peter 2:12: “Having your behaviour seemly among the Gentiles: that, wherein they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Greek #1985

episkopos (ep-is'-kop-os) From G1909 and G4649 (in the sense of G1983)

Definition: “a superintendent, that is, Christian officer in general charge of a (or the) church (literally or figuratively)”

Translated: “bishop, overseer”

- The word “bishop” was used in both the revised KJV and the 1611 versions.

1 Timothy 3:2(&3): “The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded [Greek: sound in mind, that is, self controlled], orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach; no brawler, no striker, but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;”

Titus 1:7: “For the bishop must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;”

1 Peter 2:25: “For ye were going astray like sheep, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

Philippians 1:1: “Paul and Timotheus, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”

- The word “overseers” was used in the revised KJV, changed from “bishops” in the 1611 version.

Acts 20:28: “Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.”

Printable version of this study can be found here.