The Office of a Bishop

 

1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

--- 1 Timothy 3:1-7

​

The word "bishop" is two Greek words episkope  which means to mark upon or visit and episkopos which means to scope upon. Episkopos appears in the new testament seven times, six times it was translated bishop and the other time overseer. Episkope appears four times and is translated visitation two times and bishop two times. The bishops are the leaders who look upon the affairs of the church.

​

Characteristic of a Bishop

• Blameless - faultless

• Husband of one wife

• Vigilant - attentive

• Sober - alert

• Of good behavior

• Given to hospitality - Is fond of strangers

• Not given to wine

• Striker - A fighter

• Not given to filthy lucre - not greedy

• Patient - not macho

• Not covetous - not a lover of money

• Rule your own house well

• Not a novice - not inexperienced

• Have a good witness with them without the church

​

Office of Deacons and Their Wives

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

--- 1 Timothy 3:8-13

​

The word "deacon" is the Greek word diakonos which means a minister. Deacons are ministers of the church to serve. The deacons are appointed to minister the functions of church that are outside the functions of the bishops. The may perform task such being doorkeepers and serving tables and the like.

​

Characteristics of the Deacons and their Wives

• Grave - devout

• Double tongued - not split tongued

• Not given to much wine - not a wino

• Not given to filthy lucre - not greedy

• Have a good conscience toward the faith

• Be proven 

• Blameless - without accusations

​

The Wives

• Grave

• Not slander - does not lie on others

• Sober 

• Faithfull in all things

​