Who are bishops in the divine order for the New Testament church?
(CP Php 1:1). Bishops is simply another name for the ruling body of elders to whom God has committed the oversight of the New Testament church (CP Tit 1:4-9 with Ac 20:17, 28 and 1Pe 5:1-4). The word overseers in Ac 20:28 also means bishops. They are both derived from the same Greek word episkopos (CP Ac 1:15-20). Here we learn that apostles are also bishops. Judas Iscariot forfeited his bishopric – the office, charge, or duty of an overseer in the New Testament church – when he betrayed Jesus. He also forfeited his apostleship and eldership at the same time. Bishop is simply another name for elder. Episkopos is equal to presbuteros the Greek word for elder or presbyter. The terms bishop/overseer, elder/presbyter and pastor/shepherd all refer to one and the same person. However, although they all refer to one and the same person, the terms are not synonymous – they do not all mean the same: elder/presbyter refers to the man, bishop/overseer refers to his office, and pastor/shepherd ref
