Friday, August 7, 2015

Correct use of term "bishop"

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

The term bishop is often misused and it is troubling to the people of God when this happens.

Here is the correct use of the term "bishop".

Paul explains:

I Tim. 3 ... This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;  3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;  4One 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?) 6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.  7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
 

8Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Titus 1 ... For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 
6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;  9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

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We see Paul used these terms interchangeably ... bishop & elder

Notice a bishop is not a higher position than elder ... it is the same thing.

Elder/bishop is a more experienced person than deacon but the qualifications are same.

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Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher are ministry offices for the church.  A person could be one of these offices and also be a bishop/elder.

We see by the following scripture that Peter was an elder as well as an apostle.  

I Peter 5 ... The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

I Tim. 5 ... Paul says ... Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.


So the elders/bishops "rule in the church", seemingly taking care of the sheep of the local assembly and some are able to instruct and all set an example for the flock of God.

Paul was an apostle/teacher but Paul could never be an elder or bishop for Paul never married and had no children.  It was requirement that elder/bishop be husband of one wife and that he have his children under control.

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The ministry offices are as follows ...

After Jesus arose, after HE was crucified and resurrected ... HE gave gifts to the church ... Eph. 4 ... And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

To define these offices:

apostle: is like a judge in a court of law.  The apostles often consider such matters as divorce/remarriage and present what the Bible says and present rulings from the Holy Spirit and the Bible.

prophet:  prophets are often used by God to deliver corrections to individuals who are continuing in sin.  Prophets are sent to the church.  They often deal with sin in the ministry.  But they also deal with sin in the congregation.  People are often blinded by sin and hardened.  Sometimes God will send a prophet to shine light on that hidden sin.

evangelist:  is sent to the world... to the unsaved.

pastor: is likely like a shepherd over the flock, the congregation ... sent to the church.

teacher:  sent to the church to present and compare doctrine.

Paul was not the last apostle as some churches teach but rather Paul was the first of the New Testament apostles.  Paul was not like the apostles who walked with Jesus in the flesh.  Paul was called after Jesus arose, just like Eph. 4 teaches.  Paul is the first of the example of New Testament apostle.