BISHOP, in Greek, Episcopos, in Latin Episcopus, which signifies an Overseer, one who has the inspection and direction of any Nehem. xi. 22.thing. Nehemiah speaks of the Overseer of the Levites1 at Jerusalem, Et episcopus Levitarum in Jerusalem Azzi filius Bani2. Uzzi had the inspection of the other Levites. The Hebrew word Pekid, which we render Episcopus, has the same signification. The Athenians gave this name to the person, who presided in their Courts of Justice, and the Digest to those Magistrates, who had the inspection of the Bread Market, and other things of this nature. But the most common notion of the word Bishop,Acts xx. 28. is that which occurs to us in the Acts, and in S. Paul’s Epistles, where it signifies Philipp. i. 1 1 Tim. iii. 2 Tit. i. 7. 1 Pet. ii. 25.the principal and first Pastor of some considerable Church, with other inferior and subordinate Pastors under him.
Bishops are the successors of the Apostles, and chief Judges of such controversies as relate to the Faith of Christians. S. Peter calls Jesus Christ, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. And indeed he is the Pastor and Bishop of all those who have either of these denominations. S. Paul describes the qualities requisite in a Bishop, 1 Tim. iii. 1, 2, &c.after this manner : If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous, &c. From Episcopus comes Episcopatus, which Psal. cviii. 8. of the Vulgate Translation. Acts i. 20.the Psalmist makes use of to signify office, inspection and government. And S. Peter produces the same term, to denote the Apostleship, which the traitor Judas had forfeited by his perfidiousness. S. Matthias was substituted in his room, and admitted to his charge of Bishop. Et episcopatum ejus accipiat alter, and his bishoprick let another take.
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