Question: Is it right for one to be bearing “Bishop” as a name?
Answer: I presume the questioner in this case has reference to “Bishop” as a title in connection with one’s name such as, “Bishop John Doe.” First of all I would point out to all of us that we should never identify the scriptural term “Bishop” in the New Testament with the term as used in modern Christendom with all its attached pomp and preeminence. They are far different in their usage and meaning. It would certainly be wrong for an humble saint minister to attach that title to his name in its modern usage and meaning.
However, the term “Bishop” is a scriptural term found different times in the New Testament and in connection with “Overseer,” “Oversight,” and “Elder” all of which derive from the same root word. These words occur a number of times in the New Testament, and refer to the same office. “Bishop” does refer to an office in the Church and not to any particular individual. In I Timothy 3:1, Paul says, “…If a man desire the OFFICE of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” I do not recall any of our brother ministers attaching the term “Bishop” to their name so I am not used to it and it would probably cause me a little shock and a little raising of my eyebrows and wrinkling of my forehead to see it. However, several of our brethren have attached the term “Elder” to their names which is the same thing.
In Titus 1:5, Paul says, “For this cause left I thee,…that thou shouldest…ordain ELDERS in every city,…” Then Titus 1:7 says, “For a BISHOP must be blameless, as the steward of God;…” It is evident here that “Elder” in verse 5 and “Bishop” in verse 7 are used interchangeably and refer to the same office. We also see here that a “Bishop” was the “Steward” of God. In I Corinthians 4:1, Paul declares himself to be a minister of Christ and “Steward” of the mysteries of God. Then Paul was a “Bishop” though he never attached that term as such to his name. Paul continues in I Corinthians 4:2, “Moreover it is required in STEWARDS, that a man be found faithful.” In I Timothy 1:12 he said again, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me FAITHFUL, putting me into the ministry.” Again in Luke 12:42 we read, “And the Lord said, Who then is that FAITHFUL and wise STEWARD, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?” This verse is important because it makes it clear what the duties of a “Steward” (“Bishop”) are to give the household of God their portion of meat in due season. Or as Peter puts it in I Peter 5:2, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [or “Bishopric”] thereof,…” He continues in verse 3, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
Oh, how different this is from the modern ecclesiastical “Bishop” in his pomp, preeminence and position of “LORD” over God’s heritage. In Luke 12:43 Jesus said further concerning the “FAITHFUL” and good “Steward” (Bishop), “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” Paul said in Titus 1:7 that a “Bishop” was the “Steward” of God and in Luke 12:42-43 the term “Steward” (Bishop) is used. These terms are used interchangeably which makes it clear that a scriptural Bishop is a servant not a lord.
I will say again in closing that I have never known of any of the brethren attaching the term “Bishop” to their name or signature. Neither do I recall any place in the New Testament of any of those brethren using it either such as Bishop Paul, Bishop Peter, Bishop Timothy, etc. though all of these were Bishops. We have one case where Peter referred to himself as an “Elder” (I Peter 5:1) and “Bishop” and “Elder” were interchangeable terms in the New Testament usage and referred to the same office (Titus 1:5 and 7). However, I think that perhaps Peter referred to himself as an “Elder” here not so much to emphasize his eldership as to equate himself with the other elders. His statement here is, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder,…” He was placing himself right among them and not above them.
Some of the brethren have used the term “Elder” and some “Pastor” attached to their name and signature. I think the most of them just sign their name without any other identifying term attached at all. I don’t know that we could have any scriptural quarrel with anyone who used any of these terms Bishop, Elder, or Pastor in their signature because they are all scriptural terms and identify the office and position of the individual. Perhaps the reason our brethren have not used the term “Bishop” is because of the pomp, honor, and position it signifies in the modern religious world today which is entirely foreign and strange to the humble, lowly servants of the Church to whom it was applied in the New Testament.
