Bishop: An overseer. In apostolic times, it is quite manifest that there was
no difference as to order between bishops and elders or presbyters
(Acts 20:17-28; 1 Peter 5:1,2; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1)ff The term bishop is never
once used to denote a different office from that of elder or
presbyter. These different names are simply titles of the same
office, "bishop" designating the function, namely, that of oversight,
and "presbyter" the dignity appertaining to the office. Christ is
figuratively called "the bishop [episcopos] of souls"
(1 Peter 2:25)
