Is Paul equating episkopoi and presbteros in Titus?

[Gene_C]

Hi all,

Here is Titus 1:5-9:

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

In verses 5 and 6, elders is the Greek word presbyteros, from which we get the English word priest. And in verse 7, overseer is the Greek word episkopoi, from which we get the English word bishop.

Is Paul equating bishops and priests as the same office? If so, did they split into two distinct offices at a later date?

Thanks for your help,
Gene

 

[mlchance]

All bishops are priests. Not all priests are bishops. As the Church grew, this became more and more obvious.

– Mark L. Chance.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Here are some comments found in A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, edited by Bernard Orchard and others, published by Thomas Nelson & Sons: 1953, page 1144-1145:
[F]rom the beginning of the 2nd cent., in Asia Minor at least, the title episcopos was reserved to the ecclesiastical superior now known as bishop, cf. Ignatius of Antioch, Phil 1:1; Eph 2; Magn 2, and that presbyter corresponded with the modern use of priest. But it cannot be shown that this usage held in the 1st cent., and different interpretations are given of the passages in the NT where these terms occur. Catholic opinions may be reduced to five classes:
(i) The two words correspond to the modern use of bishop and priest.
(ii) The two words were used indiscriminately to include bishops and priests.
(iii) That all, whether episcopoi or presbyters, were bishops.
(iv) That the words were synonymous and indicated simple priests only. …
(v) … [That] the words were at one time used one for the other, but there had been a gradual adaptation of names corresponding with the progressive evolution of the hierarchy. … By the time of the Pastorals [1 & 2 Timothy and Titus] the name episcopos had become a technical term for a special kind of presbyter, namely a presiding one …

 

[Gene_C]

Hi Todd and ml,

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut. Some Evangelicals use this to say that priests and bishops were not distinct in the apostolic era but only happened later. Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut! It makes sense to me.

Here’s another take. In actuality, our Lord Jesus Christ was the first Apostle, because He was sent by the Father. Somewhere in the book of Hebrews, our Lord is called Apostle.

After Judas died, his apostolic office was empty and had to be filled. That office was called a “bishopric.” So the apostles were also bishops. They went on to ordain presbyters (priests) and epliskopoi (bishops).

Grace and peace,
Gene

 

[mlchance]

Gene C.:

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut. Some Evangelicals use this to say that priests and bishops were not distinct in the apostolic era but only happened later.

Admittedly, but that’s a silly objection. Youth directors and groundskeeping committees aren’t mentioned in the Bible, and are likely rather modern additions to the Church as well. Who’s leading the charge against them?



– Mark L. Chance.

 

[Gene_C]

Mark,

That’s a good one! Groundskeepers and youth directors. And don’t forget Worship Directors, Assistant Pastors, Associate Pastors, Executive Pastors, Administrative Pastors, Pastors of Counseling, and on and on.

Gene