Topical Bible: Overseers

◄ Overseers ►

Jump to: Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Terminology
In the New Testament, the term "overseer" is translated from the Greek word "episkopos," which is often rendered as "bishop" in some English translations. The role of an overseer is primarily associated with leadership and governance within the early Christian church. Overseers are responsible for the spiritual oversight, pastoral care, and administrative functions of the church community.

Biblical References
The role of overseers is explicitly mentioned in several New Testament passages. In Acts 20:28, the Apostle Paul addresses the elders of the church in Ephesus, saying, "Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood." Here, Paul emphasizes the divine appointment and the shepherding responsibility of overseers.

In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul provides specific qualifications for those who aspire to the office of overseer: "This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, with complete dignity. For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil."

Similarly, in Titus 1:5-9, Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders in every town, providing a list of qualifications that closely mirrors those given to Timothy: "An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and are not open to the charge of being wild or disobedient. As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money. Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it was taught, so that by sound teaching he will be able to encourage others and refute those who contradict it."

Role and Responsibilities
The role of overseers encompasses both spiritual and practical aspects of church leadership. They are tasked with teaching and preaching the Word of God, providing pastoral care, and protecting the church from false teachings. Overseers are also responsible for maintaining order and discipline within the church, ensuring that the congregation adheres to sound doctrine and Christian living.

The metaphor of shepherding is frequently used to describe the role of overseers, highlighting their duty to guide, nurture, and protect the flock. This shepherding role is further emphasized in 1 Peter 5:2-3, where Peter exhorts the elders: "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them—not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."

Historical Context
In the early church, the role of overseers was crucial for maintaining the unity and doctrinal purity of the Christian community. As the church expanded, the need for structured leadership became increasingly important. Overseers were often chosen from among the elders, and their authority was recognized by the congregation. The early church fathers, such as Ignatius of Antioch, emphasized the importance of the overseer in maintaining ecclesiastical order and unity.

Theological Significance
The office of overseer is seen as a divinely instituted role within the church, reflecting the order and authority established by God. The qualifications and responsibilities outlined in the New Testament underscore the importance of character, integrity, and doctrinal soundness in church leadership. Overseers are called to be servant leaders, modeling Christ-like humility and dedication to the spiritual well-being of the church.

Contemporary Application
In contemporary Christian practice, the role of overseers continues to be vital for church governance and spiritual leadership. While the specific titles and structures may vary among denominations, the biblical principles of oversight, pastoral care, and doctrinal fidelity remain central to the role. Overseers are entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the church in faithfulness to the teachings of Scripture and the mission of the Gospel.

Greek

4165. poimaino -- to act as a shepherd
... guiding, and folding the flock and is only provided (ultimately) by Jesus Christ --
Shepherd, who calls under-shepherds (such as elder-overseers) to guard and ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4165.htm - 8k

752. archisunagogos -- ruler of a synagogue
... over a local synagogue; a "an administrative officer, supervising the worship" (),
ie the president ("chief") amongst other elders-overseers serving in a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/752.htm - 8k

1985. episkopos -- a superintendent, an overseer
... Word Origin from epi and skopos Definition a superintendent, an overseer NASB Word
Usage guardian (1), overseer (2), overseers (2). bishop, overseer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1985.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

6496. paqid -- commissioner, deputy, overseer
... Word Origin from paqad Definition commissioner, deputy, overseer NASB Word Usage
leader (1), lieutenant (1), officer (3), overseer (6), overseers (3). ...
/hebrew/6496.htm - 6k

8269. sar -- chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince
... 49), governor (3), heads (1), leader (2), leaders (28), leading (3), officer (1),
officers (14), official (9), officials (35), overseers (3), Prince (1 ...
/hebrew/8269.htm - 6k

5065. nagas -- to press, drive, oppress, exact
... exact NASB Word Usage drive hard (1), driver (1), exact (2), exacted (1), hard-pressed
(2), oppressed (2), oppressor (4), oppressors (2), overseers (1), ruler ...
/hebrew/5065.htm - 6k

6485. paqad -- to attend to, visit, muster, appoint
... entrusted (1), examine (1), foremen (1), gave (1), had the oversight (1), lack
(1), longed (1), look (1), made him overseer (2), made them overseers (1), miss ...
/hebrew/6485.htm - 7k

Library

Motives to the Oversight of the Flock
... 1. The first consideration which the text suggesteth to us, is drawn from
our relation to the flock: We are overseers of it. (1) The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/section 3 motives to.htm

The Order of Ministers in the Church.
... [182] Or, "having tested them in spirit.". [183] Or, "overseers.". ... The LXX. have
"I will give thy rulers in peace, and thy overseers in righteousness.". ...
/.../chapter xlii the order of ministers.htm

The Order of Ministers in the Church.
... [4225] Or, "having tested them in spirit.". [4226] Or, "overseers.". ... The LXX. have,
"I will give thy rulers in peace, and thy overseers in righteousness.". ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter xlii the order of ministers.htm

Josiah
... And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah,
the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/josiah.htm

Pharaoh the Stubborn Ruler
... The taskmasters urged them on, saying, "You must finish your daily task just as
when there was straw." The overseers of the Israelites, whom Pharaoh's ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/pharaoh the stubborn ruler.htm

Presbyterians.
... If all were governors, they should not be able to distinguish the overseers or bishops
from all the male and female communicants; nor could they apply the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/presbyterians.htm

Presbyters or Bishops. The Angels of the Seven Churches. James of ...
... It was used in Egypt of the officers of a temple, in Greece of overseers or
guardians in general, or of municipal and financial officers. ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 61 presbyters or bishops.htm

The Extension of the Church Throughout the World
... completed. Those whom they ordained to be {31} Bishops or Overseers in the
Church of God, as St. Timothy at Ephesus, and St. Titus ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter iii the extension of.htm

Epistle Lxi. To Pomponius, Concerning Some virgins.
... 2. In the first place, therefore, dearest brother, both by overseers and people
nothing is to be more eagerly sought after, than that we who fear God should ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxi to pomponius concerning.htm

Methodical Liberality
... possible peculation on the part of the two officials who had received the money,
for it was apparently 'weighed out into the hands' of the overseers, who would ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/methodical liberality.htm

Thesaurus

Overseers (47 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Overseers (47 Occurrences). Acts 20:28 Take heed,
therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which ...
/o/overseers.htm - 22k

Foremen (9 Occurrences)
... Foremen (9 Occurrences). Exodus 5:6 The same day Pharaoh gave orders to the overseers
and those who were responsible for the work, saying, (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/foremen.htm - 9k

Transport (18 Occurrences)
... Solomon had seventy thousand men numbered for transport, and eighty thousand for
cutting stone in the mountains, and three thousand, six hundred as overseers. ...
/t/transport.htm - 12k

Supervisors (5 Occurrences)
... He set seventy thousand of them to bear burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone
cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set ...
/s/supervisors.htm - 8k

Responsible (242 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Exodus 5:6 The same day Pharaoh gave orders to the overseers and those
who were responsible for the work, saying, (BBE). Exodus ...
/r/responsible.htm - 37k

Damaged (44 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 22:5 And let it be given to the overseers of the work of the Lord's house,
to give to the workmen who are making good what was damaged in the house of ...
/d/damaged.htm - 20k

Bishop (4 Occurrences)
... to have been many degrees of ministry in the infant church: apostles, prophets,
evangelists, teachers, presbyters or elders, bishops or overseers, and deacons. ...
/b/bishop.htm - 40k

Nahath (5 Occurrences)
... (2.) A Kohathite Levite (1 Chronicles 6:26). (3.) A Levite, one of the overseers
of the sacred offerings of the temple (2 Chronicles 31:13). Int. ...
/n/nahath.htm - 9k

Unveiling (5 Occurrences)
... the king sent to get together all the captains, the chiefs, the rulers, the wise
men, the keepers of public money, the judges, the overseers, and all the ...
/u/unveiling.htm - 8k

Jerimoth (10 Occurrences)
... (6.) One of David's sons (2 Chronicles 11:18). (7.) A Levite, one of the overseers
of the temple offerings (2 Chronicles 31:13) in the reign of Hezekiah. Int. ...
/j/jerimoth.htm - 11k

Resources

What is the biblical pattern of church leadership? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible teach the office of pastor? | GotQuestions.org

How can I become a pastor? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Overseers (47 Occurrences)

Acts 20:28
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
(WEB KJV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ; To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants :
(WEB DBY YLT NAS NIV)

1 Peter 5:2
feed the flock of God that 'is' among you, overseeing not constrainedly, but willingly, neither for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind,
(See NIV)

Genesis 41:34
Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt's produce in the seven plenteous years.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 47:6
The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land settle thy father and thy brethren: let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if thou knowest men of activity among them, then set them as overseers of cattle over what I have.
(DBY)

Exodus 1:11
So they put overseers of forced work over them, in order to make their strength less by the weight of their work. And they made store-towns for Pharaoh, Pithom and Raamses.
(BBE)

Exodus 5:6
The same day Pharaoh gave orders to the overseers and those who were responsible for the work, saying,
(BBE)

Exodus 5:10
And the overseers of the people and their responsible men went out and said to the people, Pharaoh says, I will give you no more dry stems.
(BBE)

Exodus 5:13
And the overseers went on driving them and saying, Do your full day's work as before when there were dry stems for you.
(BBE)

Exodus 5:14
And the responsible men of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's overseers had put over them, were given blows, and they said to them, Why have you not done your regular work, in making bricks as before?
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 1:15
So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men and respected, and made them rulers over you, captains of thousands and captains of hundreds and captains of fifties and captains of tens, and overseers of your tribes.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 16:18
You are to make judges and overseers in all your towns which the Lord your God gives you, for every tribe: and they are to be upright men, judging the people in righteousness.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 20:5
And let the overseers say to the people, If there is any man who has made for himself a new house and has not gone into it, let him go back to his house, so that in the event of his death in the fight, another may not take his house for himself.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 20:8
And let the overseers go on to say to the people, If there is any man whose heart is feeble with fear, let him go back to his house before he makes the hearts of his countrymen feeble.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 20:9
Then, after saying these words to the people, let the overseers put captains over the army.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 29:10
You have come here today, all of you, before the Lord your God; the heads of your tribes, the overseers, and those who are in authority over you, with all the men of Israel,
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 31:28
Get together before me all those who are in authority in your tribes, and your overseers, so that I may say these things in their hearing, and make heaven and earth my witnesses against them.
(BBE)

Joshua 23:2
Joshua sent for all Israel, for their responsible men and their chiefs and their judges and their overseers, and said to them, I am old, and full of years:
(BBE)

Joshua 24:1
Then Joshua got all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem; and he sent for the responsible men of Israel and their chiefs and their judges and their overseers; and they took their place before God.
(BBE)

1 Kings 4:7
And Solomon put twelve overseers over all Israel, to be responsible for the stores needed for the king and those of his house; every man was responsible for one month in the year.
(BBE)

1 Kings 4:19
Geber, the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan; and one overseer had authority over all the overseers who were in the land.
(BBE)

1 Kings 4:27
And those overseers, every man in his month, saw that food was produced for Solomon and all his guests, they took care that nothing was overlooked.
(BBE)

1 Kings 5:16
besides the overseers whom Solomon had set over the work, three thousand three hundred, who ruled over the people that wrought in the work.
(DBY)

1 Kings 9:23
These were the chiefs of the overseers of Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, in authority over the people who did the work.
(BBE)

2 Kings 11:18
Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and had it pulled down: its altars and images were all broken to bits, and Mattan, the priest of Baal, they put to death before the altars. And the priest put overseers over the Lord's house.
(BBE)

2 Kings 22:5
And let it be given to the overseers of the work of the Lord's house, to give to the workmen who are making good what was damaged in the house of the Lord;
(BBE YLT)

2 Kings 22:9
Then, after reading it, Shaphan the scribe went in to the king and gave him an account of what had been done, saying, Your servants have given out the money which was in the house, and have given it to the overseers of the work of the house of the Lord.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 23:4
Of these, twenty-four thousand were to be overseers of the work of the house of the Lord, and six thousand were judges and men of authority;
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 26:30
Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, seventeen hundred able men, were overseers of Israel on the other side of the Jordan, to the west, being responsible for all the work of the Lord's house and for the work done by the king's servants.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 26:32
His brothers, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers' houses, whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king. Ezra
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS)

1 Chronicles 27:31
and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's.
(See NAS)

1 Chronicles 28:1
And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that served the king by course, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and cattle of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valour, unto Jerusalem.
(See NAS)

1 Chronicles 29:6
Then the princes of the fathers' houses, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king's work, offered willingly;
(See NAS)

2 Chronicles 2:2
And Solomon had seventy thousand men numbered for transport, and eighty thousand for cutting stone in the mountains, and three thousand, six hundred as overseers.
(BBE YLT)

2 Chronicles 2:18
He set seventy thousand of them to bear burdens, and eighty thousand who were stone cutters in the mountains, and three thousand six hundred overseers to set the people at work.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

2 Chronicles 19:11
And now, Amariah, the chief priest, is over you in all questions to do with the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the head of the family of Judah, in everything to do with the king's business; and the Levites will be overseers for you. Be strong to do the work; and may the Lord be with the upright.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 31:13
Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 34:10
And they gave it to the overseers of the work of the Lord's house, and the overseers gave it to the workmen working in the house, for building it up and making good what was damaged;
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 34:12
The men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and others of the Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

2 Chronicles 34:13
Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.
(KJV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 34:17
They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

Esther 2:3
Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women's house, to the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them;
(See NAS)

Isaiah 60:17
In place of brass, I will give gold, and for iron silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: and I will make Peace your judge, and Righteousness your overseer.
(See NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 9:1
Then crying out in my hearing in a loud voice, he said, Let the overseers of the town come near, every man armed.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 44:11
But they may be caretakers in my holy place, and overseers at the doors of the house, doing the work of the house: they will put to death the burned offering and the beasts offered for the people, and they will take their place before them as their servants.
(BBE YLT)

Daniel 3:2
And Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to get together all the captains, the chiefs, the rulers, the wise men, the keepers of public money, the judges, the overseers, and all the rulers of the divisions of the country, to come to see the unveiling of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had put up.
(BBE)

Daniel 3:3
Then the captains, the chiefs, the rulers, the wise men, the keepers of public money, the judges, the overseers, and all the rulers of the divisions of the country, came together to see the unveiling of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had put up; and they took their places before the image which Nebuchadnezzar had put up.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Overseers

Related Terms

Bishop (4 Occurrences)

Overshadow (4 Occurrences)

Office (64 Occurrences)

Obed-edom (16 Occurrences)

Obededom (15 Occurrences)

Dweller (13 Occurrences)

Bishoprick (1 Occurrence)

Homestead (2 Occurrences)

Overseers (47 Occurrences)