Bishops And Deacons
Of what does the church of the Lord in a certain location consist? "To all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." (Phil. 1:1) This is the only functioning body which the Lord has authorized. There is no functioning unit composed of a number of churches. Various attempts have been made to provide such a unit for function, both in government and in execution of work. This is the denominational concept, and has not authorization in the word of truth. The Roman Catholic idea is that this body composed of all her congregations is the church universal; hence, they have a law-making head under which they function as a unit, and through this body composed of the many congregations they carry out their program of work. Other denominations have little work which the congregations as a unit perform; but are under a central form of government. Still others have a very fragmentary central form of government; but have the congregations as a unit performing their work. In recent years churches of Christ have begun forming units composed of several congregations for work. This is evident in various schools, charitable institutions, camps and arrangements for evangelism.
Overseeing The Flock
The word bishop is an anglicized form of the word used in the Greek text. Its meaning and usage is now limited to religion. For this reason, as in the case of the word baptize, it loses some of its literal meaning, and borrows all the erroneous sectarian usages. It is hard for the average reader to use the term without there creeping into mind something like the Roman Catholic or Anglican Church dignitaries. The literal meaning is overseer or superintendent. It is so translated in Acts 20:28 in the King James Version; and, though not often the case, it is a more exact translation here than the American Standard Version.
The function of these men is declared in this word. These same men are called elders (Acts 20:17) This term signifies relative age, qualities and honor in the office. Another term is also used to describe their function, pastor. (Eph. 4:11) It has in its usage the idea of a shepherd. Another form of the original word is used to indicate tending and feeding the flock. (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2) All of these terms should have a place in the Christian's vocabulary as he speaks of these men in the church; the word used being determined by the thought intended. At times, in their enthusiasm for getting away from the use of the one term elder, men will be just as inexact as they talk about the bishops teaching or preaching. Of all times to use the word pastor, this is one where it can be used in its precise sense. This is not to be taken, as do most denominational people, as the proper appellation of all preachers; but teaching and preaching is part of the precise work of the pastor of the flock of God. Equally inexact would be speaking of the pastors in a business meeting.
Here the precise sense is found in the terms overseer and bishop.
The oversight and shepherding of these men is limited to one flock or church. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God." (Acts 20:28) "Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight..." (1 Pet. 5:2) Men who take it upon themselves to oversee the work or the lives of flocks or churches other than their own have presumed and assumed more authority than the Lord provides and have openly violated the plain precepts of these two passages. This is the case whether or not they be elders in some congregation. The bishop of Rome is over every church in the Catholic denomination. The bishops of some church of Christ, U. S. A., are following the same error when they assume the oversight of some national or international function to which a number of churches belong, in contribution, moral support, and relief of obligation in personal activity and control.
Servants Of The Church
Deacons are literally servants. This word has also been anglicized from the Greek language. Some religious people have given this title to those who oversee the congregation. It had no such meaning when used in the New Testament. It is sometimes translated servant, as Phoebe was "a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae." (Rom. 18:1) More frequently it is translated minister. It is not the same original word, nor does it have the same meaning, as the word used for bond-servant or servant as in the first part of Philippians 1:1, where Paul and Timothy are said to be servants of Christ. These men are not bond-servants or slaves of the church. It is an honorable position and function. Their function and position is honored in this way: "For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." (1 Tim. 3:13)
Occasionally is heard the mention of the board of elders and deacons of some church; a practice of giving to the deacons a position of rule and oversight in the congregation. Such practice is a direct contradiction of the term to designate them. Bishops are overseers; deacons are servants or ministers; in the congregation of saints.
— 1932 S. Weller, Springfield, Mo.