1. Overseers, Deacons, and Saints
Using Bible Words Properly, Part I

2. Philippians 1:1-2
Saints
Overseers or bishops
Deacons

3. Overseers (bishops) episkopos (Greek) = overseer, bishop Related words
5 times in New Testament
Only used of overseers in the church
“bishop” comes from KJV and NKJ
Related words
episkope = overseership, office of a bishop, visitation
episkopeo = oversight, look diligently
Both used in other ways

4. Overseers (elders) I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 Acts 20:17, 28
Noble task, care for church, steward
Qualifications
Acts 20:17, 28
Elders = overseers
presbuteros (elder)
presbuterion (eldership, I Tim. 4:14)
sumpresbuteros (fellow elder, I Peter 5:1)
Common word – defined by context

5. Stewardship of Overseers
I Peter 5:1-5
Elders must shepherd the flock
Stewardship of an elder (Titus 1:7)
Managers, responsible & accountable
Joseph in Potiphar’s house (Gen. 39:1-6)
Parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30)
Rewarded by Chief Shepherd (archipoimen)

6. Overseers (pastors) Ephesians 4:11-12 Pastors and teachers
poimen (shepherd or pastor)
Common word – defined by context
Of literal shepherds (Luke 2:8)
Of Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10)
Shepherd-teachers
Overseers described as shepherds
Overseers = pastors, shepherds

7. Overseers Different terms have different emphases Misconceptions
Overseer/bishop– watch over church
Elder– wisdom, age, experience
Shepherd/pastor– stewards, care for flock
Misconceptions
Preacher = pastor
Two distinct roles
Elder may also preach (I Tim. 5:17-19)
Bishops over multiple churches
Not God’s design

8. Deacons Greek word group Usage
diakonos, noun (servant, minister, deacon)
diakonia, noun (ministry, service)
diakoneo, verb (to serve, minister unto)
Usage
All 3 forms are common words
Rarely used of deacons in the church

9. Deacons Usage (examples) Servers at a wedding (John 2:5)
Aided apostles (Acts 6:1-4)
Governments (Rom. 13:4)
Apostles, preachers, helpers (I Cor. 3:5)
All Christians (Heb. 6:10)
Satan’s servants (II Cor. 11:15)
Prophets (I Peter 1:12)
Christ (Rom. 15:8)

10. Deacons “Deaconess”? – Romans 16:1
Phoebe – diakonos
Context does not suggest church office
She was a servant, as all Christians are
“Husband of one wife” – I Tim. 3:8-13
Phoebe could not be a deacon in the church according to Paul
I Peter 4:10-11
Deacons, serve with zeal and diligence

11. Saints hagios, adjective (holy, saint) Definition (I Cor. 1:1-3)
Very common word (230 occurrences)
A person, “holy one” or “saint”
Spirit of God, “Holy Spirit”
Definition (I Cor. 1:1-3)
Sanctified (hagiazo) – set apart as holy
Importance of holiness
I Peter 1:14-16 – “be holy” (hagios)
II Peter 3:11 – “lives of holiness” (hagios)
NEVER used as a title (St. Paul, St. Peter)

12. Overseers, deacons, saints
God’s word is not confusing
Misuse of His word creates confusion
We have to use it properly
Let’s help others understand it too