Overseers watch over
the flock of God.
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.
Overseers (bishops) are those appointed by the Holy Ghost to watch over and feed the church of God. The term overseer emphasizes the watching and caring function. Elders are overseers. They take heed to themselves and to all the flock. They are not self-appointed; the Holy Ghost makes them overseers. Their charge is to feed the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. The office requires blameless character and the ability to teach.
- The Holy Ghost hath made you overseers.
- Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock.
- Overseers feed the church of God.
- Elders are overseers.
- The church was purchased with the blood of Christ.
Over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
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,
which he hath purchased with his own blood.
- Acts 20:28 is the key text.
- Overseer (episkopos) means one who watches over.
- 1 Timothy 3:1-2 gives the qualifications for a bishop.
- Titus 1:7 equates bishop with the elder qualifications.
- Philippians 1:1 addresses the bishops and deacons.
- The function is pastoral care under Christ.
- Watch – Take heed to the flock.
- Appointed – Made by the Holy Ghost.
- Feed – Shepherd the church.
- Blameless – Required character.
- Apt to Teach – Able to instruct.
- Accountable – Watch for souls.
- Acts 20:28 – “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, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
- 1 Timothy 3:1-2 – “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless… apt to teach.”
- Titus 1:7 – “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.”
- Philippians 1:1 – “Paul and Timotheus… to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”
- 1 Peter 5:2 – “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly.”
- Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.”
- 1 Peter 2:25 – “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
- Acts 20:17 – “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.”
- 1 Timothy 3:4-5 – “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity… For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?”
- Titus 1:9 – “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
- Ephesians 4:11 – “And he gave some… pastors and teachers.”
- John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
Over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God.
A bishop then must be blameless… apt to teach.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock.
Overseers watch over the flock of God. The Holy Ghost makes them overseers to feed the church purchased with Christ’s blood.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.