1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. [kjv]
πιστος ο λογος ει τις επισκοπης ορεγεται καλου εργου επιθυμει [gnt]
fidelis sermo si quis episcopatum desiderat bonum opus desiderat [v]
The ancient Greek word
"ἐπίσκοπος" ≈ "oversee, visit" and become the Christian
"bishop". A
"bishop" as a "
sheep dog" can be contrasted with a "
wolf dog".
Thus a
"bishop" is someone whose "
purpose" or "
objective" is "
over" something - such as a church or group of churches. The
"Episcopal" church from 1752 is governed by bishops.
Progression: "e-pi-sko-pos" to "pi-sko-pos" to "bi-skop" to "bi-shop" .
German pun: Refer to the "Bischof" as a "Biss Schaf" (sheep that bites)
Jesus does not promote the idea of human leadership over others. Why would Paul? Unless, perhaps, Paul did not write 1 Timothy. Instead, someone wanting to justify their own views may have written it. 1 Timothy has many (almost every verse) logical and theological issues.
Note that the "
office of" is not actually in the Greek but is inferred as the Bishop being an "
overseer" of a group of churches.
One must read Paul's letters very carefully.
Build your house on the granite rock of Jesus and not on the human sand (or stones) of man, Matthew 7:24-27. Sand is a chip off the old block of granite and made in the image of granite.
Paul includes the "bishops" and "deacons" in the first verse.
Philippians 1:15-18 is a type of syllogism written by Paul to a Greek audience.
