1 Timothy 3:2
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach.”
Contemporary Usage
The word “oversee” is generally understood to be synonymous with “administer, administrate, control, direct, govern, and preside over,” and means “to watch and direct (an activity, a group of workers, etc.) in order to be sure that a job is done correctly [1].” But, in the New Testament, what does it mean to oversee?
New Testament Usage
To answer this question, let’s look at three related words:
1. Overseer
2. Oversee
3. Oversight
Overseer
The root word for bishop in 1 Timothy 3:2 — ἐπίσκοπος (ep-is’-kop-os) — is often translated as “overseer” [2]. It means “overseer, supervisor, (or) ruler, especially … with reference to the supervising function exercised by and elder or presbyter of a church or congregation [3].” It’s apparently used only in 1 Timothy 3:2 and four other verses in the New Testament [3,4]:
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (ἐπίσκοπος), to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).”
“Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops (ἐπίσκοπος) and deacons (Philippians 1:1).”
“For a bishop (ἐπίσκοπος) must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money (Titus 1:7).”
“For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer (ἐπίσκοπος) of your souls (1 Peter 2:25).”
In all five cases this word ἐπίσκοπος (ep-is’-kop-os) refers to an office within the church of Jesus Christ, including 1 Peter 2:25, for Christ, the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls, is also head of the church (Ephesians 5:23).
Oversee
Simply stated, an overseer has the responsibility to oversee. The root Greek word for oversee — ἐπισκοπέω (ep-ee-skop-eh’-o) — is closely related to that for overseer and means to “exercise oversight,” to “care for,” or to “look intently [5].” This word is apparently only used in two verses in the New Testament [5,6]:
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully (ἐπισκοπέω) lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled (Hebrews 12:14-15).”
“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers (ἐπισκοπέω), not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly (1 Peter 5:2).”
Oversight
An overseer has the responsibility of oversight. The root Greek noun is ἐπισκοπή (ep-is-kop-ay’); it not only connotes oversight (administration, supervision, etc.), it connotes a visitation, including a visitation of judgment [7], or “that act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds character, of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad [8].” It’s only used in four verses in the New Testament [9]:
“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office (ἐπισκοπή) (Acts 1:20).’”
“This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop (ἐπισκοπή), he desires a good work (1 Timothy 3:1).”
“For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation (ἐπισκοπή) (Luke 19:43-44).”
“having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation (ἐπισκοπή) (1 Peter 2:12).”
In two of these verses the word ἐπισκοπή is clearly used to refer to the office of overseer (Acts 1:20, 1 Timothy 3:1). However, in the other two verses (Luke 19:44, 1 Peter 2:12) the word ἐπισκοπή is clearly referring to judgment.
Interpretation
To oversee in the New Testament, i.e., to engage in the act of “oversight,” does not necessarily refer in general to supervising or managing as is understood in contemporary usage (such as leading a particular ministry team within a local body of Christ), but to the specific spiritual authority granted to the men who serve in the office of overseer to inquire about individuals and activities in the church, including to exercise authority over said person or activity (e.g., in an area of teaching, practice, shepherding, or disciplinary action).
Application
It is recommended that no individuals in a church community “oversee” any person(s) or any activity in the manner of spiritual authority indicated by the Greek words ἐπισκοπέω and ἐπισκοπή except those men who hold the office of overseer (ἐπίσκοπος). In addition, it is recommended that the church limit use of the terms “overseer, oversight, and oversee” to the function implied by these words so as to clearly distinguish the role of overseer (elder) from other roles (such as ministry leader or deacon).
References
[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oversee
[2] http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/3-2.htm
[3] http://biblehub.com/greek/1985.htm
[4] http://studybible.info/search-interlinear/strongs/1985
[5] http://biblehub.com/greek/1983.htm
[6] http://studybible.info/search-interlinear/strongs/1983
[7] http://biblehub.com/greek/1984.htm
[8] http://studybible.info/strongs/G1984
[9] http://studybible.info/search-interlinear/strongs/1984/start/30
Life 