Send
Close Add comments:
(status displays here)
Got it! This site "creationpie.com" uses cookies. You consent to this by clicking on "Got it!" or by continuing to use this website. Note: This appears on each machine/browser from which this site is accessed.
A bishop to visit and oversee the flock
1. A bishop to visit and oversee the flock
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)
2. Unicode
♗ The white chess bishop character in Unicode is
U+2657 or
♗.
♝ The black chess bishop character in Unicode is
U+265D or
♝.
3. Scope of the bishop
4. Greek
5. Office of a bishop
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. [kjv]
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.
6. 1 Timothy 3:1
KJV: This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
Greek: πιστος ο λογος ει τις επισκοπης ορεγεται καλου εργου επιθυμει
Latin: fidelis sermo si quis episcopatum desiderat bonum opus desiderat
Wycliffe: A feithful word. If ony man desirith a bishopriche, he desirith a good werk.
Gothic: triggw thata waurd: jabai hvas aipiskaupeins gairneith, godis waurstwis gairneith.
7. Gothic
The Gothic word
"aipiskaupeins" ≈ "bishop" appears to be a transliteration of the Greek, or Latin since the Latin is a transliteration of the Greek.
8. Scope
The ancient Greek word
"σκοπός" ≈ "watcher, target" and is the source of the English word
"scope".
The Greek word for "
scope" can mean "
matter" as in "
concern" or what one has as an "
objective".
1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. [kjv]
The Greek word here is that of "scope".
The Latin word here is that of "appetite".
9. 1 Peter 4:15
KJV: But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Greek: μη γαρ τις υμων πασχετω ως φονευς η κλεπτης η κακοποιος η ως αλλοτριοεπισκοπος αλλοτριεπισκοπος
Latin: nemo enim vestrum patiatur quasi homicida aut fur aut maledicus aut alienorum appetitor
Wycliffe: But no man of you suffre as a mansleere, ethir a theef, ether cursere, ethir a disirere of othere mennus goodis;
10. Sound changes
How is the English word "
bishop" related to the Greek word? Linguistically, the following are common changes over time (though not predictable beforehand).
A leading "e", as pronounced in "eh", can disappear.
A "p" sound can go to an "b" sound.
A "sk" sound can go to a "sh" sound.
A "p" sound can stay a "p".
And ending such as "os" can disappear (endings often change over time).
Thus, over time, the Greek, through Latin and then French turned, for example, from
"e-pi-sko-pos" to
"pi-sko-pos" to
"bi-skop" to
"bi-shop" to
"bishop".
Note: This is just an example. It can be difficult to determine the exact sequence. See the following
PIE (Proto Indo-European) root.
11. PIE roots
The
PIE root
"*spek" ≈ "to observe" is the root of many English words, such as the following.
aspect, expect, introspect, prospect, respect, suspect
bishop (through Greek, Latin, and then French)
skeptic
scope, telescope
species (Latin term based on Greek philosophy words)
spectrum, speculate, spy
12. Episcopal
The "
Episcopal" church is from 1752 as a church that is governed by bishops. The Episcopal Church began as an American replacement of the Anglican Church - the official church of Great Britain from whom the Colonies were succeeding.
Note: The Amish have a similar form of bishops, as does the Methodist Church (e.g., United Methodist).
13. German bishop
The German word
"Bischof" ≈ "Bishop".
The German word "Schaf" ≈ "sheep".
The German word "Biss" ≈ "bite, sting".
Church members (even Bishops) are often characterized as sheep. So a German pun was to call the "
Bischof" (not to his face) a "
Biss Schaf" (sheep that bites or someone that bites the sheep)
A "
biting" sheep is different than a "
bleating" sheep.
14. Sheep dogs and wolf dogs
Dogs are known as man's best friend. The
dog breed is related to the wolf breed and can
interbreed. Two
dogs may appear similar, but one may be a
sheep dog and another a
wolf dog.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [kjv]
προσεχετε απο των ψευδοπροφητων οιτινες ερχονται προς υμας εν ενδυμασιν προβατων εσωθεν δε εισιν λυκοι αρπαγες [gnt]
A sheep dog is like a bishop who travels around keeping the faithful in line.
A wolf dog or ravenous wolf is a (false ) leader or eye in the church not sparing the flock. Jesus uses the word "wolf" in a manner similar to how he refers to the "birds".
Jesus warns of this. It might be important and useful to distinguish these types of
dogs.
15. End of page
Paul uses the Greek word for "scope" (and related words) often in the book of Philippians where he takes the "bishops" (church leadership) to task.