18
THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING
One Body. This however is fallacious, for if the fact that in this Body every member is equal rules out the ministry
of bishops and deacons, it would at the same time rule out apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, but
as this ministry is directly given by the ascended Christ to the Church of the mystery, it will be seen that the
objection is not valid.
The word translated `bishop' is episkopos, and is retained in the English episcopalian. The word is a compound
of epi `upon' or `over' and skopeo `to look', as in `telescope', hence in Acts 20:28, the word is translated `overseers'.
There is nothing officious about the original meaning of the word, the first occurrence of episkeptomai being
Matthew 25:36, `sick and ye visited Me'. So episkopeo is translated `to look diligently' (Heb. 12:15) and `take
oversight' (1 Pet. 5:2). The word has become `bishop' in English by the softening process which is characteristic of
the Anglo Saxon. The P becomes B and the sk becomes sh, episkop becoming `bishop'. As the title `Apostle'
belongs to Christ (Heb. 3:1), so does the title `Bishop'.
`For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls' (1 Pet.
2:25).
At the conclusion of the list of characteristics of a true bishop in 1 Timothy 3, the apostle asks :
`For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?' (1 Tim. 3:5).
So long as the redeemed still gather together for worship or for witness, there will be a call for those who are
gifted and qualified in the task of gracious guidance and tender care.
The word translated deacon is diakonos. The derivation of this word is uncertain, but it is possible that it is from
dieko `to run to serve'. Certainly service is the uppermost idea, and it is sanctified to us for ever by the fact that
Christ Himself is set forth as `a minister of the circumcision' (Rom. 15:8). Paul also uses the word when he said `I
magnify mine office' (Rom. 11:13), using the same word that is translated `the office of a deacon' in 1 Timothy 3:10.
This ministry is fairly comprehensive. It may be the lowly work of the house (Luke 10:40), it might be the daily
ministry that could be spoken of as `serving tables' (Acts 6:1,2); on the other hand it may be the very ministry of
angels (Matt. 4:11). This `ministry' is not confined to one sex, for Phoebe is called a `deacon' in Romans 16:1.
Returning to the objection that such ministry does not fit in with the conception of the church as the Body of
Christ, let us remember that the gifts of Ephesians 4:11 are `for the work of the ministry' (Eph. 4:12), and that Paul
himself when contemplating the high honour given him in connection with the mystery said `whereof I am made a
minister' (Eph. 3:7).
Instead therefore of setting aside Philippians because of this reference to bishops and deacons, we should rather
pray most earnestly that such gifts of ministry may ever remain with us, however far we may now have departed
from the order of the primitive church.
The comment of Wordsworth on the absence of the title `apostle' from Philippians 1:1 is suggestive :
`This was the last epistle that he wrote to a Gentile Church, he was now Paul the aged, and had almost run his
apostolic race. He was still an apostle to Timothy and Titus (1 Tim. 1:1; Tit. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:1), and had an
apostolic charge for them. But he had done his work for the churches of Asia and Greece. He was now like
Aaron before his death, laying aside his sacred garments, in order that others might wear them (Num. 20:28). He
would not magnify himself, but the nearer he was to heaven the more lowly he would be. He would divest
himself of his official dignity, and leave behind him an example of self-abasement after a life of self denial and
self sacrifice for Christ'.
We conclude this introductory study by giving in outline the seven epistles of Paul written after Acts 28,
showing the way in which the introduction of `bishops and deacons' in Philippians 1:1 is balanced by the commands
concerning them in the Pastoral Epistles.
A Ephesians
The Mystery.
a Bishops and Deacons.
BPhilippians
b The Prize.
CPhilemon.
Truth in daily life.