Who are the Bishops in the Church? 8-7-25

Biblical Facts, not someone’s opinion!

It is sad that many people in ministry do not know that the five ministry offices are the elders of the church that Christ established. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).

The words pastor, bishop, overseer and elder are interchangeable, therefore it is not wrong to address them as elder, bishop or overseer. Any of the five ministry offices can function in the capacity of elder whenever they are serving inside the church. The one name (title) a minister of the Gospel of Jesus should ever be called is, reverend.

Qualifications of Overseers

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop [pastor], he desires a good work. A bishop [pastor/elder] then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;  not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;  one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);  not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil (1 Timothy 3:1:1-7).

 For this reason, I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—  if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.  For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,  holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict (Titus 1:5-9).

Nowhere in the church is one person in charge of the flock. The eldership is always plural (five ministry offices). Somebody does not understand that even though the pastor has the lead role, he cannot function without the other ministry offices, that’s BIBLICAL Facts! So, when they had appointed elders [five ministry offices] in every church, and prayed fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed (Acts 14:23). Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

No one graduates or is elevated to a five ministry position. I heard and witnessed to this; after some pastors retired they went from being pastor to bishop.

Also, one pastor who had been in office many years, had a ceremony of his apostleship– all the positions are equal just as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equal, but their functions are different.

I heard and witnessed to this; some pastors retired they went from being pastor to bishop. Also, one pastor who had been in office many years, had a ceremony of his apostleship.

Brothers and sisters, which is not correct either; apostles establishes churches, therefore how could this pastor be an apostle when his church was already established? The Pentecostals are correct when the leaders call themselves bishops (not a title; and office).

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org