Readings Between the Lines

By now you are probably aware that we are anticipating the installation of Bishop Mario Dorsonville as the Fifth Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux. With that in mind, I intend in this article to focus mainly on the New Testament foundation for the ministry of the bishop. I do so because this is a Scripture column. The role of the bishop, of course, while rooted in the New Testament, has grown and developed over the centuries.

The Greek word which is translated “bishop” is episkopos, which means an “overseer.”  The verbs related to episcopos mean “to look upon,” “consider,” or “to have regard for (someone or something).” When the related verbs are used in the New Testament there is a sense of concern (for another) or care. A classic example is found in the context of Matthew’s (25:36) last judgment scene, in which Jesus declares that the heirs to the kingdom will be those who tend to the needs of those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, ill or imprisoned. The verb occurs when Jesus speaks of helping the sick; “I was ill and you cared for (or “looked after”) me.” So the bishop’s role incorporates the concept of caring for needy persons.
 
The term episkopos (again = “bishop”) is only found five times in the New Testament (Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 2:25). In Acts 20:28, Paul admonishes the overseers in the Christian community in Miletus, “... keep watch over yourselves and the whole flock.” In the next two verses Paul explains that his concern is motivated by the fact that “savage wolves” will come among them and pervert the truth (which Paul taught them). Here, the care of the overseer has to do with protecting the community members from a corrupted understanding of the faith Paul proclaimed to them.

With this said, it should be noted that in Acts 20:17, Paul summons the elders of the church in Miletus. The overseers mentioned in 20:28, are most likely the same people as the elders mentioned earlier. In addition, in a church community there may have been multiple overseers as well as elders. After the first century overseers and elders begin to be more clearly identified as separate groups. In time overseers were viewed as “bishops” and “elders” as “presbyters” or “priests.” At some point “bishops” were viewed as having a superior authority. However, in the first century, (e.g. in Acts, which was written between 70 and 90 A.D.) the functions of overseers and elders (and some would point out also “deacons”) were not yet distinct. Indeed, in Titus 1:6-9, the author begins mentioning the qualifications of elders (1:6) and then says in verse 7. “For it is necessary that an overseer be blameless ... .” In other words, elders and overseers here are the same people.

1 Timothy 3:1, (which dates to the late first century) speaks of those who aspire to the function of an overseer (episkopē). Those who do so must display virtue and the ability to govern their families appropriately if they are to be effective overseers of the community.
In 1 Peter 2:25, Christ is described as the “shepherd and overseer of your souls.” The terms “shepherd” and “overseer” here are not different functions, rather, as overseer Christ exercises pastoral care over his flock. The author describes Christ in the way mentioned above after advising those who suffer unjust punishment (particularly slaves) to look to the example of Christ who refrained from verbally retaliating when insulted and threatening those who caused him to suffer (2:18-23). Christ, then, exercises caring oversight over believers’ souls by providing them a model for behavior in trying circumstances.

The term overseer appears in New Testament works which are generally dated to the last one-third of the first century (except for the occurrence in Philippians 1:1). During the lifetimes of the apostles, the Gospel is rooted in their testimony. However, as Paul and other evangelists form communities around the Gospel, they tend to appoint leaders to maintain the communities (such as Timothy in Ephesus or Titus in Crete) in the Gospel lifestyle. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Paul mentions people with charismatic gifts who provide certain services in the community. Nevertheless, as we can see from Paul’s letters, the apostles remained the primary sources of the Gospel tradition during the apostles’ lifetimes.

By 64 A.D., all the apostles were most likely martyred, including Paul, and maintenance of the Christian communities was handed on to the closest disciples of the apostles. With the apostles gone, there appears to have been a tendency for alternate understandings of the message of Jesus to surface in communities. A need arose for community leaders to preserve “sound doctrine.” Consequently, oversight of the community became more concerned with helping communities preserve the faith handed on to them and protecting them from misunderstanding or alterations of it.

As the church moves into the second century crises regarding authenticity of doctrine escalate, and this escalation seems to lead the church toward a consolidation of authority. The roles of overseer, elder and deacon appear to become more distinct. In his early second century letter to the church at Smyrna (a port city in northwestern Asia Minor (Turkey)), St. Ignatius of Antioch speaks of “the bishop” as the chief leader of worship, as well as the chief teacher of the faith so as to guarantee “the unity of faith and the unity of the church (“Antioch,” J.P. Meier in Antioch and Rome, R.E. Brown, S.S., J.P. Meier, page 74).

Although the role, duties and office of the bishop have evolved as the church has faced changing times, the function of “looking after” or “caring for” the flock, especially with regard to helping it to maintain steadfastness in faith, is still part of the role of the bishop. Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, no. 20, describes bishops as shepherds of the church community “ ... as teachers for doctrine, priests for sacred worship, and ministers for governing.” We pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen Bishop Dorsonville in the spiritual gifts necessary to oversee the church of Houma-Thibodaux effectively. 

Reflection Questions
● How do you see the bishop as exercising his role to clarify what we believe?

● An aspect of being a diocesan “overseer” is caring for God’s people. In what ways can the bishop fulfill the role of caring?

● What are your hopes and dreams for Bishop Dorsonville?