Thank you for the question, “What is an overseer in the church?”
As the Apostle Paul formed house churches in various city, there was a need of a mature believer who can shepherd the people who came to that house church. This title or position was established for the church just as the Jews had a synagogue leader.
I Tim 3 and Titus 1 states the qualification of an overseer. The Greek word is “EPISKOPOS” which means to look over or watch, epi means over, skopeo means to look or watch. Thus the term, bishop. This person or persons were given the authority to oversee the well-being of the church and to maintain its proper orderliness.
As the New Testament churches were formed in different regions, it began with one church. It is likely that one church with its formalized church leader began to help organized other small group of believers into house churches with their leaders. The mother house church, if I may use that term, became the recognize church for the area.
When one reads Acts, the mother house church was the Church in Jerusalem. This is where the Apostles were and the center of the Christian faith. When there was the question about circumcision and the Law, the church leaders went to the Church in Jerusalem to discuss the matter (Acts 15). The Apostles and Elders came together to discuss the matter. Timothy and Titus were sent to organize the churches and to work with the church leaders. The elevation of Bishop from a local church to an area minister as in Asia Minor or Alexandria became the norm.
SUMMARY: An overseer is an honored position or title in the church whereby that mature believer is given the responsibility to ensure that correct teaching and orderliness is maintained within a church or among churches.
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