Bishop is from the Greek “_episkopos_,” and means a superintendent or overseer. Pastor is from the Greek “_poimen_,” and means shepherd or feeder or overseer, the same as bishop; consequently bishop and pastor are the same, an overseer or shepherd. The word “overseer” occurs but once in the New Testament: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God.” Acts 20:28. Overseer in this text is translated from the Greek “_episkopos_,” from which same Greek word we have the word bishop. Paul was then addressing bishops, and tells them to feed the church of God. Now a pastor is a feeder; therefore bishop and pastor are two words used to denote the same office. To note the qualifications of a bishop or pastor as set forth in the New Testament will doubtless be edifying to the reader. What A Bishop Must Be. A bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; patient, ruling well his own house, a lover of good men, just, holy, temperate, etc. See 1 Tim. 3:2-4: Titus 1:7, 8. Blameless. This word is synonymous with spotless, faultless, irreproachable. A person or thing is blameless when it is free from fault. The husband of one wife. No one can meet the New Testament requirements for bishop or pastor who has two wives, though one be divorced. Vigilant. He must be so watchful as to early discover danger of any kind and use the utmost precaution to avoid it. Sober. This word is not applied only to freedom from intoxication by spirituous liquors, but is synonymous with calmness, quietness, grave, sedate, steady, serious, solemn, etc. The Greek “_sophron_” for sober in these texts means sound mindedness. Of good behavior. Their conduct must be free from levity, folly, or anything that tends to degrade morals. Given to hospitality. (Lover of hospitality. Titus 1:8.) He must love in his heart to receive and entertain strangers without remuneration, to be kind and pleasing in his manners. Apt to teach. He must possess a talent or God-given ability to teach the Word to others in a simple manner. Patient. He must be free from ill passion and irritableness. He must be calm, and possess a tranquility and evenness of life. His composure and holy tranquilness is such that commands and quiets all strife, contentions and heated discussions. Ruling well his own house. Unless a man has sufficient wisdom, authority, love and firmness, to govern and control his own children he certainly can not be used of God to oversee the church of God. Lover of good men. His very heart and soul must admire and appreciate and love the good he sees in men. Just. In his admonitions, corrections and reprovings, he is always just and impartial. Holy. His heart and life and affections must be pure and holy, free from sin.