📖 Biblical Definition
"Episcopacy" names the ecclesial polity governed by bishops as a distinct office above presbyters. The New Testament, however, uses episkopos (overseer/bishop) and presbyteros (elder) interchangeably for the same office: "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders [presbyterous] of the church... Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers [episkopous]" (Acts 20:17, 28); cf. Titus 1:5-7. Paul addresses "bishops and deacons" at Philippi with no third order (Philippians 1:1). The development of a three-tier hierarchy (bishop / priest / deacon) appears post-apostolically (Ignatius of Antioch, c. AD 110) but is not clearly mandated in Scripture. Reformed and Presbyterian churches accordingly reject episcopal polity.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Government of the church by bishops; the office and authority of bishops.
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EPIS'COPACY, n. Government of the church by bishops; or the office and authority of bishops. Note: The key question is whether the hierarchical episcopate is of apostolic institution or a post-apostolic development.
📖 Key Scripture
• Acts 20:17,28 — "He called the elders... Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers."
• Titus 1:5-7 — "Ordain elders in every city... For a bishop must be blameless."
• Philippians 1:1 — "To all the saints at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons."
• 1 Peter 5:1-3 — "The elders which are among you I exhort... Feed the flock of God... taking the oversight thereof."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Episcopacy has been used to consolidate ecclesiastical power far beyond the New Testament pattern.
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The historical corruption of episcopacy is the transformation of pastoral office into political hierarchy. What began as servant-leadership became an imperial structure of archbishops, cardinals, and popes. The Reformation recovered the NT pattern of elder-led churches. Yet even Protestant churches fall into episcopal corruption when pastors become authoritarian rulers.
Usage
• "The New Testament uses bishop and elder interchangeably for the same pastoral office — it knows nothing of a bishop ruling over multiple churches."
• "The corruption of episcopacy is the corruption of servant-leadership into institutional power."