So the NASB, KJV. ESV, KJ21, American Standard, Douay-Rheims, World English Bible, Revised Standard, and New Revised Standard ALL got it wrong, don’t know what they’re talking about?  BTW, the Contemporary English Version says “church official” and the NKJV says “position of bishop” – so they’re all wet too, I guess.

Olddad
There you go putting words in my mouth again.  You are comparing apples and oranges.  I said Greek text not English translations.  Again the most often whay a clarifing word or phrase is determined is by past translations.  The simple fact is all the best evidence is that it is not in the Greek.  They all use church when the Greek is assmbly.  That still does not change the Greek text.   

ἐπισκοπή IS in the text, and does have precedence being translated from Greek as "office".

My point all along has been - I know you don't like the translation, but it is inaccurate to say:
 

In fact translators of newer versions working from much older manuscripts than the KJV have chosen to use some variation of the phrase "office of an overseer/bishop/elder."

Just because man misuses or misunderstands something doesn't make it not the right way.

God has designed in us the ability to procreate.  His will is for us to do this through our spouse.  When we misuse this ability, through fornication or adultery, it is us who are in error, not the design.

It is the same with the eldership....that's why Peter exhorted the elders to lead in a Christlike servant manner, not lording it over the flock.

 
Seriously?  You've not seen ἐπισκοπή in any modern Greek text?  I'm looking at my UBS third edition right now - and it's there in 1 Timothy 3:1.

BTW, ἐπισκοπή is also translated "office" in Acts 1:20.

Translators make informed choices based on the text before them.  I don't thinks it's either accurate or fair to say the reason translators chose to translate ἐπισκοπή as "office of overseer" in 1 Timothy 3 is because everyone else who came before them had done so.  I believe it disparages their work.

From The Expositor's Bible Commentary on 1 Timothy by Dr. Ralph Earle, Distinguished Professor of New Testament Emeritus, Nazarene Theological Seminary, page 363:


EDITED TO ADD:  I think I see a source of confusion - you seem to think the use of the word "office" is based on ergon (work) - it's not.  As Dr. Earle has pointed out, it is a valid translation of the abstract noun episkope.


Paul instructed Timothy to appoint elders - so there is to be some sort of pastoral appointment process based on the qualifications in 1 Timothy and Titus.

And according to 1 Timothy 5:17, at least some of those elders "direct the affairs of the church" ("rule well" - NASB) and are worthy to be paid an honorarium.

There was authority. The authority was to protect the flock from false teachers, and to teach the followers so they would recognize those false teachers. That's it. Period. They did other things, like pray, lay hands for healing, but the "authority" is to deal with shysters.

I believe Jesus presented the inverted pyramid of "leadership" for us, as opposed to the top-down hierarchy of our contemporary business world. Marriage/family is to use this same example.

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The "office" of Acts 1:20 is a quote from Psalms, so you need to go there to see what was really being said. The Hebrew word is pĕquddah, and is a descriptive word:oversight, care, visitation; a responsibility. It has the connotation of being an administrative work, one who see to it that things are done, sometimes by delegating, and sometimes by doing it themselves.


I don't know why we argue about this. What does it matter, as long as the work for Jesus is being done? 

Johnb - you will definitely be in my prayers and thoughts.

Don't give a second thought to how you've conducted yourself in this discussion - you have been honest and charitable.  I have enjoyed discussing this, even though we seem destined to disagree.  We are capable, I believe, of doing so agreeably.

God bless you, my brother.