ἐπί-σκοπος, -ου, ὁ
(σκοπός, a watcher), [in LXX for פָּקַד, its parts and derivatives, Num.4:16 31:14, Jdg.9:28, 4Ki.11:15 11:18, 2Ch.34:12 34:17, Neh.11:9, 14 11:22; אֵל, Job.20:29; נָגַשׂ:, Isa.60:17; Wis.1:6, 1Ma.1:51 * ;]
a superintendent, guardian, overseer (cl.; for exx. see LS, see word): Act.20:28, 1Pe.2:25 (ICC, in l); as technical term for a religious office (Deiss., BS, 230 f.), in later Paul. epp. of the head of a church (Vg. episcopus), a bishop: Php.1:1, 1Ti.3:2, Tit.1:7 (see reff. see word ἐπισκοπή).†
(AS)