Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Debelak
Toledo:
Can you give us any background on /episkope/ in ancient greek usage? In one contextual usage, it seems it means "office of __________" - but not particular about which office (in the other usage it seems to mean "God's visitation" - see Luke 9:44). Its used in Acts 1 to refer to what seems to me to be "office of apostle" - or just generally "office". But in Titus 1, it seems to mean "office of overseer/bishop/elder". So, unless "apostle" and "bishop/elder" are the same thing, I gather that /episkope/ simply means "office of _________" without specification when there is no context.
Or is this going down the wrong track altogether? How was this word used, if you know?
Peter
P.S. Pardon if I'm presumptive about your greek knowledge - you popped in earlier with some comments that had the color of someone who knows.... 
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Although it is important to know definitions ("Word mean things"...), definitions alone won't suffice. [Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?]
"Presbuteros", as you have pointed out, means "elder" -- first as an "older brother", then as a responsible person.
"Episkopos" (
epi -- "over" +
skopeo -- "observe") means, practically, an "overseer".
"Apostolos" (
apo -- away from +
stello -- send) means "one who is sent" or "ambassador". In the fifth century B.C. the word had distinctly negative connotations, rather like an oppressive tax collector. The New Testament usage seems to be utterly different, referring to those "sent out" by the Christ of God.
Hope this helps. I am by no means all that knowledgeable in Greek. My hands on experience is limited to maybe a few dozen medieval manuscripts plus a bit of time with papyrus P46, and not much more.
I tend to shy away from arguments about pseudographia, being content to accept the received canon of scripture.
[Thank you, by the way, for editing your earlier post...]