The Difference Between a Bishop, Deacon and the Five Fold Ministry.

​Many of us are aware that there are many offices in the body of Christ; Bishop, Deacon, Pastor, Apostle, etc.
Let’s have a look at scripture to see what it says:

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To be in the office of one of the five-fold you have to be called by God. Man cannot call you, you must be called by God  to be in one of these offices.  The offices in the five fold are stated in Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4; 11- 12
 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Notice the beginning of verse 11, and He gave some etc
The above scripture is clear, it is the Lord that gives these offices and calls a person into them.
The office of a bishop and deacon is however different. A man can desire to be a bishop, and once he fits the criteria he can be one.

1 Timothy 3; 1-4
This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Verse 8 continues to say “likewise”, this can be assumed that the same applies to the office of a deacon.

8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

So we can see from verse 10 that the deacons must first be proven.
In summary, the office of a bishop or deacon is really down to the person and the leadership of their church. However, the office of an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher, a person must be called of God. Man cannot appoint you to any of those offices.

We can see in the book of revelation, a self-appointed prophetess “Who calls herself an prophetess” (Revelation 2;20), and some that called themselves apostles and are not (Revelation 2; 2).

When the Lord calls us, He gives us grace for the office (Romans 12;6). This is one reason we cannot afford man to call us to what God has not called us to.

So in summary, it’s okay to be a bishop or deacon provided you desire it, meet the criteria and your leadership approve it, however for the other offices you must be called of God.

​Bisi Oladipupo