Main Difference
The main difference between Bishop and Archbishop is that the Bishop is a ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy (for Catholic bishops, use Q611644, for Orthodox bishops, use Q15283040) and Archbishop is a bishop of higher rank in many Christian denominations
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Bishop
A bishop (English derivation from the New Testament of the Christian Bible Greek επίσκοπος, epískopos, “overseer”, “guardian”) is an ordained, consecrated, or appointed member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight.
Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Old Catholic and Independent Catholic churches and in the Assyrian Church of the East, bishops claim apostolic succession, a direct historical lineage dating back to the original Twelve Apostles. Within these churches, bishops are seen as those who possess the full priesthood and can ordain clergy – including another bishop. Some Protestant churches including the Lutheran and Methodist churches have bishops serving similar functions as well, though not always understood to be within apostolic succession in the same way. One who has been ordained deacon, priest, and then bishop is understood to hold the fullness of the (ministerial) priesthood, given responsibility by Christ to govern, teach and sanctify the Body of Christ, members of the Faithful. Priests, deacons and lay ministers cooperate and assist their bishops in shepherding a flock.
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Archbishop
In Christianity, an archbishop (, via Latin archiepiscopus, from Greek αρχιεπίσκοπος, from αρχι-, ‘chief’, and επίσκοπος, ‘bishop’) is a bishop of higher rank or office. In some cases, such as the Lutheran Church of Sweden and the Church of England, the title is borne by the leader of the denomination. Like popes, patriarchs, metropolitans, cardinal bishops, diocesan bishops, and suffragan bishops, archbishops are in the highest of the three traditional orders of bishops, priests (also called presbyters), and deacons. An archbishop may be granted the title or ordained as chief pastor of a metropolitan see or another episcopal see to which the title of archbishop is attached.
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Bishop (noun)
An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church’s priests, deacons, and property in its territory.
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Bishop (noun)
A similar official or chief priest in another religion.
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Bishop (noun)
Any watchman, inspector, or overlooker.
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Bishop (noun)
The holder of the Greek or Roman position of episcopus, supervisor over the public dole of grain, etc.
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Bishop (noun)
The chess piece denoted ♗ or ♝ which moves along diagonal lines and developed from the shatranj alfil (“elephant”) and was originally known as the aufil or archer in English.
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Bishop (noun)
Any of various African birds of the genus Euplectes; a kind of weaverbird closely related to the widowbirds.
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Bishop (noun)
A ladybug or ladybird, beetles of the family Coccinellidae.
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Bishop (noun)
A sweet drink made from wine, usually with oranges, lemons, and sugar; mulled and spiced port.
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Bishop (noun)
A bustle.
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Bishop (noun)
A children’s smock or pinafore.
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Bishop (verb)
To act as a bishop, to perform the duties of a bishop, especially to confirm another’s membership in the church.
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Bishop (verb)
To make a bishop.
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Bishop (verb)
To provide with bishops.
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Bishop (verb)
To permit food (especially milk) to burn while cooking (from bishops’ role in the inquisition or as mentioned in the quotation below, of horses).
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Bishop (verb)
To make a horse seem younger, particularly by manipulation of its teeth.
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Bishop (verb)
To murder by drowning.
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Archbishop (noun)
A senior bishop who is in charge of an archdiocese, and presides over a group of dioceses called a province (in Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, etc.)