The present invention is directed to an articulate minimally invasive surgical endoscope with a flexible wrist having at least one degree of freedom. When used with a surgical robot having a plurality of robot arms, the endoscope can be used with any of the plurality of arms thereby allowing the use a universal arm design. The endoscope in accordance to the present invention is made more intuitive to a user by attaching a reference frame used for controlling at least one degree of freedom motion to the flexible wrist for wrist motion associated with at least one degree of freedom. The endoscopie in accordance to the present invention attenuates indesirable motion at its back/proximal end by acquiring the image of the object in association with at least one degree of freedom based on a reference frame rotating around a point of rotation located proximal to the flexible wrist.