Early Christian Beliefs About Bishops

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

...as therefore sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ. Both these appointments were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God. Having received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. Thus, preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits of their labors, having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who would later believe. Nor was this a new thing, since many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For thus says the Scripture in a certain place, “I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith.”

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

...about the stones in the building. Those square white stones that fit exactly together are apostles, bishops, teachers, and deacons. They have lived in godly purity, and they have served as bishops, teachers, and deacons in a pure and reverent way for God's elect. Some of them have fallen asleep, and some are still alive. They have always agreed with one another, have been at peace among themselves, and have listened to one another. Because of this, they fit exactly into the building of the tower. But who are the stones that were dragged up from the depths and placed into the building, fitting in with the rest of the stones already placed in the tower? They are those who suffered for the Lord's sake. But I want to know, O Lady, who are the other stones that were carried from the land? She said, those that go into the building without being polished are the ones whom God has approved, because they walked in the straight ways of the Lord and practiced His commandments. But who are those who are now being brought and placed into the building? They are those who are young in faith and are faithful. But the angels warn them to do good, because no sin has been found in them. Who then a

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

...se who worked with him, but also to those who listened to him, as he himself demonstrates. When the bishops and presbyters came from Ephesus and the nearby cities and gathered in Miletus—because he was hurrying to Jerusalem to observe Pentecost—after testifying many things to them and declaring what would happen to him in Jerusalem, he added: “I know that you will see my face no more. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all. For I have not avoided declaring to you the entire counsel of God. Be careful, then, both about yourselves and all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to lead the Church of the Lord, which He has acquired for Himself through His own blood.” Referring to the false teachers who would arise, he said: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come among you, not sparing the flock. Even from among your own number, men will arise, speaking twisted things to draw followers after them.” “I have not avoided,” he says, “declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” In this way, the apostles simply and impartially shared with everyone what they had learned from the Lord. Similarly, Luke impartially conveys to u

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ed among us, you yourselves are not ignorant of them. For you certainly know that those named by us bishops, and presbyters, and deacons, were made so by prayer and by the laying on of hands, and that the difference in their names shows the difference in their duties. For not everyone who wants to be ordained is ordained, as was the case in that spurious and counterfeit priesthood of the calves under Jeroboam, 1 Kings 13:33, but only he who is called by God. For if there were no rule or distinction of orders, it would be enough to perform all the offices under one name. But being taught by the Lord the order of things, we distributed the functions of the high-priesthood to the bishops, those of the priesthood to the presbyters, and the ministration under both of them to the deacons, so that the divine worship might be performed in purity. For it is not lawful for a deacon to offer the sacrifice, or to baptize, or to give either the greater or the lesser blessing. Nor may a presbyter perform ordination. For it is not agreeable to holiness for this order to be perverted. For God is not the God of confusion, so that those in lower rank should tyrannically take for themselves the fu

Philippians 1:1 Background

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching

And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first-fruits [of their labours], having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching

...of the Lord, who are now together, give you these divine constitutions concerning every form of the church. Paul, the chosen vessel, our fellow apostle, is present with us, and James the bishop, and the rest of the presbyters, and the seven deacons. First, therefore, I Peter say that a bishop who is to be ordained must be, as all of us who have already been appointed were, blameless in all things. He must be an excellent man, chosen by all the people. When he has been named and approved, let the people gather on the Lord's Day, together with the presbytery and the bishops who are present, and let them give their consent. And let the chief of the bishops ask the presbytery and the people whether this is the man whom they desire as their ruler. If they agree, let him ask further whether he has a good testimony from all men concerning his fitness for so great and glorious an authority; whether everything relating to his piety toward God is right; whether he has practiced justice toward men; whether he has managed the affairs of his household well; and whether he has been blameless in the course of his life. And if the whole assembly together truthfully, and not out of prejudice, be

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

... he was not a man who suddenly reached the episcopate. Rather, after being advanced through all the offices of the Church, and after often serving the Lord well in sacred ministries, he rose through all the ranks of religious service to the high summit of the priesthood. Moreover, he did not ask for the episcopate itself, nor did he desire it. Nor, as others do when they are swollen with arrogance and pride, did he seize it for himself. Instead, he was peaceful and gentle, like those who are usually chosen by God for this office. Because of the modesty of his virgin continence, and the humility of his natural and carefully guarded reverence, he did not, as some do, use force to be made a bishop. Rather, he himself underwent compulsion, so that he was forced to accept the office of bishop. And he was made bishop by a great many of our colleagues who were then present in the city of Rome. They sent us letters about his ordination, honorable and full of praise, and remarkable for the testimony they gave about him. Moreover, Cornelius was made bishop by the judgment of God and of His Christ, by the testimony of almost all the clergy, by the vote of the people who were then present,

1 Timothy 3:1 Background

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

1 Timothy 3:2 Background

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

... whose commands and warnings we ought to keep, describes the honor of a bishop and the order of His Church in the Gospel. He says to Peter: “I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” From there, through the changes of times and successions, the ordering of bishops and the arrangement of the Church continues on. So the Church is founded upon the bishops, and every act of the Church is directed by these same rulers. Since this is founded on divine law, I am amazed that some, with reckless boldness, have chosen to write to me as if they were writing in the name of the Church, when the Church is established in the bishop and the clergy, and in all who stand firm in the faith. Far be it from the mercy of God and His unlimited power to allow the number of the lapsed to be called the Church, since it is written, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living,” Matthew 22:32. For we do indeed desire that all may be made alive, a

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

so that the Church is founded upon the bishops, and every act of the Church is controlled by these same rulers.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Direct teaching

...s. Also, show reverence to the deacons, as those who carry out the appointment of God through their office. Let no one do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let a proper Eucharist be considered as such when it is administered either by the bishop, or by someone he has entrusted it to. Wherever the bishop is present, let the multitude of the people also be there; just as where Christ is, there the whole heavenly host stands by, attending to Him as the Chief Captain of the Lord’s might, and the Governor of every intelligent nature. It is not lawful to baptize, offer, present sacrifice, or celebrate a love-feast without the bishop. But whatever seems good to the bishop is also well-pleasing to God, so that everything you do may be secure and valid.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...s, offers, and receives the blessing from bishops, but never from presbyters. A bishop removes from office any clergyman who deserves removal, except a bishop, because he does not have the power to do that by himself. A presbyter gives the blessing, but does not receive it; yet he does receive the blessing from the bishop or from a fellow presbyter. In the same way, he gives it to a fellow presbyter. He lays on hands, but does not ordain. He does not remove from office, yet he does separate those under him if they are liable to such a punishment. A deacon does not bless and does not give the blessing, but receives it from the bishop and presbyter. He does not baptize, and he does not offer. But when a bishop or presbyter has offered, he distributes to the people, not as a priest, but as one who ministers to the priests. But it is not lawful for any of the other clergy to do the work of a deacon. A deaconess does not bless, nor does she do anything that belongs to the office of presbyters or deacons. She is only to keep the doors and to minister to the presbyters in the baptizing of women, for the sake of decency. A deacon separates a subdeacon, a reader, a singer, and a deacones

Acts 20:28 Background

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

Therefore, appoint for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men meek, and not lovers of money, 1 Timothy 3:4 and truthful and proven;

Didache, Connection to Titus 1:5 Supporting witness

Appoint, therefore, for yourselves, bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men meek, and not lovers of money, and truthful and proved; for they also render to you the service of prophets and teachers.

Ignatius, Epistle to the Philadelphians (Short Version) Supporting witness

as also the nearest Churches have sent, in some cases bishops, and in others presbyters and deacons.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

Innumerable commands such as these are written in the holy Bible appertaining to chosen persons, some to presbyters, some to bishops, some to deacons, others to widows, of whom we shall have another opportunity of speaking.

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

...commands like these are written in the Holy Bible for chosen persons: some for presbyters, some for bishops, some for deacons, and others for widows, of whom we will have another opportunity to speak. Many things spoken in riddles, and many in parables, may benefit those who come across them. But it is not my task, says the Instructor, to teach these things any longer. We need a Teacher to explain those sacred words, and to him we must direct our steps.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

For the bishops and the presbyters are the priests with relation to the people;

Origen, Commentary on Matthew Supporting witness

...and clearly explain a question that is hard to grasp and examine, concerning the Apostle's rule for church matters. Paul does not want anyone in the church who has risen above the many, as happens in the administration of the sacraments, to enter a second marriage. For when he lays down the rule about bishops in the First Epistle to Timothy, he says, "If a man seeks the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. The bishop, therefore, must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded," 1 Timothy 3:1-2, and so on. And about deacons he says, "Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well," 1 Timothy 3:12, and so on. Yes, and also when appointing widows, he says, "Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man," 1 Timothy 5:9. After this he adds the other things, as second or third in importance to this. And in the Epistle to Titus he says, "For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I gave you charge. If anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having believing children," Titu

1 Timothy 3:12 Background

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

1 Timothy 3:8 Background

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Direct teaching

let them unfold the roll of their bishops, running down in due succession from the beginning in such a manner that [that first bishop of theirs ] bishop shall be able to show for his ordainer and predecessor some one of the apostles or of apostolic men, — a man, moreover, who continued steadfast with the apostles.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

5. Such presbyters does the Church nourish, of whom also the prophet says: “I will give thy rulers in peace, and thy bishops in righteousness.” Of whom also did the Lord declare, “Who then shall be a faithful steward (actor), good and wise, whom the Lord sets over His household, to give them their meat in due season?

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

...teaches outside the bounds of unity. Whoever he may be, and whatever he may be, if he is not in the Church of Christ, he is not a Christian. Even if he boasts about himself and proclaims his philosophy or eloquence with lofty words, yet if he has not kept brotherly love and ecclesiastical unity, he has lost even what he once had. Unless, perhaps, he seems to you to be a bishop who, after a bishop had been appointed in the Church by sixteen fellow bishops, strives through bribery to be made a corrupt and outsider bishop by the hands of deserters. And although there is one Church, which Christ has spread throughout the whole world into many members, and also one episcopate spread abroad through the united number of many bishops, he still tries, in spite of God's tradition and in spite of the joined and firmly connected unity of the Catholic Church everywhere, to make a merely human church. He also sends his new apostles through very many cities, so that he may set up some new foundations of his own choosing. And although in every city and throughout all the provinces bishops have already been ordained—men advanced in years, sound in faith, proved in trial, and condemned in persecu

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...ell enough the name of Fortunatus, who is one of the five presbyters who some time ago deserted the Church and were recently excommunicated by the judgment of our fellow bishops, men both numerous and of the highest respect, who wrote to you last year about this matter. You would also recognize Felicissimus, the standard-bearer of sedition. He too is included in those same letters long ago written to you by our fellow bishops, and he not only was excommunicated by them here, but was also recently driven from the Church by you there. Since I was confident that these things were known to you, and knew for certain that they remained in your memory and discipline, I did not think it necessary to report the follies of heretics to you quickly and urgently. For it should not belong to the majesty or dignity of the Catholic Church to concern itself with whatever the audacity of heretics and schismatics may attempt among themselves. For Novatian's party is also said to have now made Maximus the presbyter their false bishop in that place. He was recently sent to us as an ambassador for Novatian and was rejected from communion with us. Yet I had not written to you about this, since we trea