Early Christian Beliefs About Church Leadership

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

...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

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

..., the fellow workers of Paul, received and left to you. While the Gospel is being read, let all the presbyters and deacons, and all the people, stand up in great silence, for it is written, "Be silent, and hear, O Israel," Deuteronomy 27:9. And again, "But stand there, and hear," Deuteronomy 5:31. Next, let the presbyters exhort the people one by one, not all together, and let the bishop speak last, as the commander. Let the porters stand at the entrances for the men and watch them. Let the deaconesses also stand at those for the women, like shipmen. For the same arrangement and pattern was also in the tabernacle of the testimony and in the temple of God. But if anyone is found sitting out of his place, let him be rebuked by the deacon, as a manager of the front of the ship, and be moved to the place proper for him. For the Church is not only like a ship, but also like a sheepfold. For just as shepherds place all the animals separately, I mean goats and sheep, according to their kind and age, and yet each one runs together with its own kind, so it is to be in the Church. Let the young persons sit by themselves, if there is a place for them. If not, let them stand upright. But le

Hebrews 13:17 Direct teaching

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

For ye did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the commandments of God, being obedient to those who had the rule over you, and giving all fitting honour to the presbyters among you.

Anonymous, Connection to Hebrews 13:17 Supporting witness

Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us; let us esteem those who have the rule over us;

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

...re, that those appointed by them, or later by other distinguished men with the consent of the whole Church, who have served the flock of Christ blamelessly in a humble, peaceful, and selfless spirit, and have long enjoyed a good reputation with everyone, cannot be justly removed from the ministry. Our sin will not be small if we dismiss from the episcopate those who have fulfilled its duties blamelessly and holily. Blessed are those presbyters who, having completed their journey before now, have achieved a fruitful and perfect departure from this world; for they have no fear of being deprived of the place now appointed to them. But we see that you have removed some men of excellent character from the ministry, which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honor.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

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.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

We are of opinion, therefore, that those appointed by them, or afterwards by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole Church, and who have blamelessly served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable, and disinterested spirit, and have for a long time possessed the good opinion of all, cannot be justly dismissed from the ministry.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...n 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, bears witness that he is such a man, let them ask a third time, as before God the Judge and Christ, with the Holy Spirit also present, as well as all the holy ministering spirits, whether he is truly worthy of this ministry, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established, Matthew 18:16. And if they agree the third time that he is worthy, let them all be asked for their vote. When they all give it willingly, let them be heard. And when sile

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...st of the clergy to baptize. For example, not readers, singers, doorkeepers, or ministers, but only bishops and presbyters. Even then, the deacons are to assist them in it. But those who dare to do it will undergo the punishment of the companions of Korah. Numbers 16. We do not permit presbyters to ordain deacons, deaconesses, readers, ministers, singers, or doorkeepers, but only bishops, for this is the ecclesiastical order and harmony.

Acts 15:22 Direct teaching

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,

Titus 1:5 Supporting witness

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Acts 14:23 Supporting witness

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

Which plan and rule is now maintained in respect of the clergy, that they who are promoted by clerical ordination in the Church of the Lord may be called off in no respect from the divine administration, nor be tied down by worldly anxieties and matters;

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

when the Church is established in the bishop and the clergy, and all who stand fast in the faith.

Tertullian, De Fuga in Persecutione Supporting witness

And this never happens more than when in persecution the Church is abandoned by the clergy.

Cyprian, Epistles Direct teaching

But deacons ought to remember that the Lord chose apostles, that is, bishops and overseers, while the apostles, after the Lord's ascension into heaven, appointed deacons for themselves as servants of their episcopacy and of the Church. But if we may dare anything against God, who makes bishops, then deacons may also dare against us, by whom they are made. Therefore, the deacon about whom you wrote ought to repent of his audacity, acknowledge the honor of the priest, and satisfy the bishop set over him with full humility. For these things are the beginnings of heretics, and the origins and efforts of evil-minded schismatics: to please themselves, and with swollen pride to despise the one set over them. In this way they depart from the Church. In this way a profane altar is set up outside. In this way they rebel against the peace of Christ, and against the appointment and unity of God. But if he also troubles and provokes you with his insults, you must use the authority of your office against him, either by removing him or by excommunicating him. For if the Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, said, "Let no man despise your youth," 1 Timothy 4:12, how much more should your fellow bishop

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

...d before the tyrants confessed himself a Christian, such a man shall no longer carry out his sacred ministry. This is because he has deserted the Lord's flock, and because, having of his own accord sought the contest, through not being able to endure the torment, he has brought reproach upon himself. For the apostles did not neglect the teaching of the people and prefer their own advantage. For the mighty Paul, after he had endured many torments, although he saw that it was far better to leave this life, still chose rather to live and to be tormented for the salvation and instruction of the people. Therefore those who seek the sacred ministry, from which they have fallen of their own accord, are altogether without perception. For how is it that they seek what they have left, when in this season of persecution they are able to be useful to their brothers? If indeed they had not fallen, indulgence would be extended to them for what they had done contrary to reason, for example, their voluntary flight, or their slackness in teaching and strengthening the brothers. But if they have lapsed through their own arrogance and conceit—for such is the nature of rashly venturing to expose th

Acts 20:28 Direct teaching

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

1 Peter 5:1 Direct teaching

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

1 Timothy 5:17 Supporting witness

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 Supporting witness

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

1 Peter 5:2 Supporting witness

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

1 Peter 5:3 Supporting witness

nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Titus 1:7 Supporting witness

For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

...ies, 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.”

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness

...ese. "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Presbyters, be subject to the bishop; deacons, to the presbyters; and you, the people, to the presbyters and the deacons. Let my soul be with those who maintain this good order; and may the Lord be with them continually!

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Direct teaching

You presbyters, "feed the flock which is among you," until God reveals who is to lead you. For "I am now ready to be offered," that I "may win Christ." Let the deacons understand the dignity of their position and strive to be blameless so they may follow Christ. Let the people be subject to the presbyters and the deacons. Let the virgins be aware of whom they have consecrated themselves to.

Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness

...n made an example to others, both in courage and in the fear of God. I had indeed believed that the presbyters and deacons there with you would more fully warn and instruct you about the law of the Gospel, as was always done before under my predecessors. Then the deacons, going in and out of the prison, guided the desires of the martyrs by their counsel and by the teachings of Scripture. But now, with great sorrow of heart, I learn that not only are the divine commands not being set before you by them, but that they are even being held back instead. So the things that are being done by you yourselves, both toward God with caution and toward God's priest with honor, are being weakened by certain presbyters, who consider neither the fear of God nor the honor due to the bishop. Although you sent letters to me asking that your wishes should be considered, and that peace should be granted to certain of the lapsed as soon as, after the end of the persecution, we had begun to meet with our clergy and gather together again, those presbyters, contrary to the law of the Gospel and also contrary to your respectful request, before repentance was completed, before confession had even been ma

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...ut does not receive the blessing. He lays on hands, ordains, 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

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

Ignatius, Epistle to the Smyrnaeans (Long Version) Supporting witness

... done by you with good order in Christ. Let the laity be subject to the deacons; the deacons to the presbyters; the presbyters to the bishop; the bishop to Christ, just as He is to the Father. As you, brothers, have refreshed me, so will Jesus Christ refresh you. You have loved me when absent, as well as when present. God will recompense you, for whose sake you have shown such kindness towards His prisoner. For even if I am not worthy of it, yet your zeal to help me is admirable. For “he who honors a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward.” It is also evident that he who honors a prisoner of Jesus Christ shall receive the reward of the martyrs.

Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Supporting witness

Wherefore, it is needful to abstain from all these things, being subject to the presbyters and deacons, as unto God and Christ.

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Supporting witness

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;

1 Corinthians 12:28 Supporting witness

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1 Timothy 3:13 Supporting witness

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.