Readers in the Early Church
Early Christian writings treat readers as an established church role. Cyprian and the Apostolic Constitutions describe readers as part of church order, and Justin Martyr says the reader read Scripture before the leader taught. Bible passages like Nehemiah 8 and 1 Timothy 4:13 give background for public reading and hearing the word.
110 early-church witnesses · 204 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about readers in Church?
Early Christian writings treat readers as real church workers, not just people who happened to read aloud. Cyprian names and appoints readers in his churches, and the Apostolic Constitutions describes how a reader is ordained and how readers belong to the church's ordered ministry. Justin Martyr also says that in Christian worship a reader first reads the Scriptures and then the leader exhorts the people, which shows that public reading was a normal part of gathered worship.
The evidence is broad for readers as an established church office in the third century, while the oldest texts are thinner and mostly indirect, with some Bible passages giving background for public reading in Israel and the synagogue. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Readers were part of church order in later early Christian writings.
- Justin Martyr describes a worship service where the reader read first and the leader followed with exhortation.
- Cyprian and the Apostolic Constitutions treat readers as an office that could be appointed or ordained.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Were readers a real church office in early Christianity?
Early Christian sources present readers as an actual office in the church, sometimes formally appointed or ordained and listed with other clerical roles. The evidence does not treat readers as a casual title, but as part of church order and ministry.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
and to the rest of the sub-deacons, or readers, or singers, or deaconesses, one part.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
with all the orthodox bishops, elders, deacons, sub-deacons, readers, singers, and laity, with the entire body of the Holy and only Catholic Church.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
Remember the orthodox bishops everywhere, the elders, deacons, sub-deacons, readers, singers, monks, virgins, widows, and laity.
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Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness
My soul be in place of his. I salute the sub-deacons, the readers, the singers, the doorkeepers, the labourers, the exorcists, the confessors.
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Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness
But you will read the words in this city, along with the presbyters who preside over the Church.
Did early Christians read Scripture aloud in church?
The strongest sources show Scripture being read publicly to the congregation, with a reader appointed to read holy writings and the people gathered to hear. The Bible cards and early church texts both support the practice of public reading before instruction or exhortation.
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Justin Martyr, Connection to Acts 2:42 Direct teaching
And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.
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1 Timothy 4:13 Supporting witness
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
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Nehemiah 8:8 Supporting witness
They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
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Nehemiah 8:5 Supporting witness
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
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Nehemiah 8:3 Supporting witness
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
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Acts 13:15 Supporting witness
And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.”
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Jeremiah 36:15 Supporting witness
And they said to him, “Sit down now, and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch read it in their hearing.
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Luke 4:20 Supporting witness
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
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1 Thessalonians 5:27 Supporting witness
I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
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Acts 2:42 Background
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
What happened after the reader finished reading?
One early Christian witness says that after the reader finished, the president verbally instructed and exhorted the congregation. Bible passages also fit this pattern by showing reading followed by explanation or hearing in the assembled people.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
...I should also inform you in this letter that, for a very urgent reason, I have sent a letter to the clergy who remain in the city. And since it was necessary for me to write through clergy, while I know that very many of our men are absent, and the few who are there are hardly enough for the ministry of daily duty, it was necessary to appoint some new men who could be sent. Know, then, that I have made Saturus a reader, and Optatus the confessor a subdeacon. By the general advice of all, we had already placed them next to the clergy, since on Easter Day we had entrusted the reading to Saturus more than once. And while, together with the teaching presbyters, we were carefully testing readers, we appointed Optatus from among the readers to be a teacher of the hearers, first examining whether everything proper was found in them, as ought to be found in those being prepared for clerical office. Therefore, nothing new has been done by me in your absence. Rather, what had been begun by the general advice of all of us has now, because of urgent necessity, been completed. I bid you, beloved brothers, a heartfelt farewell always; and remember me. Farewell.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
XXII. Concerning readers, I Matthew, also called Levi, who was once a tax-gatherer, make a constitution: Ordain a reader by laying your hands upon him, and pray unto God, and say: O Eternal God, who art plenteous in mercy and compassions, who hast made manifest the constitution of the world by Your operations therein, and keepest the number of Your elect, do Thou also now look down upon Your servant, who is to be entrusted to read Your Holy Scriptures to Your people, and give him Your Holy Spirit, the prophetic Spirit.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
and when with the teacher-presbyters we were carefully trying readers — in appointing Optatus from among the readers to be a teacher of the hearers — examining, first of all, whether all things were found fitting in them, which ought to be found in such as were in preparation for the clerical office.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
Know, then, that these for the present are appointed readers, because it was fitting that the candle should be placed in a candlestick, whence it may give light to all, and that their glorious countenance should be established in a higher place, where, beheld by all the surrounding brotherhood, they may give an incitement of glory to the beholders.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
... whole list of all those bishops again. And together, presbyters, and deacons, and sub-deacons, and readers, were ordained by all of us. Therefore the great High Priest, who is such by nature, is Christ the only begotten. He did not snatch that honor for Himself, but was appointed to it by the Father. Having become man for our sake, and offering the spiritual sacrifice to His God and Father, before His suffering He gave to us alone the charge to do this, although there were others with us who had believed in Him. But the one who believes is not immediately appointed a priest, or given the dignity of the high-priesthood. But after His ascension we offered, according to His constitution, the pure and unbloody sacrifice, and ordained bishops, and presbyters, and deacons, seven in number. One of these was Stephen, that blessed martyr, who was not inferior to us in his pious disposition of mind toward God. He showed such great piety toward God by his faith and love toward our Lord Jesus Christ that he gave his life for Him, and was stoned to death by the Jews, the murderers of the Lord. Yet even this very great and good man, fervent in spirit, who saw Christ at the right hand of God
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
27. Of those who come into the clergy unmarried, we permit only the readers and singers, if they have a mind, to marry afterward.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Background
Deuteronomy 5:31 In the next place, let the presbyters one by one, not all together, exhort the people, and the bishop in the last place, as being the commander.
Common Questions
Did the early church have readers in worship?
Yes. Justin Martyr says a reader read the Scriptures in the meeting, and then the leader taught and exhorted the people.
Were readers a real church office?
Yes. Cyprian and the Apostolic Constitutions both speak of readers as part of church ministry and order.
Do the Bible passages mention readers?
The Bible gives strong background for public reading in worship, especially in Nehemiah 8 and 1 Timothy 4:13.
Source Index for Readers in Church
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 204 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 110
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
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Didache, Connection to Acts 2:42
Bible Passages 80 shown of 94
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.