I have heard it said that the early church was not hierarchical. Apparently it was a heaving amorphous mass somewhat like the ocean. There is only one problem with this theory - it is unscriptural. Among other books, 1 Timothy shows all three ranks of ordained clergy - bishops are discussed in chapter 3, as are deacons. Priests, AKA presbyters, or elders, are discussed in chapter 5. I have also heard it said that some do not regard Timothy and Titus as truly authentic and belonging to the Scriptures due to the fact that they indicate the existence of the hierarchy from the get go. I am myself of the opinion the correct way to read the Bible is to discover what it can tell me, and not to read it in order to judge it by my own presuppositions as to what I think that it ought to say. When in doubt, I turn to the wisdom of two thousand years of study by the Church and by the fathers to determine what the meaning might be. I am by no means my own pope, and I have no desire to be. I am not a Church council, so I am content to accept the Bible as it has come down to us from antiquity, and I have no desire to throw out books because I do not want to accept their teaching. This would be the height of arrogance. My place is to accept the teaching and permit it to rule my life.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:00:02 +0000