went forth in the complete assurance of the Holy Spirit, preaching
the good news that the Kingdom of God is coming. Through
countryside and city they preached; and they appointed their
earliest converts, testing them by the spirit, to be the bishops and
deacons of future believers. Nor was this a novelty: for bishops
and deacons had been written about a long time earlier. Indeed,
Scripture somewhere says: ‘I will set up their bishops in
righteousness and their deacons in faith’” (42, 1);
“Our Apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there
would be strife for the office of bishop. For this reason, therefore,
having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who
have already been mentioned, and afterwards added the further
provision that, if they should die, other approved men should
succeed to their ministry…(44, 1-5).
The office of Bishop and Priest, their authority and their sacrifices:
“He has commanded the offerings and services to be celebrated,
and not carelessly nor in disorder, but at fixed times and
hours…Those, then, who make their offerings at the appointed
times, are acceptable and blessed; for they follow the laws of the
Master and do not sin. To the high priest, indeed, proper
ministrations are allotted, to the priests a proper place is appointed,
and upon the levites their proper services are imposed. The layman
is bound by the ordinances for the laity” (40, 1-5);
“Our sin will not be small if we eject from the episcopate those
who blamelessly and holily have offered its Sacrifices. Blessed are
those presbyters who have already finished their course, and who
have obtained a fruitful and perfect release” (44, 5).
The Pope as the Vicar of Christ:
“Accept our counsel, and you will have nothing to regret. For as
God lives, and as the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and the Holy Spirit,
and the faith and hope of the elect, as surely will he that humbly
and with equanimity and without regret carries out the
commandments and precepts given by God, be enrolled and chosen
among the number of those who are being saved through Jesus
Christ, through whom there is glory to Him forever and ever.
Amen” (58, 2).
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