36, 1
“This is the way, beloved, in which we found our salvation, Jesus Christ, the High
Priest of our offerings, the defender and helper of our weakness. Through Him we
fix our gaze on the heights of heaven; through Him we see the reflection of the
faultless and lofty countenance of God; through him the eyes of our heart were
opened; through him our foolish and darkened understanding shoots up to the
light; through him the Master willed that we should taste of deathless knowledge;
who, being the brightness of His majesty, is as much greater than the angels as the
more glorious name which He has inherited.”
40, 1-5
“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.”
42, 1
“The Apostles received the gospel for us from the Lord Jesus Christ; and Jesus
Christ was sent from God. Christ, therefore, is from God, and the Apostles are
from Christ. Both of these orderly arrangements, then, are by God’s will.
Receiving their instructions and being full of confidence on account of the
resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and confirmed in faith by the word of God,
they 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.’”
44, 1-5
“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…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.”
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