Winning the World

Session 5 Patterns of Structure and Religious Authority in Church Planting Movements

The Church Fathers on the Importance of Structure and Religious Authority

Appoint, therefore, for yourselves, bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord: men who are meek, not lovers of money, truthful, and tested; for they also render to you the service of prophets and teachers. Do not despise them, therefore, for they are your honored ones, together with the prophets and teachers.

~ Didache (circa 80-140, E), 7.381.

Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be strife on account of the office of oversight. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect foreknowledge of this, they appointed those already mentioned. Afterwards, they gave instructions, that when those men should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We are of opinion, therefore, that those appointed by the apostles or after wards 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. ~ Clement of Rome (circa 96, W), 1.17.

It is therefore necessary that you do nothing without the bishop (as you indeed already practice). Likewise, you should also be subject to the presbyters. ~ Ignatius (circa 105, E), 1.61.

It is incumbent to obey the presbyters who are in the church – those who, as I have shown, possess the succession from the apostles. Those who, together with the succession of the episcopate, have received the certain gift of truth, according to the good pleasure of the Father.

~ Irenaeus (circa 180, E/W), 1.497.

It is within the power of all, therefore, in every church, who may wish to see the truth, to contemplate clearly the tradition of the apostles manifested throughout the whole world. And we are in a position to reckon up those who were by the apostles instituted

79