2. Around beginning of 2 nd c., Christianity begins to be distinguished from Judaism and noticed as different by Rome:

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1 Theo 424 Early Christianity Session 6a & b: Worship & Leadership, pt.1-2 Page 1 Reading assignment: pt. 1 - Frend 35-47; White ; Aland, *(EC); Course Reader (Torjesen 5-7; Jay selected sections) Pt. 2 Jeffers 228; Course Reader (Kelly 204-6, Hippolytus 23-24, 27-28, Lefkowitz ) I. Changes in Worship & Leadership A. From Fall of Jerusalem (70 AD) to Bar Kokhba (135 AD), church still basically a Jewish body with its organization and worship modeled on synagogue (Frend 35). 1. Main problem for church of period was its relations with Judaism, according to Frend (35). a) In Diaspora communities, Paul s method of proselytizing through synagogues as the launching point put Christians in direct competition for converts with Jews (Frend 29). b) Formation of the Shmoneh esrai (birkhat ha minim) blessing against the heretics intended to discourage Christians from entering synagogues for the purpose of proselytizing Jews formed around 90 AD as well as the formation of the Old Testament canon (Frend 36). c) Images of the Jewish/Christian conflict reflected in writings such as Justin s Dialogue with Trypho, the pastoral writings of John as well as the Revelation (synagogue of Satan), Titus 1:10 (evil teachers especially among the circumcised), Ignatius in his Epistle to the Magnesians, and the Epistle of Barnabas (Frend 36-7). d) Jonathan Z. Smith greatest competitions & conflicts are with the proximate other (those who are most like us). (Smith 47). Conflicts between groups which are similar often results in the use of rhetoric to describe one s opponent as other & are often attempts to define one s own group. 2. Around beginning of 2 nd c., Christianity begins to be distinguished from Judaism and noticed as different by Rome: a) Letters of Trajan and Pliny, Hadrian s rescript to the proconsul of Asia (Minucius Fundanus) c. 125 demonstrate specific Roman directives re Christians and suggest distinctions being made between Jews & Christians from Roman perspective.

2 Theo 424 Early Christianity Session 6a & b: Worship & Leadership, pt.1-2 Page 2 b) Bar Kokhba revolt Christians refused to side with Bar Kokhba, experienced persecution from nationalistic Jews in revolt (Frend 47). c) Lucian of Samosata writes satire of a pagan who becomes a leader of the Christians who are portrayed as gullible (Frend 46) c. 165 AD. d) Celsus writes On the True Doctrine, a treatise against the Christians (c. 170 AD). e) Writings of apologists, ranging from Epistle to Diognetus c AD through Origen s Against Celsus c. mid 3 rd c. B. The Development of Ministry Offices in the Early Church 1. Scholarly views of the organization of the church: a) Roman Catholic view hierarchical society governed by the apostles with Peter as head (Frend 38). b) Harnack, Lietzmann and other church historians organization of church evolved to 90 AD based on Hellenistic synagogue (Frend 38) c) Frend both ideas have truth, but are incomplete since they don t consider differences in Jerusalem vs. diaspora ministry. 2. Three views of church governance in early documents per Frend (38): a) Bishop, priest, and deacon with power in hands of bishop as the norm in churches of Ignatius. b) Prophet and teacher higher than bishop. c) Pre-eminence of bishop but lack of clarity whether it was one bishop or a college of presbyter-bishops in I Clement. 3. Progression of leadership hierarchy in New Testament according to Frend (40-42) a) Acts 13:3 laying on of hands like levitical priests in Num 8:10. Presbyters were appointed by apostles (Acts 14:23) (Frend 40) b) In Philippi and Colossae Bishops and deacons mentioned, but not presbyters (Frend 40).

3 Theo 424 Early Christianity Session 6a & b: Worship & Leadership, pt.1-2 Page 3 c) Changing meanings of episcopos (bishop) (1) Overseer of charity, guardian of scrolls, hospitality (seen in Shepherd of Hermas) (Frend 40). (2) Priest and head of the community used in Num. 4:16 to describe Eleazar. Church had bishop or board of presbyter-bishops with a president (called prohestos by Justin). Role included offering Eucharistic meal and representing the people before the Lord (Frend 40). d) Progression of leadership in early documents (1) High priest/apostolic authority over churches in a region suggested in pastoral epistles & John s letters. (2) Prophets & teachers with precedence over bishops (Didache) (3) By 100 AD in Antioch Bishop with priests and deacons (Ignatius). (4) With recognition of delay of Christ s return bishop, presbyters, and deacons. (5) Ministries present in Polycarp s Letter to Philippi (c. 108) presbyters, deacons, widows, young men (unknown role) (Frend43) C. Jay s analysis of the development of monepiscopacy and of church orders 1. Didache c AD church order provides regulations for baptism, fasting, prayer, eucharist, and itinerant ministry of apostles and prophets, and local ministry of bishops and deacons (Jay 126). 2. Clement of Rome c AD presbtyers who offer the gifts of episcope (overseers who offered Eucharistic meal). Although Dix suggests local bishops were ordained by outside regional bishops in Clement s time, Jay rejects this (Jay 135). Instead, group of presbyters fulfilled role of episcope (oversight of the churches including discipline, instruction, and administration of the sacraments (Jay 136) 3. Ignatius of Antioch c CE one bishop, a council of presbyters, and deacons. Context: Need for monepiscopacy to combat heresies (Jay 140). Monepiscopacy not claimed as result of apostolic succession. Bishop was

4 Theo 424 Early Christianity Session 6a & b: Worship & Leadership, pt.1-2 Page 4 probably chosen by presbyters but not clear if he was ordained by presbytery or by regional bishops outside local church (Jay 141). a) Bishop (episcopos) a minister who presides over all Christians in the city. Functions of the bishop governing and liturgical; oversees administration of sacraments and delegates their service (Jay 137). b) Presbyters functions not clear, but they are council of God and college of apostles presided over by the bishop (Jay 138). This suggests they did apostolic work of evangelism, preaching, and teaching. c) Deacons carried letters, travel with bishop, served as bishop s agent to seek sick and needy, distribute food, and give alms under bishop s direction (Jay 139). 4. Polycarp c. 110 CE presbyters had pastoral and disciplinary functions including visiting sick, widows, orphans. Deacons minister to material needs of sick and poor. Presbyters function as corporate body (Jay 142). 5. Hegesippus c. 165 CE Context: Gnosticism threatening church. Bishops in local churches depicted as succession of authorized teachers stemming from apostles with responsibility to disseminate true doctrine (Jay 151). 6. Irenaeus c. 177 CE provides apostolic succession line of 12 bishops of Rome (Adv. Haer ) traced through bishops who previously occupied bishop s role. Bishop s appointment not made by mentor to his apprentice, but rather ordained by other bishops from other churches (Jay 152-3). Bishop president of the presbyteral college. 7. Tertullian c. 200 CE similar view of bishops to Irenaeus. Bishop guardian of the rule of faith, but also administers sacraments (Jay 155). 8. Hippolytus c. 225 CE bishop is now sole ordainer, chosen by people but ordained by other bishops (Jay 156). Bishop now head of hierarchy of ministry (high priest), distinct and higher from other ministries. a) Process of attaining episcopal office: (1) Election by church (2) Succession to teacher s chair from a predecessor (3) Consecration by laying on of hands by other bishops b) Bishops ordain offices of presbyters and deacons (Jay 157). Bishop gains authority of apostolic succession and gains authority

5 Theo 424 Early Christianity Session 6a & b: Worship & Leadership, pt.1-2 Page 5 through consecration of regional bishops, not by taking the teacher s chair (Jay 159). II. Demographic and institutional changes that influenced process of institutionalization in church leadership A. Transition in types of church authority: 1. Charismatic founder with miracles/visions 2. 2 nd generation chosen by founder, so transition is stable 3. 3 rd generation characterized by competing types of authority: a) Handpicked successor of 2 nd generation leader b) Patron/host of the community c) Person who claims to possess original ideals of the founder d) Person who claims to have charismatic authority of early leaders (White 367) B. 3 rd generation leads to institutionalization due to issues of self-definition: 1. Separation from Judaism leading to hybrid identity (White 367-8). a) Two approaches to its Jewish legacy (1) Triumphalist language that depicts the church as verus Israel (true Israel), making the church the inheritor of Jewish heritage and promises (2) Rejection of Jewish heritage, viewing Jews as hypocrites b) Separation from Judaism makes Christians more visible to Romans, leading to apologists. 2. Increased Gentile constituency after Jewish revolts of 70 AD & 135 AD. 3. Increase in upperclass constituency resulting in pressures to accommodate social views of upperclass (Aland, 57-9). a) Lex Julia et Papia Roman law during Augustine forbid marriage between senatorial class and freedpersons, slaves, or actors/actresses (Lefkowitz 110; Jeffers 228) b) Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition xvi

6 Theo 424 Early Christianity Session 6a & b: Worship & Leadership, pt.1-2 Page 6 (1) v. 4 one process of examining lives of catechumen related to slaves. Slaves of believers could only become Christians if their masters allowed it. (2) v. 24a a man could marry a concubine (or get rid of her), but a Christian woman was only given option to get rid of her male slave in relationship with her, not marriage. 4. Increased problems with Gnostic heresies, creating need for authoritative leadership and teaching in role of bishop. 5. Routinization of charisma people are appointed to ministry offices by the will of the group and then the offices are given definition and replace personal charisma (the common characteristic of the founder) (White 367). C. Issues of self-definition which led to the institutionalization of Christianity in the second century: 1. Growing sense of separateness from Judaism with need for distinctive sense of identity led to new Christian self-definition (White ). 2. New stress on church order with formalization of liturgy, norms of practice, and ethics. 3. Charismatic authority replaced with fixed offices such as bishops, elders, & deacons. 4. Concerns about theological diversity result in stricter definitions of orthodoxy & heresy. 5. Formation of a fixed canon of scripture to ratify organizational structures, liturgical practices, and patterns of belief. III. Cyprian s influence on the role of bishop A. Context: Conflict with Novatian over the restoration of the lapsed after the Decian persecution (265 AD). Novatian had rigorist position that ordinations received from those who lapsed during persecution were invalid. Cyprian believed in a path to restoration for the repentant lapsed. B. Impact on the development of the bishop s authority Cyprian says bishops stand in place of apostles and have been chosen like the apostles. All bishops together form a college that is united and the church is founded on the bishops (Kelly 204). C. Unity of the church is in consensus of the collective bishops (Kelly 206).

7 Theo 424 Early Christianity Session 6a & b: Worship & Leadership, pt.1-2 Page 7 References D. Primacy of the bishop of Rome is one of honor, not authority. E. Criterion of church membership submission to the bishop. Rebellion against episcopal authority can be grounds for separation from the church, not just false teaching. Heretic is not just one who believes false doctrines, but also the one who rebels against the bishop which is equated as rebellion against God (Kelly 206). Aland, Kurt. A History of Christianity, Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Fortress Press, Frend, W.H.C. The Early Church. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press, Hippolytus. The Apostolic Tradition, edited by Gregory Dix and Henry Chadwick. Ridgefield, CT: Morehouse Publishing, Jay, Eric G. From Presbyter-Bishops to Bishops and Presbyters. Second Century 1.3 (Fall 1981): Jeffers, James. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era. Downer s Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, Kelly, J. N.D. Early Christian Doctrines, Revised Edition. New York: Harper-Collins, Kung, Hans. The Church. New York: Doubleday (Image Books), 1967, repr. 1976, Lefkowitz, Mary R. and Maureen Fant. Women s Life in Greece & Rome. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press, Lucian. On the Passing of Peregrinus. In Lucian, vol. 5, translated by A.M. Harmon. Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, Smith, Jonathan Z. What a Difference a Difference Makes. In To See Ourselves as Others See Us: Christians, Jews, Others in Late Antiquity, ed. Jacob Neusner and Ernest S. Fredrichs, Scholars Press Studies in the Humanities. Chico, CA: Scholars Press, Torjesen, Karen. When Women Were Priests. New York: Harper-Collins (Harper-San Francisco), White, L. Michael. From Jesus to Christianity. New York: Harper-Collins (Harper-San Francisco), 2004.