A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

146 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[129]Ch. 2. Wherefore it is incumbent to obey the presbyters who arein the Church, those who, as I have shown, possess the successionfrom the Apostles; those who together with the succession of theepiscopate have received the certain gift [charisma] of the truthaccording to the good pleasure of the Father; but also to hold insuspicion others who depart from the primitive succession andassemble themselves together in any place whatsoever.…Ch. 5. Such presbyters does the Church nourish, of whomalso the prophet says: “I will give thy rulers in peace, and thybishops in righteousness” [cf. Is. 60:17]. Of whom also theLord did declare: “Who, then, shall be a faithful steward, goodand wise, whom the Lord sets over His household, to give themtheir meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lordwhen he cometh shall find so doing” [Matt. 24:45 f.]. Paul,then, teaching us where one may find such, says: “God hathplaced in the Church, first, Apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly,teachers” [I Cor. 12:28]. Where, then, the gifts of the Lord havebeen placed there we are to learn the truth; namely, from thosewho possess the succession of the Church from the Apostles,and among whom exists that which is sound and blameless inconduct, as well as that which is unadulterated and incorrupt inspeech.(b) Tertullian, De Præscriptione, 32. (MSL, 2:52.)In Tertullian's statement as to the necessity of apostolicsuccession, the language is more precise than in Irenæus's.Bishop and presbyter are not used as interchangeable terms,as would appear in the passage in Irenæus. The whole is givena more legal turn, as was in harmony with the writer's legalmind.But if there be any heresies bold enough to plant themselves inthe midst of the apostolic age, that they may thereby seem to