A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 14. Church Organization 53sacrifice spoken of by the Lord: In every place and at every timeoffer me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great king, saith the Lord,and my name is wonderful among the nations. [Mal. 1:11, 14.]Ch. 15. Appoint [i.e., lay hands on], therefore, for yourselvesbishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men meek, not loversof money, truthful, and approved; for they also render you theservice of prophets and teachers. Despise them not, therefore,for they are your honored ones together with the prophets andteachers.(c) Ignatius, Ep. ad Trallianos, 2, 3.For Ignatius, see § 8.Ch. 2. For since ye are subject to the bishop as Jesus Christ, yeappear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according [042]to Jesus Christ, who died for us, in order that by believing in Hisdeath ye may escape death. It is therefore necessary that just asye indeed do, so without the bishop ye should do nothing, butshould also be subject to the presbytery, as to the Apostles ofJesus Christ, our Hope, living in whom we shall be found [i.e.,at the last]. It is right, also, that the deacons, being [ministers]of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, should in every respect be wellpleasingto all. For they are not the ministers of meats and drinks,but servants of the Church of God. It is necessary, therefore, thatthey guard themselves from all grounds of accusation as theywould from fire.Ch. 3. In like manner, let all reverence the deacons as JesusChrist, as also the bishop, who is a type of the Father, and thepresbyters as the sanhedrim of God and the assembly of theApostles. Apart from these there is no Church.(d) Ignatius, Ep. ad Smyrnæos, 8.