The office of "bishop" apparently was non-existent in the first century. A number of sources demonstrate this datum to be the case including BDAG, but let us consult other works for now. Francis Beare writes concerning Phil. 1:1:
"The two [Greek] words translated bishops and deacons have been much debated. In the second century they became specialized in ecclesiastical usage; the bishop as the head of the local Christian community, the deacons as his assistants in whatever duties he might assign them."
Beare then adds: "Negatively, it may be said that the use of the plurals [in Phil. 1:1] rules out any possibility that the Philippian church is governed by a monarchical bishop."
After citing Polycarp and other sources, he concludes: "This passing reference [to EPISKOPOI and DIAKONOI in Phil. 1:1] does not provide us with any crumb of information about the status or function of EPISKOPOI and DIAKONOI at Philippi; and we are not entitled to read into them in this context the significance which belongs to them in later Catholic usage" (Francis Beare, Epistle to the Philippians, 1959, pp. 49-50).
So while the Primitive Congregation used such men to govern the ecclesia, it does not follow that these "offices" were hierarchically arranged or that these men were "leaders" of the Church.
Jesus Christ commanded: "Neither be called 'leaders,' [KAQHGHTAI] for your Leader [KAQHGHTHS] is one, the Christ [hO XRISTOS" (Mt. 23:10 NWT).
The term translated "Leader" can evidently mean either "leader, master, guide, teacher or professor." Certain scholars favor the sense "teachers" in this passage, but I think that "leader" is just as likely in view of Mt. 23:6-8.
The Geneva Bible of 1599 has: "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ."
"Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, [even] the Christ" (ASV).
"nor may ye be called directors, for one is your director -- the Christ" (YLT).
"Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ" (NET Bible).
The fact remains that the first century ecclesia had no human leaders: the closest the NT comes to using such language is Hb 13:7, 17. The head (KEFALH) of the congregation--the one who truly made the binding decisions under the guidance of holy spirit--was Christ (Col. 1:18). Those tending the first century ecclesia had to submit to their head and his God and Father (Eph. 1:17). Furthermore, it also seems that they were in subjection to the local congregation (ecclesia) that existed under apostolic governance. The EPISKOPOI and DIAKONOI were "individuals designated for special service within the Church and perhaps subject to the Church" (Gerald Hawthorne, Philippians, Word Series, page 8).
Heinrich Meyer likewise concludes: "We may add that placing of the officials after the church generally, which is not logically requisite, and the mere subjoining of them by SUN, are characteristic of the relation between the two [the overseers, the assistants and the flock], which had not yet undergone hierarchical dislocation" (Meyer, Philippians and Colossians, page 14).
To help list-members understand Meyer's comments concerning Phil 1:1, I post the Greek of that passage for you:
PAULOS KAI TIMOQEOS DOULOI XRISTOU IHSOU PASIN TOIS hAGIOIS EN XRISTWi IHSOU TOIS OUSIN EN FILIPPOIS SUN EPISKOPOIS KAI DIAKONOIS.
2 comments:
While Francis Beare and Heinrich Meyer argue that the office of "bishop" was not fully developed or hierarchical in the first century, this does not imply that the early Church had no leadership or governance structures. The role of EPISKOPOI (bishops or overseers) and DIAKONOI (deacons) is clearly attested in the New Testament. Philippians 1:1 explicitly mentions bishops and deacons, showing that such offices were present even in the earliest Christian communities. The argument that these roles were not hierarchically arranged overlooks the gradual development of Church structure. It is important to understand that the early Church was in a formative phase, and roles such as bishops and deacons naturally evolved over time. This is not unusual for any institution or religious community.
The claim that EPISKOPOI and DIAKONOI in Philippians 1:1 provide no information about their function or status is debatable. While the passage may not explicitly describe their duties, other New Testament texts do provide context. For instance, Acts 20:28 speaks of the EPISKOPOI as shepherds tasked with overseeing the flock: "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers (EPISKOPOI). Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." This verse indicates a clear role of oversight and pastoral care.
Similarly, 1 Timothy 3:1-7 outlines the qualifications for bishops, further establishing that the early Church saw these individuals as leaders with specific moral and spiritual responsibilities. These passages affirm that the role of bishop was not merely symbolic but involved real leadership, even if it had not yet reached the more defined hierarchical structure seen in later centuries.
The passage from Matthew 23:10, where Jesus says, "Neither be called 'leaders,' for your Leader is one, the Christ," is often cited to argue against human leadership in the Church. However, this interpretation misunderstands the context. In this passage, Jesus is criticizing the pride and hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his time, not condemning all forms of spiritual leadership. The New Testament clearly shows that Jesus appointed the apostles to be leaders (e.g., Matthew 16:18-19, where Peter is given the "keys to the kingdom"). Moreover, in Ephesians 4:11, Paul explains that Christ himself gave "some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers" for the building up of the Church.
These leaders, including bishops, served as Christ’s representatives, ensuring the orderly functioning and spiritual health of the Christian community. They did not replace Christ as the ultimate Head of the Church but operated under His authority, as described in Colossians 1:18.
The argument that the plural use of EPISKOPOI in Philippians 1:1 rules out a monarchical episcopate is limited in scope. In the early Church, it was common for multiple bishops to oversee a local community, particularly in larger cities where multiple house churches existed. This does not negate the possibility that one bishop could later assume a role of primary leadership, as seen in the later development of the monarchical episcopate (a single bishop governing a diocese). By the second century, figures like Ignatius of Antioch explicitly defended the role of a single bishop as the leader of the local Church, a structure that had its roots in earlier forms of Church governance.
Ignatius, writing in the early second century, urged Christians to "follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father" (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 8:1), indicating that the office of bishop had already taken on a central and authoritative role within the community by this time. The development of the monarchical episcopate is therefore not an invention of later centuries but a natural progression from the leadership roles already present in the New Testament.
The early Church’s leadership structure, particularly the office of bishop, is closely tied to the concept of apostolic succession. This principle, which is well-established by the second century, asserts that bishops are the successors of the apostles, entrusted with preserving the teaching and unity of the Church. While the first-century Church may not have had the fully developed hierarchical structure seen in later centuries, the seeds of this structure were already present in the roles of apostles, bishops, and deacons. These roles were essential for maintaining doctrinal continuity and pastoral care, as evidenced by Paul’s instructions to Timothy and Titus (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9).
While it is true that the first-century Church did not have the same developed hierarchy as seen in later centuries, the roles of bishops (EPISKOPOI) and deacons (DIAKONOI) were clearly present and served important leadership functions. The idea that Christ condemned all forms of human leadership is a misinterpretation of the scriptural texts. Leadership in the early Church was established by Christ and continued through the apostolic succession of bishops, who played a crucial role in guiding the Christian community. Therefore, the development of the office of bishop is not an imposition on the early Church but rather a natural and necessary evolution of its leadership structure.
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