Congregational Church Polity The First Two Books Of A Manual Of Congregational Principles PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1884. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... from the New Testament, and not very much from early ecclesiastical literature. It is contended that during these thirty years, and therefore during the lifetime of the Apostle John, a great change was made in the organisation of the apostolic churches, and that at the beginning of the second century the distinction between "bishops" and "presbyters" was widely and firmly established. The argument may be stated briefly in the following form: --'As late as 4A.D. 70 there is no sign of any distinction between a bishop and a 'presbyter; but soon after A.d. 100 it is clear that supreme authority * was attributed to the bishop. What is the history of this remark4 able change? The Apostle John was alive till nearly the close of the 'century, and the earliest indications of the supremacy of the bishop are in 'Asia Minor, where John's influence was most powerful. The distinction * between bishop and presbyter is strongly asserted in the epistles ot * Ignatius, which belong to the early part of the second century. May it not be inferred that this change in the organisation of Christian 'churches had John's sanction, and that the simpler polity which is fflns'trated in the New Testament was not intended to be permanent ?' * That the authority of the bishop had this early origin, that it was fully established some time before the end of the first century, and therefore f during the life of the Apostle John, does not rest on the unsupported 'authority oflgnatius; it is confirmed by other early' ecclesiastical writers.' * There are two questions to be investigated: (I.) What evidence exists in support of the position that early in the second century the distinction between " bishops " and "presbyters " was widely and firmly established, and must, ther...