Monarchical Bishops
“I exhort you to study to do all things with a divine harmony, while your bishop presides in the place of God, and your presbyters in the place of the assembly of the apostles, along with your deacons, who are most dear to me, and are entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ, who was with the Father before the beginning of time, and in the end was revealed.”
In this epistle, Ignatius of Antioch (AD 50-117) described a hierarchical structure of the church, with the Bishop (singular) on top of the pecking order as being “in the place of God.”
- Bishop (singular)
- Elders (plural)
- Deacons (plural)
But is this Biblical? Did the early christian have a hierarchical structure like this? I recommend you read: Who Should Run the Church? A Case of the Plurality of Elders by Daniel B. Wallace.
Permit me to summarize it in four points then I will ask a question.
1) Elders and Bishops were interchangeably used indicating they were synonymous:
“ordain ELDERS in every city… for a BISHOPS must be blameless” (Tit. 1:5-7)
“Paul… called for the ELDERS of the church…therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you OVERSEERS, TO SHEPHERD the church of God…” Acts 20:16,17,28.
2) Churches were pastored by ELDERS, as in the case of a church in Philippi and in Jerusalem:
“Paul… called for the ELDERS of the church…therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you OVERSEERS, TO SHEPHERD the church of God…” Acts 20:16,17,28.
“To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the OVERSEERS and DEACONS.” Phil. 1:1
“…call the elders of the church to pray over” Jas. 5:14
3) The affairs of the church were not directed by one monarchical bishop but by a plurality of
Elders.
“ELDERS who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” 1 Tim. 5:17
4) They were appointed in every town or in every city:
“…appoint ELDERS in every town, as I directed you.” Tit. 1:5
“ordain ELDERS in every city… for a BISHOPS must be blameless” (Tit. 1:5-7)
It would appear therefore that idea of Monarchichal Bishops was developed in the Second Century AD. But it was not how the church was administered during the time of the apostles.
Now, if the idea of having Monarchichal Bishops in churches today lacks Biblical foundation, why do Bible-believing Christians have Bishops like the Roman Catholics?
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