by Fr. Tim Kelly S.T. L.
This handout is not intended to give a comprehensive presentation of the place of deacon, priest and bishop within the Church. It is not an academic theological account of the Church’s theology on any of these ministries. My intention is to provide you with a usable description of words which are important in any study of ecclesiology.
Let us first look at some words and phrases that get lots of use and misuse.
Minister: What is it to be a minister. A minister is a servant, rather than a master. The word comes from the Latin word MINISTER. Mini = little Magister comes from Magnus meaning great or big.
“Sumus enim ministry verbi”. Augustine. We are ministers of the Word.
Presbyter: This word originally meant an old man within a community. Presbyteros. The presbeteroi were the elders of a group of believers. The presbyteroi were the ones who presided at a Eucharist when there was no bishop. That eventually develops into an order to be called a presbyterate. This is commonly called priesthood, but there need not be any element of priesthood in this since it is about leadership rather than sacrifice.
Presider: This word, revived after Vatican Two simply means the one who is in charge at a liturgy. He may or may not be a priest. A deacon can preside, as sometimes the bishop will. The layperson can preside at a Liturgy of the Word if she or he has the mandate of the bishop to do so.
Bishop: This word comes from the Greek meaning an overseer. This man succeeds the Apostles and is the Church’s highest person. He is the authentic teacher of the Gospel.
Threefold priesthood of Christ: The threefold priesthood of deacon, presbyter and bishop. The role of the bishop as the full priesthood of Jesus Christ. The growth of presbyterate in response to spread of the Church in rural districts. The office of the deacon. The authority of the priesthood is received from the Church. The Church seeks to serve Christ.
This is a short resource for the biblical beginnings of these offices and ministries. One cannot draw immediate conclusions from that biblical text, since the development of the Church’s theology and practice has, in all these cases, brought about development and change in the manner in which these offices are now exercised. One cannot extrapolate from the biblical text that the Church should follow these descriptions today. The New Testament text describes the manner in which the primitive Church conducted its affairs. Remember that this same Church was very small and very local.
I want you to concentrate on these issues:
- How was Matthias chosen to be an Apostle?
- How is the institution of diaconate described in the New Testament?
- What advice or guidelines does the New Testament give for the office of bishop?
Let us begin by learning from the New Testament. While the text of the Acts of the Apostles is not primarily a historical sourcebook, it is nevertheless, a valuable place to enquire about the structure of the early Church and the role of various office-holders and leaders. We begin with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the assembled Church. They had all gone out to the Mount of Olives to witness the Ascension of Jesus to his Father. The text explicitly tells us which persons were included in this group. (Acts 1; 12-14) The Apostles are specifically named. The holy women are mentioned along with Mary and the family of Jesus.
1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
The election of an apostle to replace Judas is presented as Peter’s initiative. The Apostles and all the assembled disciples pray and attempt to discern the will of God in the choice of an apostle. The entire Church is involved in this process of discernment – about 120 people are said to have been involved. After they have chosen Matthias and installed him as an apostle, it appears that they await the promised arrival of the Holy Spirit. That arrival occurs at Pentecost (Acts 2: 1-3) Again, the experience is communal- all the assembly is filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
1:15 In these days, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (and the number of names was about one hundred twenty), and said, “Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to those who took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry. Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. It became known to everyone who lived in Jerusalem that in their language that field was called ‘Akeldama,’ that is, ‘The field of blood.’ For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein;’and, ‘Let another take his office.’ “Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us, of these one must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. They prayed, and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.” They drew lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
Biblical evidence for diaconate
The next text of great interest is Acts of the Apostles 6: 1, 7. The needs of the Church force the election of deacons to assist in the feeding of the poor. The work of feeding bodies has distracted the Apostles from the nourishing of the souls. Their work has to be shared with others, hence they elect seven men of good repute and they lay hands on them as deacons. Take note that not all the deacons are Jews. Some of the names are obviously Greek.
6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the;Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
St Paul gives advice to Timothy as to what type of person a deacon should be. This advice is presumable given so that timothy may make wise choices in his Church. (Acts 3; 8-13)
8 Likewise the deacon should be a serious person, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Their wives be serious, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
In this same letter, Paul offers advice to Timothy as to the type of person who should become a bishop. I Timothy 1: 1-13.
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that rules his own house well, having his children in subjection with all gravity; For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.