Church History, Volume 1 (of 3)Kurtz, J. H. (Johann Heinrich)
Religion
Church History, Volume 1 (of 3)
Kurtz, J. H. (Johann Heinrich)
Church history
native country of Cyprus; while another set of legends, probably
belonging to the same period, makes him the founder of the church
of Milan. John Mark, sister’s son of Barnabas, who appears in
Col. iv. 10; 2 Tim. iv. 11; and Philem. 24, as the fellow-labourer
of the Apostle Paul, in 1 Pet. v. 13 as companion of Peter at
Babylon, and, according to Papias, wrote his gospel at Rome as
the amanuensis of Peter, is honoured, according to another very
widely received tradition, quoted by Eusebius from a Chronicle
belonging to the end of the second century, from which also
Julius Africanus drew information, as the founder and first
bishop of the church of Alexandria, etc., etc.
§ 17. CONSTITUTION, WORSHIP, AND DISCIPLINE.[6]
Bound under Christ its one head into an articulated whole, the church
ought by the co-operation of all its members conditioned and determined
by position, talent, and calling, to build itself up and grow (1 Cor.
xii. 12 ff.; Eph. i. 22 f.). Development will thus be secured to natural
talent and the spiritual calling through the bestowment of special gifts
of grace or charismata. The first form of Christian church fellowship,
in the Jewish as well as the Gentile Christian churches, was of a
thoroughly free character; modelled upon, and attached to, forms of
organization already existing and legitimized, or, at least, tolerated
by the state, but all the while inspired and leavened by a free
Christian spirit. Compelled by the necessity which is felt in all social
federations for the recognised ranking of superiority, inferiority, and
equality, in which his own proper sphere and task would be assigned to
each member, and encroachment and disorderliness prevented, a collegial
church council was soon formed by a free compact, the members of which,
all possessed of equal rights, were called πρεσβύτεροι in consideration
of their personal character, and ἐπίσκοποι in consideration of their
official duties. Upon them devolved especially attention and care in
regard to all outward things that might affect the common interests
of the church, management of the property which had to be realised
and spent on the religious services, and of the means required for the
support of the poor, as well as the administration of justice and of
discipline. But alongside of these were other more independent offices,
the holders of which did not go forth like the members of the eldership
as the choice of the churches, but rather had the spiritual edification
of the church assigned them as their life work by a special divine
call and a charismatic endowment of the gift of teaching. To this class
belong, besides Apostles and helpers of the Apostles, Prophets, Pastors,
and Teachers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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