- 76 - 8. 19 The Priesthood of the early Christians and the Priesthood of today f. Early Christendom also had no ordination of priests. The word ‘priest’ is derived from the Greek word ‘presbyter’ used by the early church, which means ‘elder’. However, it does not refer to age in years, but to maturity in the cause of God. To them were applicable the words from the Wisdom of Solomon: Wisdom 4: 8-9: ‘For honour is not measured in length of time, nor by number of years. But insight is the true grey hair of man, and a spotless life is true old age.’ • Hence, the presbyters of the early Christian church were not selected for their office by mortals, since these are unable to judge the worthiness of their fellowmen. They were appointed at the Christians’ gatherings for Divine worship though communication from God’s spirits, who designated them as those chosen by God for His purposes. They were then solemnly acknowledged, amid the laying on of hands, by the members of their Christian congregations as invested with their office by virtue of God’s wish. Whereof did their duties consist? Did they possess greater spiritual authority than other Christians? Did they possess spiritual authority that they exercised over their fellow Christians, making the latter dependent upon them in their relations toward God and for the attainment of Salvation? By no means! There was no priesthood then such as you have today. In those times there were no priests endowed with special spiritual powers that they alone could exercise. There were no priests to administer socalled sacraments, to forgive sins, or to dispense other forms of spiritual grace. There were no bishops by whom others were ordained as priests and invested with spiritual authority. • The office of an ‘elder’ or ‘presbyter’ involved duties of quite another nature. Wherever people join together and assemble for a given purpose there must be a leader to maintain order and to see to it that all formalities are carried out as required to achieve the end in view. This was true also among the early Christians. They met for the purpose of worshipping God, of holding the Communion service, and of mutual upliftment and strengthening in the faith. Someone was needed to make the arrangements, to prepare the quarters, to fix the hours, to lead the whole assembly, and to see to it that all things were done in the best of order and harmony, for God is a God of order throughout all Creation. Just as He has appointed guides and leaders in the spirit world to supervise the execution of His ordinances, so it is His will that there should be leaders on earth in congregations seeking their Salvation, who arrange everything in such a manner that the faithful may derive the greatest possible spiritual benefit. This was the duty of the presbyters. First they attended to the practical details, determining at which house the meetings for Divine service were to be held, seeing to it that the premises were suitably arranged and provided with whatever might be needed, fixing the time of the meetings and, in general, looking after all requirements. However, they had even more important duties to perform with regard to the spiritual life of the congregation. During the Divine services many important directions concerning the spiritual progress of the faithful were given by the attendant spirits, and it was the presbyter’s task to see to it that these directions and assignments were carried out promptly and conscientiously. Inasmuch as true religion is one of service to one’s neighbour, the early Christians placed great value in the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI1MzY3