tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970772341265505777.post1632541521336522949..comments2023-11-05T01:28:27.551-07:00Comments on Theology of Andrew: St. Ignatius and BishopsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970772341265505777.post-12783370725267151202008-08-27T17:43:00.000-07:002008-08-27T17:43:00.000-07:00I think that many Catholic Theologians have stated...I think that many Catholic Theologians have stated that the Episcopate is not directly explicit in Scripture, however it is implicit, there is that passage in Acts 1, there is the Church government explained in 1 Timothy. Christians have always believed that solitary leaders were sinful and could be corrupted, however that is a secondary doctrine to the Infallibility of the Church, and thus it is a risk worth the bargain of orthodoxy. Though there is no debate that bishops have abused their power. (see almost every pope)Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02752373297874435269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970772341265505777.post-13765167024234051862008-08-27T12:22:00.000-07:002008-08-27T12:22:00.000-07:00But Jared's explanation is contrary to what the Ap...But Jared's explanation is contrary to what the Apostles actually handed on to the world: a strong episcopacy, which is a historical fact and is universally present in the Early Church. Perhaps Protestants understand something that the entire Early Church didn't, but I would rather err on the side of the people who knew the Apostles than those who do not.Philiphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07488676865887585143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970772341265505777.post-61897138899596647742008-08-27T09:14:00.000-07:002008-08-27T09:14:00.000-07:00I think the Episcopate has very early formative su...I think the Episcopate has very early formative support. However, looking at Phillipians, where Paul addresses multiple episkopos in one city, it is clear in Paul's time, there was not a one bishop per city form as later. Also, the Letter of Clement belies more of a group of elders writing to another group of elders (at least according to Michael Holmes, who edited the 3rd edition of the Apostolic Fathers). An Episcopacy is not a Scriptural mandate or a prohibition. I see a strong case for Presbyterian government in Acts 15, and so have preference for it (or the synod government of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod). Hans Kung, a catholic, also said there is no Biblical specific structure mandating Episcopacy. I do believe independent churches have little support in Scripture, so would stay in the Presbyterian/Synod or Episcopal side of the question as Biblically compatable answers. Presbyterianism also fits my anthropology: better to have multiple leaders since men are evil and perhaps that can be dilluted with multiple elders rather than one bishop (case in point: Pope Leo X).Jared Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18445783451815077626noreply@blogger.com