Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 61:244 (Oct 1904)
Article: The Development Of A Political System In The Early Christian Church
Author: Frederick W. Hass

BSac 61:244 (Oct 1904) p. 654

The Development Of A Political System In The Early Christian Church

Rev. Frederick W. Hass

The contrast between the original form of government in the Christian church and the forms prevailing at the time of Constantine the Great strikes us, at first notice, as being a remarkably strange manifestation. When Christianity first appeared, it consisted of a group of twelve friends, rallying about one who was their leader and whom they called Master. Among themselves the disciples were all equal, and the instruction of the Master was to the effect that they should remain so; that, if any one of them should desire to be the greatest among them, the same should be the least of all and the servant of all. Therein he himself set the standard. Not only were the cares of the little band borne by him, but, in a never-to-be-forgotten scene, he had performed for them the menial task of feet-washing, in order that he might impress upon them the lesson, that, among his disciples, not the greatest acquirements, but the greatest service, should be the mark of honor. It was a purely paternal form of government,1 and, with one exception, i.e., Judas, the disciples seem to have been fully won over to it. From the account of the church at Jerusalem we learn how they sought to introduce it into that congregation.

Three hundred years later, this form of government has been largely superseded. The organization of the church has

BSac 61:244 (Oct 1904) p. 655

been almost entirely transformed. Instead of a paternal form of government resting upon the equal suffrage of all, we have a highly developed form of aristocracy. There are three chief dignitaries,—the bishops of Rome, Antioch, and Alexandria. Of these three, one, i.e., the bishop of Rome, is already obtaining a growing advantage over the other two, which eventually led to his claiming supremacy over them. Below these three are numerous other bishops; associated with these latter, and to a large degree dependent upon them, are other officials, such as presbyters, deacons, and teachers. All these officers are separated by rights and privileges from the lay members of the church. Their positions are generally held for life, or else until they take a step upward in the organization; and, while the laity still influence, both directly and indirectly, the election of these officers, yet the layman as such is not considered at all equal to even the least of these. The church has become an immense hierarchy. It has made a great departure from the Master’s ideal. Yet, as we study this development closely, we find that, under the conditions of that time, it was perfectly natural, and perhaps inevitable.

The beginning of Christianity was ...