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The Ranks of the Priesthood
By ranks we mean those positions within the church
which are received through the laying on of hands
by the church, and through special prayers and
fasting, along with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
All these are scripturally based ranks which are
mentioned in the Bible, by which we mean: the
order of bishop, priest and deacon.
Bishops or Overseers (1)
The first bishops in the church were our
fathers the apostles. They were bishops in
ecumenical and not simply local terms,
though St. James was the bishop of
Jerusalem.
Bishops or Overseers (2)
Reference to His work as an overseer was
also made in regard to the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself when St. Peter said: “For you were
like sheep going astray, but now you have
returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of
your souls” 1Peter 2:25
Bishops or Overseers (3)
Another example which brings together these two
titles and functions, that of overseer and that of
shepherd can be seen in the words of the apostle to
the bishops of Ephesus: “Keep watch over
yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the
church of God, which He bought with His own
blood” Acts 20:28
Bishops or Overseers (4)
The apostles were also bishops or archbishops in
the same way that they were also priests and high
priests.
They were bishops from the point of view of the
priesthood, and archbishops or chief overseers, in
respect of their relation with their spiritual sons and
successors.
Bishops or Overseers (5)
Yet in exactly the same way, they were
priests and chief priests: priests, because of
their priestly activity, and high priests
because of their leadership of all ranks of
the priesthood.
Bishops or Overseers (6)
Overseers are also God’s representatives
who are entrusted with God’s work. St. Paul
writes to Titus saying: “For a bishop must be
blameless, as a steward of God.” Titus 1:7
Bishops or Overseers (7)
With the same meaning, St. Paul speaking
about himself and about his assistants says:
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of
Christ and as stewards of the mysteries of
God. Moreover it is required in stewards that
one be found faithful” 1Cor.4:1,2
Bishops or Overseers (8)
The Bible explains the necessary
qualifications for the rank of bishop or
overseer. These include that the individual
must be: “able to teach”, “must not be a
recent convert” and “must also have a good
reputation with outsiders” 1Tim.3:2-7
Bishops or Overseers (9)
In his epistle to Titus, St. Paul said that the
overseer: “… holding fast to the faithful word
as he has been taught, that he may be able,
encourage others by sound doctrine, both to
exhort and convict those who contradict”
Titus 1:9
Bishops or Overseers (10)
Since these qualities and conditions are not
possessed by every believer, this rank of
priesthood is therefore not meant to be for
anyone to assume. Nor is every believer
specially responsible for taking care of
God’s church in the ways in which his
representative are.
Elders (11)
The word ‘elders’ comes in Acts 14:23,
where it is said of Paul and Barnabas
concerning their mission in Lystra, Iconium,
and Antioch that they: “…appointed elders
for them in each church and, with prayer
and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in
whom they had put their trust”
Elders (12)
We notice here that the appointing of elders
was accompanied by prayers and fasting, and
these prayers would certainly have been the
special ritual prayers for ordination, since the
same terms, ‘prayer and fasting’ were used
when Saul and Barnabas received the laying of
hands (Acts 13:3)
Elders (13)
This rank is mentioned by St. Paul to his
disciple Titus: “For this reason I left you in
Crete, that you should set in order the things
that are lacking and appoint elders in every
city, as I commanded you” Titus 1:5
Elders (14)
And it comes again in James 5:14 “Is any one
of you sick? Let him call for the elders of the
church and let them pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the
prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord
will raise him up. And if he has committed sin,
he will be forgiven”
Elders (16)
Notice that it doesn’t say in this verse: ‘call
one of the believers who has a gift of
healing’, but: “…call the elders of the
church…” It isn’t speaking here of the gift of
healing, but of the office of priest.
Elders (17)
See also what it says in 1Tim.5:17 about the
elders: “The elders who direct the affairs of
the church well are worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the word and
doctrine”
Elders (18)
Those whom the apostle mentioned in the
previous quotations had been
commissioned for two things: teaching and
directing; they were said to be directors,
also referred to as hegumens or archpriests
The difference between the bishop and the priest (1)
The first difference is that the bishops have the right
to appoint the priests. St. Paul tells Timothy: “Do not
lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other
people’s sins” 1Tim.5:22
The same meaning is conveyed to his disciple Titus
(1:5)
The difference between the bishop and the priest (2)
The canonical law of the Church mentions
that the priest is to be appointed by one
bishop, but that the bishop is to be
appointed by the laying on of hands of no
less than two or three bishops.
The difference between the bishop and the priest (3)
The second difference is that the bishop can
judge or bring to trial a priest. Concerning
this St. Paul says to Timothy: “Do not
receive an accusation against an elder
except from two or three witnesses”
1Tim.5:19
The difference between the bishop and the priest (4)
The bishop also has the right to reward the
priest. St. Paul says to his disciple Timothy
in the same Epistle: “Let the elders who rule
well be counted worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the word and
doctrine” 1Tim.5:17
Deacons (1)
Deacons are first mentioned in the Book of Acts (6)
where certain conditions are stipulated by which those
who are to be deacons should be distinguished from
other believers, such as:
- Should be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.
- Should be ordained through the laying of hands of
the apostles upon them.
- Should carry out certain responsibilities in the church
Deacons (2)
The rank of bishop along with that of deacon, is
mentioned at the beginning of St. Paul’s Epistle to the
Philippians, where he says: “Paul and Timothy,
bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in
Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and
deacons” Phil.1:1
Deacons (3)
There are special requirements for the deacon to be
ordained. St. Paul says: “Likewise deacons must be
reverent, not double – tongued, not given to much
wine, not greedy for money” 1Tim.3:8
St. Paul also stipulates that the deacons should be
tested first before being ordained 1Tim.3:10