The Order of Ministers in the Church. - ANF09. The Gospel of Peter, The Diatessaron of Tatian, The Apocalypse of Peter, the Vision of Paul, The Apocalypse of the Virgin and Sedrach, The Testament of Abraham, The Acts of Xanthippe and Polyxena, The Narrative of Zosimus, The Apology of Aristides, The Epistles of Clement (complete text), Origen’s Commentary on John, Books 1–10, and Commentary on Matthew, Books 1, 2, and 10

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The Order of Ministers in the Church.
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Chapter XLII.—The Order of Ministers in the Church.

The apostles have preached the gospel to us from⁴²²⁰

⁴²²⁰ Or, “by the command of.”
the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus⁴²²¹

⁴²²¹ A. “the Christ,” I. “Christ.”
Christ [has done so] from God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God,⁴²²²

⁴²²² I. omits.
and the apostles by Christ. Both these appointments,⁴²²³

⁴²²³ Literally, “both things were done.”
then, were made in an orderly way, according to the will of God. Having therefore received their orders, and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and established⁴²²⁴

⁴²²⁴ Or, “confirmed by.”
in the word of God, with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand. And thus preaching through countries and cities, they appointed the first fruits [of their labours], having first proved them by the Spirit,⁴²²⁵

⁴²²⁵ Or, “having tested them in spirit.”
to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe. Nor was this any new thing, since indeed many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For thus saith the Scripture in a certain place, “I will appoint their bishops⁴²²⁶

⁴²²⁶ Or, “overseers.”
in righteousness, and their deacons⁴²²⁷

⁴²²⁷ Or, “servants.”
in faith.”⁴²²⁸

⁴²²⁸ Isa. lx. 17, Sept.; but the text is here altered by Clement. The LXX. have, “I will give thy rulers in peace, and thy overseers in righteousness.”
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