DIOCESAN. The number of Christians in most of the primitive
churches was at first small: they could easily, when not prevented by
persecution, assemble together; and they thus formed one church or
congregation; for, in Scripture, the term _church_ is never used in the
more modern acceptation of the word, but is employed to denote either
the whole church of Christ, or a number of disciples meeting for the
celebration of divine worship. The converts, however, rapidly increased;
and when they could no longer meet in one place, other places would be
prepared for them. But, connected as they still were with the parent
church, they would choose from its presbyters their own pastors, and
view themselves as under the inspection of the president and the
presbytery, by whom the affairs of the church had been previously
conducted. The pastors would thus remain members of the presbytery, as
they had formerly been, and would look up to that one of their number
who had been accustomed to preside among them. They were, in fact, for a
considerable time, considered as one with the original church: the
bishop sent to them the elements of the Lord’s Supper as the pledge of
unity; and we find it asserted by ancient writers, that there was one
altar and one bishop. There were in this way gradually established,
first in the towns or cities in which the Apostles had called men to the
truth, and then in the contiguous district of country, several
congregations: in these pastors officiated, who were authorized by the
bishop and presbytery, whose superintendence was extended, so that
parochial episcopacy was insensibly but naturally changed into diocesan
episcopacy; many of the presbyters sent out by the bishop residing at
their churches, but nevertheless composing part of his council, and
being summoned to meet with him upon important occasions. This
enlargement of the field of inspection rendered the particular
superintendence of the bishop more requisite; and was the means both of
adding to his influence, and of his being regarded as permanently raised
above his brethren.
2. The ministers who were sent to the recently erected churches had
probably different powers, according to the numbers to whom they were to
officiate, the situation of the churches in respect of the original
church, and the tranquillity or persecution which was their lot. In the
immediate neighbourhood of the bishop, and where one person was
sufficient, he would merely perform the duties that had been assigned to
him previous to his mission; but the same reasons that led the Apostles
to plant several presbyters in the churches which they founded might
render it expedient that more than one, sometimes that a considerable
number, should be attached to the newly-formed congregations; more
particularly when the number attending was large, and when there was the
prospect of their still farther increasing. In such cases, it appears
that the bishop gave to one of the presbyters sent, and did so for the
same reasons that had at first created inequality among the pastors,
more extensive powers than were entrusted to the rest, and made him his
representative authorizing him to preside over the others, and to
discharge those parts of the ministerial office which, in his own
church, he reserved for himself. When this happened, the person so
distinguished was termed _choro-episcopus_: he was more than a
presbyter, but he was inferior to the bishop, acted by his directions,
and could be controlled by him in the exercise of the privileges which
had been granted. Such subordinate bishops continued for a considerable
time; but it might, from the beginning, have been foreseen that they
would soon aspire to an equality with the original bishops; and they
were at length suppressed, under the pretence that, by multiplying the
higher order in places of little consequence, the church would detract
from the respectability of that order, and lessen the reverence with
which it should be regarded.
3. The different congregations or churches which were established in
various cities and the adjoining districts were in so far independent of
each other, that the bishops and presbyters of each had the rule of
their particular church, and of the churches which had sprung from it,
and were entitled, by their own authority, to make such regulations as
appeared to them to be requisite; and this species of independence
continued for a considerable time, every bishop presiding in his
congregation, and afterward in his diocess. There was, however, always a
common tie by which they were united. Neighbouring churches, actuated by
ardent zeal for the interests of divine truth, consulted together upon
the best mode of promoting it. We know that the Apostolic churches were
enjoined to communicate to other bodies the epistles which they had
received; and while persecution continued, it was natural for all who
were exposed to it to consider by what means its fury could be avoided.
4. After the bishops were established as superior to presbyters, when
any meeting was held respecting religion, or the administration of the
church, it was chiefly composed of this higher order, and the president
of the synod or council was elected from their number. These meetings
were generally assembled in the metropolis, or principal city of the
district; and hence the bishop of this city, being frequently called to
preside, came, at length, to be regarded as entitled to do so: thus
acquiring a superiority over the other bishops, just as they had
acquired superiority over the inferior clergy. He was, in consequence,
distinguished by a particular name, being denominated, from the city in
which he presided, a metropolitan.
churches was at first small: they could easily, when not prevented by
persecution, assemble together; and they thus formed one church or
congregation; for, in Scripture, the term _church_ is never used in the
more modern acceptation of the word, but is employed to denote either
the whole church of Christ, or a number of disciples meeting for the
celebration of divine worship. The converts, however, rapidly increased;
and when they could no longer meet in one place, other places would be
prepared for them. But, connected as they still were with the parent
church, they would choose from its presbyters their own pastors, and
view themselves as under the inspection of the president and the
presbytery, by whom the affairs of the church had been previously
conducted. The pastors would thus remain members of the presbytery, as
they had formerly been, and would look up to that one of their number
who had been accustomed to preside among them. They were, in fact, for a
considerable time, considered as one with the original church: the
bishop sent to them the elements of the Lord’s Supper as the pledge of
unity; and we find it asserted by ancient writers, that there was one
altar and one bishop. There were in this way gradually established,
first in the towns or cities in which the Apostles had called men to the
truth, and then in the contiguous district of country, several
congregations: in these pastors officiated, who were authorized by the
bishop and presbytery, whose superintendence was extended, so that
parochial episcopacy was insensibly but naturally changed into diocesan
episcopacy; many of the presbyters sent out by the bishop residing at
their churches, but nevertheless composing part of his council, and
being summoned to meet with him upon important occasions. This
enlargement of the field of inspection rendered the particular
superintendence of the bishop more requisite; and was the means both of
adding to his influence, and of his being regarded as permanently raised
above his brethren.
2. The ministers who were sent to the recently erected churches had
probably different powers, according to the numbers to whom they were to
officiate, the situation of the churches in respect of the original
church, and the tranquillity or persecution which was their lot. In the
immediate neighbourhood of the bishop, and where one person was
sufficient, he would merely perform the duties that had been assigned to
him previous to his mission; but the same reasons that led the Apostles
to plant several presbyters in the churches which they founded might
render it expedient that more than one, sometimes that a considerable
number, should be attached to the newly-formed congregations; more
particularly when the number attending was large, and when there was the
prospect of their still farther increasing. In such cases, it appears
that the bishop gave to one of the presbyters sent, and did so for the
same reasons that had at first created inequality among the pastors,
more extensive powers than were entrusted to the rest, and made him his
representative authorizing him to preside over the others, and to
discharge those parts of the ministerial office which, in his own
church, he reserved for himself. When this happened, the person so
distinguished was termed _choro-episcopus_: he was more than a
presbyter, but he was inferior to the bishop, acted by his directions,
and could be controlled by him in the exercise of the privileges which
had been granted. Such subordinate bishops continued for a considerable
time; but it might, from the beginning, have been foreseen that they
would soon aspire to an equality with the original bishops; and they
were at length suppressed, under the pretence that, by multiplying the
higher order in places of little consequence, the church would detract
from the respectability of that order, and lessen the reverence with
which it should be regarded.
3. The different congregations or churches which were established in
various cities and the adjoining districts were in so far independent of
each other, that the bishops and presbyters of each had the rule of
their particular church, and of the churches which had sprung from it,
and were entitled, by their own authority, to make such regulations as
appeared to them to be requisite; and this species of independence
continued for a considerable time, every bishop presiding in his
congregation, and afterward in his diocess. There was, however, always a
common tie by which they were united. Neighbouring churches, actuated by
ardent zeal for the interests of divine truth, consulted together upon
the best mode of promoting it. We know that the Apostolic churches were
enjoined to communicate to other bodies the epistles which they had
received; and while persecution continued, it was natural for all who
were exposed to it to consider by what means its fury could be avoided.
4. After the bishops were established as superior to presbyters, when
any meeting was held respecting religion, or the administration of the
church, it was chiefly composed of this higher order, and the president
of the synod or council was elected from their number. These meetings
were generally assembled in the metropolis, or principal city of the
district; and hence the bishop of this city, being frequently called to
preside, came, at length, to be regarded as entitled to do so: thus
acquiring a superiority over the other bishops, just as they had
acquired superiority over the inferior clergy. He was, in consequence,
distinguished by a particular name, being denominated, from the city in
which he presided, a metropolitan.