„ΟΙ ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΙ” AND „ΟΙ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΙ” IN PAUL’S DISCOURSE IN MILETUS (ACTS 20,17-35) ...
„ΟΙ ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΙ” AND „ΟΙ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΙ” IN PAUL’S DISCOURSE IN MILETUS (ACTS 20,17-35) ...

Summary/Abstract: The goal of this article is to emphasize that Paul’s discourse in Miletus might represent a reference to the sacramental priesthood of the early Church. From this point of view I try to give an answer especially to the following question: Who were οι πρεσβυτεροι and οι επισκοποι της εκκλησιας from Ephesus (Acts 20,17-35)? In answering this question I came to the conclusion that the elders from Ephesus wouldn’t have been simple old men, but a special category of persons who performed distinctive ecclesiastical tasks within the community. According to the Exegesis of the most Eastern Church Fathers on the above mentioned pericope, οι πρεσβυτεροι from Ephesus must have been members of the sacramental hierarchy of the Church. If this exegesis is correct, we then have to recognise that an obvious distinction between the universal priesthood, belonging to all Christians, and the sacramental one of the Church, belonging only to the “ordained priests” (το αγιον εθετο επισκοπους), has existed from the very beginning of the early Church. This latter group did not incorporate laity leaders of the community. Is Paul’s discourse in Miletus an appropriate reference to this regard? An answer to this matter can be found in the following analysis.

• Details
• Contents