John P
Puritan Board Freshman
So, I was reading Ignatius today so that I can say (over time, of course) that I have read the works of the Church Fathers (I know that Ignatius isn't the only Church Father, but I'm starting with the Apostolic Fathers and moving forward), and I was shocked at what Ignatius, who was supposedly trained under Peter and John, said about the Bishops and Presbyters. He basically said they are infallible and are, to an extent, the vicar of God. My question is how this became such a major theological doctrine the moment the apostles passed. Like, I have read sections of Augustine saying the church is infallible, and I have read similar things by Polycarp as well.
The thing is, the Bible NEVER says that we are to serve our Bishops as if they are God. In fact, the Bible says the opposite. We are to accept their authority as leaders, but are to serve God only (Luke 4:8), follow Jesus (Luke 9:23), and have the Holy Spirit teach us, to the point that we do not need anyone else to teach us (1 John 2:27). So, if the Apostles and Jesus did not teach the bishops and Presbytery being the vicar of God and totally infallible, then how did this become the common theology the moment the apostles passed? Surely, we are to follow the Bishops and Presbyters, but we are to serve God above all, and be Berean Jews, whom the Apostles praised for checking everything against the Old Testament to see if it was true.
The thing is, the Bible NEVER says that we are to serve our Bishops as if they are God. In fact, the Bible says the opposite. We are to accept their authority as leaders, but are to serve God only (Luke 4:8), follow Jesus (Luke 9:23), and have the Holy Spirit teach us, to the point that we do not need anyone else to teach us (1 John 2:27). So, if the Apostles and Jesus did not teach the bishops and Presbytery being the vicar of God and totally infallible, then how did this become the common theology the moment the apostles passed? Surely, we are to follow the Bishops and Presbyters, but we are to serve God above all, and be Berean Jews, whom the Apostles praised for checking everything against the Old Testament to see if it was true.