Presbyters and the Development of Church Offices

Abstract

This article questions two central presuppositions of recent research on early Christian ecclesial office. It argues that bishops and presbyters should not be too readily equated and that ecclesial office was not as closely connected to the providers of liturgical space (owners of house churches) as is often assumed.

Keywords:

• bishop
• deacon
• elders
• episcopacy
• office
• Pastorals
• presbyter