y in the 2nd century the three permanent offices of
bishop, presbyter and deacon existed at any rate in Asia Minor (cf. the
Epistles of Ignatius of Antioch). Their rise was due principally to the
necessity of administering the charities of the Church, putting an end
to disorder and confusion in the religious services, and disciplining
offenders. It was naturally to the apostles, prophets and teachers, its
most spiritual men, that the Church looked first for direction and
control in all these matters. But such men were not always at hand, or
sometimes they were absorbed in other duties. Thus the need of
substitutes began to be felt here and there, and as a consequence
regular offices within the local Churches gradually made their
appearance, sometimes simply recognized as charged with responsibilities
which they had already voluntarily assumed (cf. 1. Cor. xvi. 15),
sometimes appointed by an apostle or prophet or other specially inspired
man (cf. Acts xiv. 23; Titus i. 5; 1 Clement 44), sometimes formally
chosen by the congregation itself (cf. Acts vi., _Did._ xi.). These men
naturally acquired more and more as time passed the control and
leadership of the Church in all its activities, and out of what was in
the beginning more or less informal and temporary grew fixed and
permanent offices, the incumbents of which were recognized as having a
right to rule over the Church, a right which once given could not
lawfully be taken away unless they were unfaithful to their trust. Not
continued endowment by the Spirit, but the possession of an
ecclesiastical office now became the basis of authority. The earliest
expression of this genuinely official principle is found in Clement's
Epistle to the Corinthians, ch. xliv. Upon these officers devolved
ultimately not only the disciplinary, financial and liturgical duties
referred to, but also the still higher function of instructing their
fellow-Christians in God's will and truth, and so they became the
substitutes of the apostles, prophets and teachers in all respects (cf.
1 Tim. iii. 2, v. 17; Titus i. 9; _Did._ 15; 1 Clement 44; Justin's
first _Apology_, 67).

Whether in the earliest days there was a single officer at the head of a
congregation, or a plurality of officers of equal authority, it is
impossible to say with assurance. The few references which we have look
in the latter direction (cf., for instance, Acts vi.; Phil. i. 1; 1
Clement 42, 44; _Did._ 14), but we are not justi