The Ranks of the Priesthood

By ranks we mean those positions within the church

which are received through the laying on of hands

by the church, and through special prayers and

fasting, along with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

All these are scripturally based ranks which are

mentioned in the Bible, by which we mean: the

order of bishop, priest and deacon.

Bishops or Overseers (1)

The first bishops in the church were our

fathers the apostles. They were bishops in

ecumenical and not simply local terms,

though St. James was the bishop of

Jerusalem.

Bishops or Overseers (2)

Reference to His work as an overseer was

also made in regard to the Lord Jesus Christ

Himself when St. Peter said: “For you were

like sheep going astray, but now you have

returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of

your souls” 1Peter 2:25

Bishops or Overseers (3)

Another example which brings together these two

titles and functions, that of overseer and that of

shepherd can be seen in the words of the apostle to

the bishops of Ephesus: “Keep watch over

yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit

has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the

church of God, which He bought with His own

blood” Acts 20:28

Bishops or Overseers (4)

The apostles were also bishops or archbishops in

the same way that they were also priests and high

priests.

They were bishops from the point of view of the

priesthood, and archbishops or chief overseers, in

respect of their relation with their spiritual sons and

successors.

Bishops or Overseers (5)

Yet in exactly the same way, they were

priests and chief priests: priests, because of

their priestly activity, and high priests

because of their leadership of all ranks of

the priesthood.

Bishops or Overseers (6)

Overseers are also God’s representatives

who are entrusted with God’s work. St. Paul

writes to Titus saying: “For a bishop must be

blameless, as a steward of God.” Titus 1:7

Bishops or Overseers (7)

With the same meaning, St. Paul speaking

about himself and about his assistants says:

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of

Christ and as stewards of the mysteries of

God. Moreover it is required in stewards that

one be found faithful” 1Cor.4:1,2

Bishops or Overseers (8)

The Bible explains the necessary

qualifications for the rank of bishop or

overseer. These include that the individual

must be: “able to teach”, “must not be a

recent convert” and “must also have a good

reputation with outsiders” 1Tim.3:2-7

Bishops or Overseers (9)

In his epistle to Titus, St. Paul said that the

overseer: “… holding fast to the faithful word

as he has been taught, that he may be able,

encourage others by sound doctrine, both to

exhort and convict those who contradict”

Titus 1:9

Bishops or Overseers (10)

Since these qualities and conditions are not

possessed by every believer, this rank of

priesthood is therefore not meant to be for

anyone to assume. Nor is every believer

specially responsible for taking care of

God’s church in the ways in which his

representative are.

Elders (11)

The word ‘elders’ comes in Acts 14:23,

where it is said of Paul and Barnabas

concerning their mission in Lystra, Iconium,

and Antioch that they: “…appointed elders

for them in each church and, with prayer

and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in

whom they had put their trust”

Elders (12)

We notice here that the appointing of elders

was accompanied by prayers and fasting, and

these prayers would certainly have been the

special ritual prayers for ordination, since the

same terms, ‘prayer and fasting’ were used

when Saul and Barnabas received the laying of

hands (Acts 13:3)

Elders (13)

This rank is mentioned by St. Paul to his

disciple Titus: “For this reason I left you in

Crete, that you should set in order the things

that are lacking and appoint elders in every

city, as I commanded you” Titus 1:5

Elders (14)

And it comes again in James 5:14 “Is any one

of you sick? Let him call for the elders of the

church and let them pray over him, anointing

him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the

prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord

will raise him up. And if he has committed sin,

he will be forgiven”

Elders (16)

Notice that it doesn’t say in this verse: ‘call

one of the believers who has a gift of

healing’, but: “…call the elders of the

church…” It isn’t speaking here of the gift of

healing, but of the office of priest.

Elders (17)

See also what it says in 1Tim.5:17 about the

elders: “The elders who direct the affairs of

the church well are worthy of double honor,

especially those who labor in the word and

doctrine”

Elders (18)

Those whom the apostle mentioned in the

previous quotations had been

commissioned for two things: teaching and

directing; they were said to be directors,

also referred to as hegumens or archpriests

The difference between the bishop and the priest (1)

The first difference is that the bishops have the right

to appoint the priests. St. Paul tells Timothy: “Do not

lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other

people’s sins” 1Tim.5:22

The same meaning is conveyed to his disciple Titus

(1:5)

The difference between the bishop and the priest (2)

The canonical law of the Church mentions

that the priest is to be appointed by one

bishop, but that the bishop is to be

appointed by the laying on of hands of no

less than two or three bishops.

The difference between the bishop and the priest (3)

The second difference is that the bishop can

judge or bring to trial a priest. Concerning

this St. Paul says to Timothy: “Do not

receive an accusation against an elder

except from two or three witnesses”

1Tim.5:19

The difference between the bishop and the priest (4)

The bishop also has the right to reward the

priest. St. Paul says to his disciple Timothy

in the same Epistle: “Let the elders who rule

well be counted worthy of double honor,

especially those who labor in the word and

doctrine” 1Tim.5:17

Deacons (1)

Deacons are first mentioned in the Book of Acts (6)

where certain conditions are stipulated by which those

who are to be deacons should be distinguished from

other believers, such as:

- Should be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

- Should be ordained through the laying of hands of

the apostles upon them.

- Should carry out certain responsibilities in the church

Deacons (2)

The rank of bishop along with that of deacon, is

mentioned at the beginning of St. Paul’s Epistle to the

Philippians, where he says: “Paul and Timothy,

bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in

Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and

deacons” Phil.1:1

Deacons (3)

There are special requirements for the deacon to be

ordained. St. Paul says: “Likewise deacons must be

reverent, not double – tongued, not given to much

wine, not greedy for money” 1Tim.3:8

St. Paul also stipulates that the deacons should be

tested first before being ordained 1Tim.3:10