Artfuldodger
Senior Member
Was wondering if Paul expected a world Church leadership order when he mentioned bishops or did he expect to just leave it up to each Church? If it was to be left up to each Church, was it mans doings to come to the conclusion of the Councils of Nicaea?
I mean I know the actual councils were Constantine's doings but those bishops were already around those parts well before the first Council.
Even today most Church denominations adhere to the Nicene Creed that came out of those Councils.
I guess my question is did the world initially have a World Church order that most Churches adhered to and was that the way Paul got the message from God as the way God wanted it to be? Paul may have been the last apostle with a direct link to God in a way that's different from most of us.
Is there anything else from scripture that Jesus may have left us or one of the other Apostles that would lead us to believe in a World Church organization?
If not and even after the Protest, we sure seem to have a lot of huge Church organizations. I'm trying to compare that aspect with what Paul may have visioned. And for that matter what God or Jesus may have visioned after the Ascension.
Even before Jesus came to the earth as a man, we had Priests and a High Priest. There was already some type of hierarchy.
"Hierarchy"that's the word I was looking for.
I mean I know the actual councils were Constantine's doings but those bishops were already around those parts well before the first Council.
Even today most Church denominations adhere to the Nicene Creed that came out of those Councils.
I guess my question is did the world initially have a World Church order that most Churches adhered to and was that the way Paul got the message from God as the way God wanted it to be? Paul may have been the last apostle with a direct link to God in a way that's different from most of us.
Is there anything else from scripture that Jesus may have left us or one of the other Apostles that would lead us to believe in a World Church organization?
If not and even after the Protest, we sure seem to have a lot of huge Church organizations. I'm trying to compare that aspect with what Paul may have visioned. And for that matter what God or Jesus may have visioned after the Ascension.
Even before Jesus came to the earth as a man, we had Priests and a High Priest. There was already some type of hierarchy.
"Hierarchy"that's the word I was looking for.