To Ariel:
I was reading Didaché yesterday before sleep and look what I found, it may be of our interest:
- 50-120 A.D. - i.e. very, very early witness of the apostolic church practice
------------------
"15:1 Appoint for yourselves therefore bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not lovers of money, and true and approved;
15:2 for unto you they also perform the service of the prophets and teachers.
15:3 Therefore despise them not;
15:4 for they are your honourable men along with the prophets and teachers."
In the Czech version, the verse 15:4 is "they are your honorable after the prophets and teachers."
-----------------------------
Summary:
1. Both bishops and deacons are men. Or at least there is no mention they can be also women.
2. They can perform the service of prophets and teachers, but they are not them.
3. If the Czech translation is right, the hierarchy was: "Prophets - teachers - bishops - deacons".
I was reading Didaché yesterday before sleep and look what I found, it may be of our interest:
- 50-120 A.D. - i.e. very, very early witness of the apostolic church practice
------------------
"15:1 Appoint for yourselves therefore bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not lovers of money, and true and approved;
15:2 for unto you they also perform the service of the prophets and teachers.
15:3 Therefore despise them not;
15:4 for they are your honourable men along with the prophets and teachers."
In the Czech version, the verse 15:4 is "they are your honorable after the prophets and teachers."
-----------------------------
Summary:
1. Both bishops and deacons are men. Or at least there is no mention they can be also women.
2. They can perform the service of prophets and teachers, but they are not them.
3. If the Czech translation is right, the hierarchy was: "Prophets - teachers - bishops - deacons".