Authorized to teach

[billcu1]

What is meant by some of the early church fathers when they wrote they say they were “Not authorized to teach”? Is only a Bishop allowed to do that? Or Priest ?

 

[dmar198]

What is meant by some of the early church fathers when they wrote they say they were “Not authorized to teach”? Is only a Bishop allowed to do that? Or Priest ?

I’m not sure, I don’t think I’ve noticed one of them say that, could you maybe provide a citation or a link? It would be helpful if we could look up the context. Perhaps he meant he was a layman? If you want to teach the Church in an official capacity, there are certain circumstances where you have to be ordained. But I would need a link or a citation to find out the context.

 

[billcu1]

I’m not sure, I don’t think I’ve noticed one of them say that, could you maybe provide a citation or a link? It would be helpful if we could look up the context. Perhaps he meant he was a layman? If you want to teach the Church in an official capacity, there are certain circumstances where you have to be ordained. But I would need a link or a citation to find out the context.

I can’t quite remember but I believe it may have been Ireneus or Ignatius. Were either of them never Bishops?

 

[dmar198]

I can’t quite remember but I believe it may have been Ireneus or Ignatius. Were either of them never Bishops?

Both were bishops at one point. We do know a little bit about St. Irenaeus’s life before he was a bishop (before he was elected bishop he was a legate from France to the pope), but I don’t think we have any writings by him from this period. As for St. Ignatius, I think the only writings we have from him come from a few months before his death, at that point he was definitely a bishop. The only thing that comes to mind related to this is a quote from St. Ignatius about people who don’t have authority to do certain things: “Let no one do anything of concern to the Church without the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop or by one whom he ordains.” (Letter to the Smyrneans 8:2) Is that perhaps similar to what you are looking for?

 

[billcu1]

Both were bishops at one point. We do know a little bit about St. Irenaeus’s life before he was a bishop (before he was elected bishop he was a legate from France to the pope), but I don’t think we have any writings by him from this period. As for St. Ignatius, I think the only writings we have from him come from a few months before his death, at that point he was definitely a bishop. The only thing that comes to mind related to this is a quote from St. Ignatius about people who don’t have authority to do certain things: “Let no one do anything of concern to the Church without the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop or by one whom he ordains.” (Letter to the Smyrneans 8:2) Is that perhaps similar to what you are looking for?

I see.