M
Mickey
Guest
Yes, the Church called these spiritually mature christians, bishops. They were the superiors in the Church and God’s word according to Heb 13:17 demanded obedience to these bishops. To do otherwise is the sin of Korah’s rebellion (Num 16) warned against by St. Jude (Jude 11).
From St Ignatius of Antioch’s Epistle to the Smyraeans
**CHAPTER VIII.–LET NOTHING BE DONE WITHOUT THE BISHOP. **See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as ye would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is[administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude[of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid.