5. Jerusalem: The Development of a Polity

Abstract

We know very little about the organization of what has been called the primitive Church. The belief in the imminent second coming did not put to rest the need for some arrangement to keep the faithful together and to spread the gospel. No one polity prevailed, but the general pattern was for each group of believers to organize a church and choose those who taught or preached, those who took care of external matters, and those who administered the assistance rendered to unfortunate members. Each church was an independent unit but almost all of them maintained connections with each other through correspondence or other devices. During the second century the clergy, in the person of the priest, became differentiated from the other members. The priest was set apart -- ordained -- for his work, devoted himself entirely to his religious duties, and began wearing distinctive garb. [excerpt