The Catholic Church celebrates the martyrdom of two saints in the 3rd century, Ss. Cornelius, a pope in 251-253 and Cyprian (200-258), a bishop at Carthage. We know more about St. Cyprian because from him came the following famous quotes:
"Outside the Church there is no salvation --- extra ecclesiam nulla salus" which is found in his letter to Jubaianus about the baptism of heretics and
"Without the Church as mother, one cannot have God as father" which is found in his treatise on the unity of the church.
From these quotes, we can envision a worried bishop troubled by schisms caused by Roman persecutions. The Church had to go through seventy more years of persecution before Constantine appeared on the scene. Some weaker Christians gave up their faith and later begged to return to the Church. How would they be accepted?
In some parts of the world, spiritual men and women (confessors) could simply declare other Christians' sins forgiven and readmitted back to the fellowship as if the bishops were non-existent! The unity of the church was threatened. It was St. Cyprian who fought hard to establish that salvation is linked with church unity which in turn is inseparable from the fellowship of the bishops. As a result, the Church is firmly institutionalized after the administrative pattern of the Roman Empire. Of course, in the course of the next sixteen centuries, the Church has to constantly fight back the encroachment of state influences on church affairs.
"Outside the Church there is no salvation --- extra ecclesiam nulla salus" which is found in his letter to Jubaianus about the baptism of heretics and
"Without the Church as mother, one cannot have God as father" which is found in his treatise on the unity of the church.
From these quotes, we can envision a worried bishop troubled by schisms caused by Roman persecutions. The Church had to go through seventy more years of persecution before Constantine appeared on the scene. Some weaker Christians gave up their faith and later begged to return to the Church. How would they be accepted?
In some parts of the world, spiritual men and women (confessors) could simply declare other Christians' sins forgiven and readmitted back to the fellowship as if the bishops were non-existent! The unity of the church was threatened. It was St. Cyprian who fought hard to establish that salvation is linked with church unity which in turn is inseparable from the fellowship of the bishops. As a result, the Church is firmly institutionalized after the administrative pattern of the Roman Empire. Of course, in the course of the next sixteen centuries, the Church has to constantly fight back the encroachment of state influences on church affairs.
Chapter three of the First Epistle to Timothy is important for the church because Paul laid down the requirements on bishops and deacons. At that time, bishops were probably no more than an "overseer" of a church. Their teaching role evolved stronger in the later ages.
There were some requirements common to both bishops and deacons. For example, they must be husbands of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2, 12), good managers of their households and children (1 Timothy 3:4, 12), not greedy nor addicted to wine (1 Timothy 3:3, 8). I must apply myself diligently to fulfil these and other requirements so that I may serve the Lord and the Church well in the future.
There were some requirements common to both bishops and deacons. For example, they must be husbands of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2, 12), good managers of their households and children (1 Timothy 3:4, 12), not greedy nor addicted to wine (1 Timothy 3:3, 8). I must apply myself diligently to fulfil these and other requirements so that I may serve the Lord and the Church well in the future.
Paul sees the church as the bulwark of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15b). He confesses the superiority of Christianity in the following terms:
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16).
Therefore, we should be proud of being a Christian. We should count ourselves lucky and blessed to be able to behold the glory of God in flesh, to receive the Holy Spirit as a down payment for our future salvation and to sing praises to our God in the company of angels. Halleluia.
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16).
Therefore, we should be proud of being a Christian. We should count ourselves lucky and blessed to be able to behold the glory of God in flesh, to receive the Holy Spirit as a down payment for our future salvation and to sing praises to our God in the company of angels. Halleluia.
Dear Lord, some particular brothers and sisters in the Church are difficult to live with and build up our frustrations against the Church. Help us, Lord, to love our Mother Church and support our brethren in our church life. St. Cyprian. Pray for us. Amen.
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