Hierarchy

The word hierarchy is "a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority."

Is there a "hierarchy" in the Church established by Christ?

The answer may not be as simple as one thinks. When we say hierarchy we think of people ruling one over the other but that is not what the word actually means.

It does contain the word archy from the Greek word archon^[1] or archon ^[2]which does mean ruler and is commonly used to reference rulers over people and translated as prince, chief, magistrate, commander, or leader.

We find forms of the word in the Bible like archisunagogos^[3] meaning the ruler of the synagogue.

There was the politarches ^[4] which means the ruler of the city like a mayor or governor.

Or there is the word architriklinos < 755 ~ἀρχιτρίκλινος~ architriklinos \@ar-khee-tree’-klee-nos\@ from 746 and a compound of 5140 and 2827 (a dinner-bed, because composed of three couches); ; n m AV-governor of the feast 2, ruler of the feast 1; 3 1) the superintendent of the dining room, a table master. It differs from toast-master, who was one of the guests selected by lot to prescribe to the rest the mode of drinking. The table master was to place in order the tables and the couches, arrange the courses, taste the food and wine beforehand, and so forth.</Ref> which although it sounds ominous literally means the ruler of three couches. His job was to arrange things at a feast or big dinner so everything went well.

While the Church in general is an organization it consists of participants, the laity or people and the ministers who conform to Christ for His purposes are members of the Church. They are to be Benefactors of the people but are not to exercise authority one over the other. There is an absence of hierarchy in the sense of ruling over people.

Clearly there is a hierarchy in the Church which we see with Jesus comment in Matthew 23:11 "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."^[5]

He goes on in Matthew 23:12 to say "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."^[6]

So in what sense are the Ministers of the Church a hierarchy?

Hierarchy is a late Middle English word via the Old French and medieval Latin from Greek hierarkhia, from hierarkhēs ‘sacred ruler’. The earliest sense was ‘system of orders of angels and heavenly beings’; the other senses date from the 17th century.

But the Greek word

Jesus uses it when He appoints the kingdom to the apostles.^[7]

The apostles were rulers and princes but not over the people like the governments of the gentiles. They ruled over that which was freely given to them. If they did not do well with what was given to them for the purposes of Christ the people could choose to give no more. Any government where the rulers can force the contributions of the people is not following the ways of Christ, nor are the people free or at liberty.

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Footnotes

↑ 758 ~ἄρχων~ archon \@ar’-khone\@ present participle of 757; n m AV-ruler 22, prince 11, chief 2, magistrate 1, chief ruler 1; 37 1) a ruler, commander, chief, leader
↑ 758 ~ἄρχων~ archon \@ar’-khone\@ present participle of 757; n m AV-ruler 22, prince 11, chief 2, magistrate 1, chief ruler 1; 37 1) a ruler, commander, chief, leader
↑ 752 ~ἀρχισυνάγωγος~ archisunagogos \@ar-khee-soon-ag’-o-gos\@ from 746 and 4864; n m AV-ruler of the synagogue 7, chief ruler of the synagogue 2; 9 1) ruler of the synagogue. It was his duty to select the readers or teachers in the synagogue, to examine the discourses of the public speakers, and to see that all things were done with decency and in accordance with ancestral usage.
↑ 4173 ~πολιτάρχης~ politarches \@pol-it-ar’-khace\@ from 4172 and 757; ; n m AV-ruler of the city 2; 2 1) a ruler of a city or citizens
↑ Luke 22:26 But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
↑ Luke 22:27 For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. 28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
↑ : Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mark 10:42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

Luke 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

About the author

Brother Gregory
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