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Foundation Stone 3: The Ministers of the Church
Within 30 years of the death and resurrection of Jesus, churches were founded in Jerusalem, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Spain.
Each church had a bishop at its head—an episcopos, or overseer.
Bishops were seen as the successors of the Apostles, responsible for preaching the Gospel and keeping people faithful to the creeds.
This structure still exists today.
Many bishops and famous teachers gradually won over many people to the Christian faith and led many to give up the Roman state religion.
These bishops and theologians are known as the Church Fathers.
Bishop laying on of hands in ordaining a priest
Early Church Fathers
Story of Chrisitanity - St. Ignatius of Antioch. Play clip 40:34-42:30
Ignatius of Antioch
“Allow me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose means it will be granted me to reach God. I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ.”
Emperor Trajan
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