Chapter 4

The Church is a Hierarchical Community

Objectives:
At the end of the Lesson the Students will be able to…
1. Know the beginning of Hierarchical Structure in the Church.
2. Distinguish the past events that made the very first hierarchy in the Church.
3. Learn that the people get power in the Church not to dominate but to serve.

Lesson 1
Historical Remarks

Protestant scholars like Harnack affirm that the hierarchy, as it exists in the Catholic
Church, was alien to the mind of Christ, as well as to the first Christian communities.
According to them, the idea of a hierarchy was introduced into the Church slowly almost
inadvertently between 70 and 170 A. D. under the influence of various circumstances and
needs such as that regulating the liturgical life, the growing influence of Jewish or pagan
communities, as well as the need to defend the faith against the errors of the Gnostics and
Montanists. The renowned Protestant theologian, Harnack, distinguishes six pre-catholic
periods preceding the establishment of a hierarchy in the Catholic Church. The first was
about the year 30 when Christ himself preached his Gospel, saying nothing about a
hierarchy in his Church. The second period was about the year 60, when the apostles
preached the word of God, also without any awareness of a need for a hierarchical
structure in the Church. In the third period, about the year 90, the disciples of the apostles
initiated the formation of hierarchical structure in the Church. During the fourth period,
about the year 130, this structure was reinforced in the struggle against Gnosticism. In the
fifth period, about the year 160, the Montanists crisis enlarged the hierarchical structure in
the Church. In the sixth period, about the year 190, the Catholic Church formalized its
hierarchical structure under Pope Victor (189-199) and Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, France
(martyred 202).

Lesson 2
Our Catholic Point of View Concerning the Hierarchy

The hierarchy of the Catholic Church consists of its bishops, priests, and deacons. In
the ecclesiological sense of the term, “hierarchy” strictly means the “holy ordering” of the
Church, the Body of Christ, so to respect the diversity of gifts and ministries necessary for
genuine unity (1 Cor 12).
In canonical and general usage, it refers to those who exercise authority within a
Christian church. In the Catholic Church, authority rests chiefly with the bishops, while
priests and deacons serve as their assistants, co-workers or helpers. Accordingly,
“hierarchy of the Catholic Church” is also used to refer to the bishops alone. The term
“pope” was still used loosely until the sixth century, being at times assumed by other
bishops. The term “hierarchy” became popular only in the sixth century, due to the writings
of Pseudo-Dionysius.
As of 31 December 2020, the Catholic Church consisted of 2,903 dioceses or
equivalent jurisdictions, each overseen by a bishop. Dioceses are divided into individual
communities called parishes, each staffed by one or more priests, deacons, or lay ecclesial
ministers. Ordinarily, care of a parish is entrusted to a priest, though there are exceptions.
Approximately 22% of all parishes do not have a resident pastor, and 3,485 parishes
worldwide are entrusted to a deacon or lay ecclesial minister.
All clergy, including deacons, priests, and bishops, may preach, teach, baptize,
witness marriages, and conduct funeral liturgies. Only priests and bishops can celebrate the
sacraments of the Eucharist (though others may be ministers of Holy Communion),
Penance (Reconciliation, Confession), Confirmation (priests may administer this sacrament
with prior ecclesiastical approval), and Anointing of the Sick. Only bishops can administer
the sacrament of Holy Orders, by which men are ordained as bishops, priests or deacons.
Women are excluded from the hierarchy of clergy.

Lesson 3
The Declaration of Vatican II

Vatican II gives us an explanation of the Catholic doctrine about hierarchical

structure of the Church in Chapter III of Lumen Gentium and in the Decree on the Bishops
Pastoral Office in the Church.
Bishops, the successors of the apostles, together with the successor of Peter, the
Vicar of Christ and the visible head of the Whole Church, govern the house of the
Living God (Lumen Gentium, par. 18).
That divine mission, entrusted by Christ to the apostles, will last until the end of
the world since the gospel which was to be handed down by them is for all time the
source of all life for the Church ( Ibid. par. 20).
In this Church of Christ, the Roman Pontiff is the successor of Peter, to whom
Christ entrusted the feeding of his sheep and lambs. Hence, by divine institution he
enjoys supreme, full, immediate and universal authority over the care of souls. Since
he is pastor of all the faithful, his mission is to provide for the common good of the
universal Church and for the good of the individual churches. He holds therefore, a
primacy of ordinary power over all the churches (Christus Dominus, par. 2).

We read in the same paragraph that the bishops “appointed by the Holy Spirit,” are to be
considered successors of the apostles. Consequently, they are teachers of “all nations” in
the realm of faith. They receive this mission

through episcopal consecration, in communion with and under the authority of the
Supreme Pontiff. All are united in a college or body with respect to teaching the
universal Church of God and governing her as shepherds (Ibid. par. 3, see also
Lumen Gentium, par. 23).

Besides this Universal mission each bishop is appointed to a particular diocese, as

individually responsible for it. As such

the individual bishop is the visible principle and foundation of unity in his particular
church fashioned after the model of the universal Church…. Each individual bishop
represents his own diocese, but all of them together in union with the Pope
represent the entire Church joined in the bond of peace, love and unity (See: Lumen
Gentium, par. 23).
The individual bishops, insofar as the discharge of their duty permits, are
obliged to enter into a community of effort among themselves and with the
successor of Peter, upon whom was imposed in a special way the great duty of
spreading the Christian name (Ibid. par. 23).
Among the principal duties of bishops, the preaching of the gospel occupies an
eminent place (Ibid. par. 25).
Just as, by the Lord’s will, St. Peter and the other apostles constituted one
apostolic college, so in a similar way the Roman Pontiff as the successor of Peter,
and the Bishops as the successors of the apostles are joined together….. But the
college or body of bishops has no authority unless its head, the Roman Pontiff,
Peter’s successor, and without any lessening of the power of primacy over all,
pastors as well as the general faithful. For in virtue of his office, that is, as Vicar of
Christ and pastor of the whole church, the Roman Pontiff has full supreme, and
universal power over the Church. And he can always exercise this power freely. The
order of bishops is the successor to the college of the apostles in teaching authority
and pastoral rule; or rather, in the episcopal order the apostolic body continues
without a break. Together with its head, the Roman Pontiff, and never without its
 head, the episcopal order is the subject of supreme and full power over the universal
Church. But this power can be exercised only with the consent of the Roman Pontiff.
For our Lord made Simon Peter alone the rock and keybearer of the Church, and
appointed him shepherd of the whole flock (Lumen Gentium, par. 22).

The authority of the Pope and Bishop should be exercised in the form of a service
and not power says the Council:

For those who are endowed with sacred power are servants of their brethren, so
that all who are of the People of God, and therefore enjoy a true Christian dignity,
can work toward a common goal freely and in an orderly way, and arrive at
salvation (Ibid. par. 18)

Our Lord willed that “their successor, namely the bishops, should be shepherds
in his Church even to the consummation of the world” (Ibid. par. 18).
The Constitution Lumen Gentium brings together two images for the better
understanding of the authority in the Church. Bishops and all those who exercise
any power in the Church are servants and pastors. Our Lord left such an ideal to his
Church.

So Jesus called them to him and said: You know that in the world, rulers lord it over
their subjects, and their great men make them feel the weight of authority; but it
shall not be so with you. Among you, whoever wants to be great must be the willing
slave of all – like the Son of Man; he did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
surrender his life as a ransom for many (Mt 20:25-28).

Father Yves Congar explains the character of authority in the Church as a

diakonia. People get “power” in the Church not to dominate but to serve.

Discussion/Elaboration

Gustav Adolf Von Harnack is a protestant scholar who confirms that the hierarchy
was an alien to the mind of Christ, meaning that idea itself was unknown to Jesus Christ and
was never intended in the first place. According to them, the idea of hierarchy was
introduced into the Church slowly between 70 and 170 A. D under the influence of various
circumstances such as regulating the liturgical life, the growing influence of Jewish or
Pagan communities, and the need to defend the faith against the errors of the Gnostics and
Montanists.
Harnack distinguishes the six pre-catholic periods of the occurring establishment of
hierarchy in the Catholic Church. The first period was about the year 30 when Christ
himself preached his Gospel, saying nothing about a hierarchy in his Church. The second
period was about the year 60 when the apostles preached the word of God, without any
awareness of a need for a hierarchical structure in the Church. The third period was about
the year 90, in this period the disciples of the apostles initiated the formation of
hierarchical structure in the Church. The fourth period about the year 130, during this
period, the structure was reinforced in the struggle against Gnosticism. The fifth period
about the year 160, the hierarchical structure in the Church enlarged because of the
Montanist crisis. As what I’ve said, the influence of Gnostics and Montanists is one of the
circumstances why hierarchy is introduced in the Church. In the sixth period about the year
190, the Catholic Church formalized its hierarchical structure under Pope Victor and
Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, France.
The Catholic Church hierarchy are consists of bishops, priests, and deacons, wherein
bishop has the authority, while priests and deacons serve as their assistants. Deacons,
priests, and bishops may preach, teach, baptize, witness marriages, and conduct funeral
liturgies, but only priest and bishop can celebrate the sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance,
Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick, and only bishops can administer the sacrament of
Holy Orders, by which men are ordained as bishops, priests, or deacons.
The Catholic doctrine about hierarchical structure of the Church and in the Decree
on the Bishops Pastoral Office in the Church was given an explanation by Vatican II in
Chapter III of Lumen Gentium. It was stated that bishops are the successors of the apostles
and the Roman Pontiff is the successor of Peter, together they govern the house of the
living God. Bishops are to be considered successors of the apostles, they are the teachers of
all nations in the realm of faith. They have receive the universal mission and aside from this
mission, each bishop is appointed to a particular diocese and represent his own diocese,
but represent the whole Church together in the bond of peace, love and unity. The authority
of the Pope and Bishop should be exercised in the form of a service and not power.

Summary

Many says that hierarchy was not intended by Christ because they believe that the
idea of hierarchy was slowly build to various reasons, one of the reasons is to defend the
people’s faith against the Gnostics and Montanists. The idea of hierarchy was seen from the
very start and the most essential proof is the power that was given by Christ to the
apostles, and then the primacy that was reserved to St. Peter. Clearly, hierarchy begin from
that moment, as what they say, and the hierarchical structure begins until now in the
Church.

Doctrines:

In the ecclesiological sense of the, “holy ordering” of the Church, the Body of Christ,
so to respect the diversity of gifts and ministries necessary for genuine unity (1 Cor 12).

Moral:

Mystical Body of Christ in his encyclical Mystici Corporis, “those who are divided in
faith or government cannot be living in the unity of such a Body, nor can they be living the
life of its one Divine Spirit (PIUS XII).

Worship:

“Be merciful, diligent, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who became the
servant of all.” (1 Tim 2;4).
Quizzes

Chapter 4

Direction: Encircle the letter of the correct answer below.

1. A protestant scholar who affirm that the hierarchy was alien to the mind of Christ.
a. St. Polycarp b. Harnack c. St. Peter
2. How many pre-catholic periods are there in preceding the establishment of a
hierarchy in the Catholic Church?
a. 6 b. 4 c. 3
3. During this period, about the year 130, the structure was reinforced in the struggle
against Gnosticism.
a. First period b. Fourth period c. Fifth period
4. This period was about year 60, when the apostles preached the word of God without
any awareness of a need for a hierarchical structure in the Church.
a. First period b. Second period c. Third period
5. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church are consists of _____________.
a. Pope, Priests, Bishops
b. Ministers, Deacons, Bishops
c. Bishops, Priests, Deacons
6. In this Church of Christ, who is the successor of Peter?
a. Bishop b. Priest n c. Roman Pontiff
7. They are appointed by the Holy Spirit and considered as the successors of the
Apostles.
a. Bishops b. Deacons. c. Priest
8. In the ecclesiological sense of the term, “hierarchy” strictly means the__________.
a. Divine Ordering. b. Holy Ordering c. Power Ordering
9. Besides this Universal mission, each bishop is appointed to a particular_________.
a. Diocese b. Power c. Mission
10. In the Catholic Church, authority rests chiefly with the________, while priests and
deacons serve as their assistants.
a. Pope b. Bishops c. Roman Pontiff

Answer Key:

1. B
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. C
6. C
7. A
8. B
9. A
10. B
 Chapter 5

The Church of Christ in the Teaching of Various Christian

Congregations

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson the students will be able to…
1. Recognize the other Christian Congregation.
2. Know that people has different point of view in terms of the Lord’s teaching.
3. Distinguish the various beliefs of people that is opposite to our beliefs.

Lesson 1

Waldensians

The so-called Waldensians, at the end of the twelfth century, acknowledged a merely
spiritual Church and hierarchy, denying her institutional character. They believed that the
spiritual hierarchy should be guided by divine inspiration. Their founder was Peter Waldo,
a merchant, around Lyons, France. They were condemned by Pope Innocent III ( 1198-
1216 ), who also deplored the moral life of the clergy of his times. Waldensians were
condemned not because of their extreme asceticism and criticism of the Roman Church, but
because of their false doctrine on the Church, her hierarchical and sacramental structure.

Lesson 2

Fraticelli

Fraticelli in the fourteenth century distinguished two Churches: “one carnal, packed
with riches” dominated by the Roman Pontiff and inferior prelates, and the other spiritual
“beautiful in virtue, bound by poverty in which were to be found the perfect.” They were
condemned by Pope John XXII (1316-1334) who was branded as a heretic by the many
sons of St. Francis (Ockham especially) because of his teaching that Christ himself and his
apostles had owned property. Many Fraticelli were imprisoned and burned as heretics, for
they affirmed that the Church of their times “ought to be overthrown by all nations.”

Lesson 3

Wycliffe and Hus

John Wycliffe (c. 1320-84) in England and John Hus (1369-1415) in Czechoslovakia
distinguished a twofold Church, “a synagogue of Satan” and the Church of Christ, denying
that there was “a spark of evidence that there should be one head ruling the Church.” They
believed that the truly genuine Church “is the aggregate of the predestined.” Consequently,
popes and bishops who are not predestined have no authority in the Church, according to
those heretics. John Hus was burned at the stake in 1415 for his heresy at Constance
(Germany). At the stake, he recited the litany saying: “Oh Christ, Son of the living God, have
mercy on me.”

Lesson 4

Martin Luther

Martin Luther (Nov. 11, 1483 - + Feb. 18, 1546) says in his Small Catechism that the
Church is the congregation of saints – all Christendom – the entire number of believers; for
only believers and all believers are members of the Church . According to Luther the true
Church is invisible; it is a spiritual body whose only head is Christ. Yet, Luther did not deny
the visible mark of the Church, which he defined as “a community of those who have, who
teach and who confess the entire doctrine of the word of God in all its purity, and among
whom the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ’s institution” (par. 192).
The visible masters of the Church, according to Lutheran Ecclesiology, should be the kings
and princes, to such an extent that their subjects should be obliged to accept their religion.
Cuius regio, eius religio. Luther reduced the number of seven sacraments to three: baptism,
the Eucharist and penance, denying the dignity of sacrament to ordination and
confirmation, which should be accepted as pure ecclesiastical rites.
On January 3 rd, 1521, Luther was excommunicated from the Church by Leo X (Bulla:
Decet Romanum Pontificem).

Lesson 5

John Calvin

John Calvin, born July 10, 1509 in France, became in1541 and remained until the end
of his life, a despotic ruler and reformer in Geneva (Switzerland). Though he ruled his
community by terrorizing means, he considered the Church as an invisible community,
composed of predestined souls. According to him, one discerns this invisible Church of
Jesus Christ by his Holy Gospel, faithfully preached, heard and kept and by proper
administration of the Holy Sacraments. He refused to believe in the hierarchical, structure
Church.

Lesson 6

Episcopal Church of England

The Episcopal Church of England confess the same doctrine concerning the Church
as Roman Catholics, with the distinction that they do not acknowledge the primacy of the
Pope nor the doctrine of unity, as it seen in the Roman Church. On the other hand, there are
doubts whether the ordination of the Episcopal churches are valid and authentic. The
matter is currently undergoing a new study.

Lesson 7

Other Anti-Catholic Movements

All the anti-Catholic movements in the second millennium of the existence of the
Church have insisted on the twofold Church – visible and invisible, but they have explained
and defined the character of the Church in the way contrary to Catholic theology. All these
movements have retained and kept some fundamental principles of genuine Christian
doctrine. They have been condemned, not for clinging to the Holy Gospel, but because of
their erroneous explanations of the true nature of the Church and of the Holy Sacraments.
Still, it must be a most painful thing for us to think that many heretics were actually burned
at the stake. Vatican II confesses in the Decree on Religious Freedom that

throughout the ages, the Church has kept safe and handed on the doctrine received
from the Master and from the apostles. Yet, in the life of the people of God, as it has
made its pilgrim way through the vicissitudes of human history, there have at times
appeared ways of acting which were less in accord with the spirit of the gospel and
even opposed to it. Nevertheless, the doctrine of the Church that no one is to be
coerced into faith has always stood firm (Par. 12).
Discussion/Elaboration

Waldensians acknowledge a merely spiritual Church and hierarchy. They believed

that the divine inspiration should guide the spiritual hierarchy. Their founder was a
merchant, around Lyons, France named Peter Waldo. Waldensians were condemned by
Pope Innocent III, they were condemned because of their false doctrine on the Church.
Fraticelli distinguished two Churches: “one carnal, packed with riches”, and the
other spiritual “beautiful in virtue, bound by poverty in which were to be found the
perfect.” They were condemned by Pope John XXII and branded as a heretic because of his
teaching that Christ himself and his apostles had owned property.
John Wycliffe in England and John Hus in Czechoslovakia distinguished a twofold
Church, “a synagogue of Satan” and the Church of Christ, denying that there was “a spark of
evidence that there should be one head ruling the Church. John Hus was burned at the
stake in 1415 for his heresy at Constance (Germany).
Martin Luther says in his Small Catechism that the Church is the congregation of
saints. According to Luther the true Church is invisible, a spiritual body whose only head is
Christ. Yet, he did not deny the visible mark of the Church. According to Lutheran
Ecclesiology, the visible masters of Church should be the kings and princes. Luther was
excommunicated from the Church by Leo X on the 3rd of January 1521.
John Calvin, born on July 10, 1509 in France became a despotic ruler and reformer in
Geneva (Switzerland) in 1541 and remained until the end of his life. He considered the
Church as an invisible community, composed of predestined souls. He refused to believe in
the hierarchical structure.
The Episcopal Churches of England confess the same doctrine concerning the Church
as Roman Catholics, with the distinction that they do not acknowledge the power of Pope
nor the doctrine of unity. There are doubts whether the ordination of the Episcopal
Churches are valid, the matter is currently undergoing a new study.
All Anti-Catholic movements that existed in the Church have insisted on the twofold
Church – visible and invisible, but explained the character of the Church opposite to
Catholic theology.

Summary

Aside from the Catholic people who acknowledge the primacy of the Pope and the
doctrine of unity, there are also many Christian Congregations who sees the Church
contrary to Catholic theology. Most of them are condemned by different Popes of their time,
they are not condemned just because of their criticism of the Roman Church but rather
because of their false explanations of the true nature of the Church and of the Holy
Sacraments. And even worse, many heretics were burned at the stake.

Doctrines:

The Churches of Christ affirm the orthodox teaching of the person of Christ and the
Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice with the primacy of the New Testament as the
revelation of the will of God. “There is no set age for this to occur; it is only when the child
learns the difference between right and wrong that they are accountable” (James 4:17).

Moral:

One must be properly taught, and hear (Romans 10:14–17); One must believe or
have faith (Hebrews 11:6, Mark 16:16); One must repent, which means turning from one’s
former lifestyle and choosing God’s ways (Acts 17:30); One must confess belief that Jesus is
the son of God (Acts 8:36–37); One must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts
2:38); and One must live faithfully as a Christian (1 Peter 2:9).

Worship:

Churches of Christ have typically involves praising God in music and speech,
readings from scripture, prayers of various sorts, a sermon, and various holy ceremonies
(often called sacraments) such as the Eucharist.
Quizzes

Chapter 5

Direction: Encircle the letter of the correct answer below.

1. They acknowledged a merely spiritual Church and hierarchy, denying her

institutional character, and believed that the spiritual hierarchy should be guided by
divine inspiration.
a. Fraticelli b. Episcopal Church of England c. Waldensians
2. The founder of Waldensians.
a. Martin Luther b. Peter Waldo c. John Calvin
3. According to him, the true Church is invisible whose only head is Christ. Who is he?
a. John Hus b. Martin Luther c. John Wycliffe
4. He was burned at the stake in 1415 for his heresy at Constance (Germany).
a. John Hus b. John Calvin c. Peter Waldo
5. They were imprisoned and burned as heretics, for they affirmed that the Church of
their times “ought to be overthrown by all nations.”
a. Fraticelli b. Waldensians c. Wycliffe and Hus
6. Who condemned the Fraticelli?
a. Leo X b. Pope Innocent III c. Pope John XXII
7. A despotic ruler and reformer in Geneva (Switzerland), he considered the Church as
an invisible community.
a. John Wycliffe b. John Hus c. John Calvin
8. They do not acknowledge the primacy of the Pope nor the doctrine of unity.
a. Episcopal Church of England b. Catholic Church c. Waldensians
9. On__________, Luther was excommunicated from the Church by Leo X.
a. December 3, 1522 b. January 3, 1521 c. January 3, 1522
10. He was the one who condemned the Waldensians.
a. Pope John XXII b. Leo X c. Pope Innocent III

Answer Key:
1. C
2. B
3. B
4. A
5. A
6. C
7. C
8. A
9. B
10. C