Priests of My People: Levitical Paradigms for Early Christian Ministers (Patristic Studies Book 11) by Bryan A. Stewart

Author:Bryan A. Stewart [Stewart, Bryan A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Peter Lang
Published: 2015-03-26T07:00:00+00:00

← 124 | 125 → Spiritual Leadership

One final aspect of the bishop-priest’s role which Origen describes is the more general responsibility of spiritual leadership and governance. As Hans von Campenhausen observes, “Origen sees the task of the bishop as one comprising the leadership and government of his community, especially in the work of administering justice and the regular administration of penance.”41 We have already seen that for Origen the bishop is like the priests of old in presiding over the church’s worship, including preaching and sacramental rites like baptism; this is the more cultic side of the bishop-priest’s role. Yet, Origen speaks also in more general terms about the task of governance and ruling, a spiritual guardianship, of the people of God. For example, in discussing the leadership of Moses and his council, Origen makes application to his own contemporary context and calls upon the current leaders, “who rule over the people (qui populis praesunt),”42 to be wise students of the word of God, appropriating even pagan wisdom if it is true. Although Christian leadership may have several different tasks, Origen summarizes their role in the church here in broad terms as “those who rule over the people.”

In another homily on Leviticus, Origen makes a similar summary of the bishop’s role, yet also connects it to the priestly model in the Old Testament. In discussing the Levitical prescription that a portion of the offerings belongs to the priests, Origen applies this teaching to his present situation: “Let the priests of the Lord (sacerdotes Domini) who rule over the churches (qui Ecclesiis praesunt) learn that part [of the sacrifice] was given to them…”43 He doubtless refers to the official Christian leadership, indicating that their role as ones “who rule over the churches” is part of their task as sacerdotes Domini. The spiritual leadership and authority of Christian bishops echoes for Origen the spiritual leadership and authority of Old Testament priests.

Again, in his homily on Joshua 6–7 regarding the conquest of Jericho and subsequent sin of Achan, Origen addresses the task of admonishing sinners, averring that the duty lies upon “the priests who rule over the people ← 125 | 126 → (qui populo praesunt).” Later in this same passage, Origen links the Levitical priests to Christian ministers by describing them as “those who rule over the churches (Ecclesiis praesunt).”44 Just as the spiritual welfare of the people of Israel was the responsibility of the Israelite priests, so now, implies Origen, the spiritual welfare of the Christian people of God lies in the hands of the bishop-priests.

Finally, in Homily 10 on Numbers, Origen describes the Christian leaders as those “in the sacerdotal order (in ordine sacerdotali).” Their task, reminds Origen, like those of the Israelite priests, is to “guard (custodias) the Tabernacle, the altar and the priesthood.”45 Just as the Israelite priests were called to guard God’s house,46 so too the Christian ministers retain this governmental and custodial priestly duty.

As with the tasks of teaching and sacrifice, the biblical portrait of priestly responsibilities also includes that of spiritual leadership and authority.

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