Early Church Ordination
Early Christian teaching presents ordination as an ordered church act, not a self-made role. Bishops, presbyters, and deacons were set apart with prayer, fasting, and laying on of hands, and the church often approved the choice. Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Cyprian, and the Apostolic Constitutions are the main early witnesses here. Bible passages like Acts 6:6, Acts 14:23, Acts 13:3, Acts 1:22, and 1 Timothy 4:14 fit that same pattern.
131 early-church witnesses · 228 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about ordination?
Early Christian writers taught that ordination was a real church act, not a private choice, and that it normally involved prayer, fasting, and the laying on of hands. Clement of Rome, Ignatius, and Cyprian all connect ministry with ordered succession, public recognition, and approval from the church, while the Apostolic Constitutions says ordination belongs to the bishop and uses set ranks like bishops, presbyters, and deacons.
The Bible passages most directly tied to this practice are Acts 6:6, Acts 13:3, Acts 14:23, Acts 1:22, and 1 Timothy 4:14. The evidence is broad and early for church order and laying on of hands, though some later liturgical details are clearer than the earliest century-one texts. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christians tied ordination to prayer, laying on of hands, and recognized church order.
- Clement of Rome, Ignatius, and Cyprian all connect ministry with public approval and succession.
- The strongest Bible passages are Acts 6:6, Acts 13:3, Acts 14:23, Acts 1:22, and 1 Timothy 4:14.
- The evidence is strongest for church order and ritual appointment, and thinner for exact ceremony details in the earliest period.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians ordain ministers by prayer and laying on of hands?
The sources most directly describe ordination as involving prayer and the laying on of hands. They present this as the normal way bishops, presbyters, deacons, and other ministers were set apart.
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Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching
...ies, they appointed the first-fruits of their labors, having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who would later believe. Nor was this a new thing, since many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. For thus says the Scripture in a certain place, “I will appoint their bishops in righteousness, and their deacons in faith.”
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Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Direct teaching
...y instructed that when these ministers passed away, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. We believe, therefore, that those appointed by them, or later by other distinguished men with the consent of the whole Church, who have served the flock of Christ blamelessly in a humble, peaceful, and selfless spirit, and have long enjoyed a good reputation with everyone, cannot be justly removed from the ministry. Our sin will not be small if we dismiss from the episcopate those who have fulfilled its duties blamelessly and holily. Blessed are those presbyters who, having completed their journey before now, have achieved a fruitful and perfect departure from this world; for they have no fear of being deprived of the place now appointed to them. But we see that you have removed some men of excellent character from the ministry, which they fulfilled blamelessly and with honor.
How were church ministers chosen for ordination?
The sources emphasize public consent, good testimony, blameless character, and being proved before appointment. This is especially clear in the cards about bishops, readers, presbyters, and deacons being selected by the church.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
That Ordination Belongs Wholly to the Bishop, and to Nobody Else.
Did early Christians see ordination as part of church order and succession?
The sources portray ordination as part of the Church's ordered ministry, with bishops, presbyters, deacons, and succession from earlier appointed leaders. Clement, Ignatius, Cyprian, and the Apostolic Constitutions all contribute to this picture of ordered continuity.
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Cyprian, Epistles Supporting witness
... what I have written and what they have replied may be made known to our brothers. Moreover, if any bishops from other places, my colleagues, or any presbyters or deacons, are present among you or arrive among you, let them hear all these matters from you. And if they want to copy the letters and take them to their own people, let them have the chance to copy them. I have also instructed Saturus the reader, our brother, to allow anyone who wishes to copy them. In this way, while the condition of the Church is being ordered for the present in any way, one faithful agreement may be observed by all. But concerning the other matters that were to be dealt with, as I have also written to several of my colleagues, we will consider them more fully in a common council when, by the Lord's permission, we begin to gather in one place. I bid you, beloved and longed-for brothers, always farewell from my heart. Greet the brothers. Farewell.
Common Questions
Did early Christians believe ordination needed laying on of hands?
Yes. Acts 6:6, Acts 13:3, and 1 Timothy 4:14 link ministry with laying on of hands, and Cyprian and later church writings repeat that pattern.
Who was allowed to ordain in the early church?
The Apostolic Constitutions says ordination belongs to the bishop, and Cyprian treats bishops as the key leaders in appointing clergy.
Did the early church want the people involved in ordination?
Cyprian says ordination should happen with the knowledge of the people and the judgment of the church, so it was not treated as a hidden act.
Source Index for Ordination
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 228 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 131
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 97
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
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Book 79 1:50
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Book 79 1:34