Apostolic Fathers: Didache
Chapter 15 1 Therefore appoint for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, meek men, not lovers of money, true, having been examined, for they also perform the service of the prophets and teachers. 2 Therefore do not overlook them, for they are your honorable ones along with the prophets and teachers. Each congregation is given the ability and power to appoint bishops and deacons for themselves. This autonomous power can sometimes be abused (see 1 Clement), but it is not done in a vacuum. Elsewhere in the Scriptures, neighboring bishops were brought into the bishop's ordination and installation services to confirm the congregation's appointments. The bishop was in charge of confirming the appointments of deacons in the congregation. Both of these procedures make sure that each of the men brought before the congregation meet the criteria set forth in Scripture (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). Being examined by the Scriptures, the bishops and the deacons are to be honored and supported as God's messengers and teachers in the Church. 3 Do not speak to one another in wrath, but in the peace you have in the Gospel. Let no one speak to anyone who sins against another nor let him hear from you until he repents. 4 Do your vows and merciful acts and every deed as you have it in the Gospel of our Lord. Wrath brings torment upon both the speaker and the listener. Because Christians have been brought into the mystical union of the one body of Christ through Baptism, everyone should relate to each other in peace. The Gospel must predominate in our speech as Christians, but the Law has its place (Matthew 18:15-17): "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” While unrepentant, a sinner should not be welcomed to the innermost fellowship of the congregation. This is most concretely expressed in the Lord's Supper. Only the repentant should be admitted to the Sacrament. If someone will not listen to the Church about his or her sin, they must be left to their sin (Romans 1:24-26). They must be treated as the Prodigal Son, whose Father waited for his return and ran out to meet him (Luke 15:11-24). The Teaching points toward Matthew 6:1-6, Jesus' preparation for the Lord's Prayer, for the Christian's dutiful mercy. Merciful acts are to be done because God has prepared them for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Merciful acts show the Christian's salvation (Matthew 25:34-40). They do not cause salvation. They are the effect of salvation. And they are done as though the least of our brothers is our Lord Himself (Matthew 25:40; Colossians 3:17).