Clergy/laity/holy people of God

[Justin]

I searched through some early Christian documents (through the 2nd century), and here's what I came up with:

Clement of Rome, 1 Corinthians, 40 (http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-05.htm#P465_78557) - "The layman is bound by the laws that pertain to laymen."

Ignatius, Epistle to the Magnesians, 7 (http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-17.htm#P1486_261369) - "As therefore the Lord does nothing without the Father, for says He, 'I can of mine own self do nothing,' so do ye, neither presbyter, nor deacon, nor layman, do anything without the bishop."

These same letters address the Christians at the beginning just like the biblical authors did, though they seem to use a word that can be translated into "layman". Then again, I don't know Greek...

[elizabeth randell]

Forgive me for interjecting my 2-cents ' worth. I have been lurking, but feel strongly enough about this topic and the "Question about the diaconate= " to come out of hiding and suggest two books along with the other reading material already presented. The first is St. John Chrysostom 's "On the Priesthood" . The second one is a contemporary book written by Philotheos Faros , "Functional and Dysfunctional Christianity" . It was published by Holy Cross Orthodox Press but may be out of print. If it is, demand that i= t be reprinted. If I had enough money I would send a copy to everyone in the Orthodox diaconate in the West.

[Richard Leigh]

A short word here. "Laity" derives from the Gk "laos" meaning people,taken to refer to "the people of God."

"Clergy" derives from the Gk "klerous" meaning "lots" i.e., what has fallen to one "by lot", one's "allotment" or "inheretence".

Read Acts 1:15-26 and you will see that the ministry (diakonia) of apostleship, which St. Peter interpreted from Ps.108:8 as "bishopric" or "episcopacy" forfeited by Judas who'd been "chosen out" to this ministry
was given to Matthias by the casting of "lots".