Institutions in the pre-Constantinian<i>ecclēsia</i>
Stuart Hall
By the time of Constantine, church was a sufficiently robust organisation for emperor to engage it as partner in unifying empire. Systems authority, patterns belief and control funds property had turned household communities into an interlinked, empire-wide that mirrored structure empire itself. Irenaeus ideas identifying true tradition face diversity faith practice were adopted enthusiastically by Tertullian, about 200 CE. Scripture provided cultic 'typology', reinforcing growing power bishops other orders ministry. Christians originally distinct from biblical Judaism pagan world around them they no sacrificial cult. Matthew written, judgement needed two or three witnesses, private expostulation public hearing 'the assembly' ecclesia before expulsion; decision assembled believers, upheld God, should be mercifully applied.
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