Chapter XIII.—Degrees of Glory in Heaven Corresponding with the Dignities of the Church Below.

Chapter XIII.—Degrees of Glory in Heaven Corresponding with the Dignities of the Church Below.

He, then, who has first moderated his passions and trained himself for impassibility, and developed to the beneficence of gnostic perfection, is here equal to the angels. Luminous already, and like the sun shining in the exercise of beneficence, he speeds by righteous knowledge through the love of God to the sacred abode, like as the apostles. Not that they became apostles through being chosen for some distinguished peculiarity ³³⁷⁹ of nature, since also Judas was chosen along with them. But they were capable of becoming apostles on being chosen by Him who foresees even ultimate issues. Matthias, accordingly, who was not chosen along with them, on showing himself worthy of becoming an apostle, is substituted for Judas.

Those, then, also now, who have exercised themselves in the Lord’s commandments, and lived perfectly and gnostically according to the Gospel, may be enrolled in the chosen body of the apostles. Such an one is in reality a presbyter of the Church, and a true minister (deacon) of the will of God, if he do and teach what is the Lord’s; not as being ordained ³³⁸⁰ by men, nor regarded righteous because a presbyter, but enrolled in the presbyterate ³³⁸¹ because righteous. And although here upon earth he be not honoured with the chief seat, ³³⁸² he will sit down on the four-and-twenty thrones, ³³⁸³ judging the people, as John says in the Apocalypse.

For, in truth, the covenant of salvation, reaching down to us from the foundation of the world, through different generations and times, is one, though conceived as different in respect of gift. For it follows that there is one unchangeable gift of salvation given by one God, through one Lord, benefiting in many ways. For which cause the middle wall ³³⁸⁴ which separated the Greek from the Jew is taken away, in order that there might be a peculiar people. And so both meet in the one unity of faith; and the selection out of both is one. And the chosen of the chosen are those who by reason of perfect knowledge are called [as the best] from the p. 505 Church itself, and honoured with the most august glory—the judges and rulers—four-and-twenty (the grace being doubled) equally from Jews and Greeks. Since, according to my opinion, the grades ³³⁸⁵ here in the Church, of bishops, presbyters, deacons, are imitations of the angelic glory, and of that economy which, the Scriptures say, awaits those who, following the footsteps of the apostles, have lived in perfection of righteousness according to the Gospel. For these taken up in the clouds, the apostle ³³⁸⁶ writes, will first minister [as deacons], then be classed in the presbyterate, by promotion in glory (for glory differs ³³⁸⁷ from glory) till they grow into “a perfect man.” ³³⁸⁸

Footnotes

504:3379

In opposition to the heretical opinion, that those who are saved have an innate original excellence, on account of which they are saved. [Elucidation VIII.]

504:3380

Or, “elected”—χειροτονούμενος. Acts xiv. 23, “And when they had ordained (χειροτονήσαντες) them elders in every church.” A different verb (καθίστημι) is used in Tit. i. 5.

504:3381

Presbytery or eldership.

504:3382

πσωτοκαθεδρία, Mark xii. 39, Luke xx. 46.

504:3383

Rev. iv. 4, xi. 16.

504:3384

Eph. 2:14, 15, 16, iv. 13.

505:3385

προκοπαί. [Book vii. cap. i, infra.]

505:3386

1 Thess. iv. 17.

505:3387

1 Cor. xv. 41.

505:3388

Eph. iv. 13.