# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_April 1858_S113
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

On Lay Elders or Congregational Overseers. 113

...counsel nothing was undertaken in the church. By what negligence this fell into disuse I do not know, except that it happened perhaps through the indolence, or rather the pride, of the teachers, in that they alone wished to count for something."*) It is clear that in this passage the reference cannot be to the clerical presbyters, since this divine institution, and its inclusion in the church council, never and nowhere "fell into disuse."

Bishop Optatus of Mileve (who lived around 368) writes that Mensurius, Bishop of Carthage, when he was forced to leave his congregation at the time of the Diocletian persecution, handed over the ornaments and vessels of the church to the faithful elders (Fidelibus Senioribus). (Lib. I. de schismate Donatistarum p. 41. Cf. Jos. Binghami Origines s. Antiquit. eccl. I, 294.) Optatus communicates a letter of Bishop Fortis, in which it says: "You all, bishops, presbyters, deacons, elders, know, etc."**) Further, in a letter of Purpurius: Take unto yourselves also the fellow clergy and the elders of the people, the men who serve the church, and let these diligently inquire into what those disputes may be."***) The same Purpurius begins a letter with the words: "Bishop Purpurius, to the clerics and elders of the Cirtensians, eternal salvation in the LORD."‡)

Augustine too (†430) bears witness that in his congregation there were elders who did not belong to the clergy, in that he writes thus in Letter 137: "To the most beloved brethren, the clergy, the elders, and the whole people of the congregation at Hippo, whom I serve in the love of Christ, Augustine, greeting in the Lord."‡‡) Further we read: "Silvanus of Cirta is a traditor and a thief of the alms of the poor, as you all, bishops, presbyters and deacons and elders, know."‡‡‡)

*) „Apud omnes utique gentes honorabilis est senectus; unde et Synagoga et postea Ecclesia seniores habuit, quorum sine consilio nihil agebatur in Ecclesia. Quod qua negligentia obsoleverit nescio, nisi forte doctorum desidia aut magis superbia, dum soli volunt aliquid videri.“ (Comm. in 1 Tim. 5.)

**) „Omnes vos, Episcopi, Presbyteri, Diacones, Seniores, scitis“ etc. (p. 168.)

***) „Adhibete Conclericos et Seniores plebis, ecclesiasticos viros, et inquirant diligenter, quae sint istae dissensiones.“ (p. 169.)

‡) „Purpurius episcopus Clericis et Senioribus Cirtensium in Domino aeternam salutem.“ (l. c.)

‡‡) „Dilectissimis fractribus, clero, senioribus et universae plebi ecclesiae Hipponensis, cui servio in dilectione Christi, Augustinus in Domino S.“ Opp. Ed. Erasm. Basil. Tom II. Fol. 655.)

‡‡‡) „Silvanus a Cirta traditor est et fur rerum pauperum, quod omnes vos Episcopi, Presbyteri et Diaconi et Seniores scitis.“ (Contra Cresconium. Lib. III. c. 29. Tom. VII. F. 261.)