“But if the 12 Apostles are prefugured in the 12 tribes of Israel, and the bishops are heirs of the Apostles, then which bishop holds the rod of Aaron?”
I don’t know; apparently The Fathers never carried the analogy that far. There were 12 Patriarchs too. Which one is Gad? By the way, the EP’s staff with intertwined serpents represents the bronze serpent on a staff of Moses. Do you suppose that Moses prefigured the EP?
LOL!
By the way, the EP’s staff with intertwined serpents represents the bronze serpent on a staff of Moses. Do you suppose that Moses prefigured the EP?
In her words...better submit to him or else...
It could be that the analogy of papacy to Aaronic line is not a common theme in patristic literature, yet this is an example of an important letter, early pre-nicene, that carries it to a point, namely, to establish St Clement’s authority over whoever local hierarch that dismissed the priests in question.