Folia Theologica et Canonica 9. 31/23 (2020)

Ius canonicum

THE ORIGIN AND SPREAD OF PARISHES

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mission, but also the broad range of possible structures by means of which to carry out that mission. This paper will focus on the Western Church, but especially for the early period reference will also be made to a few disciplinary texts from the East.

II. The CHARACTER AND ROLE OF THE LOCAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES UP TO THE FOURTH CENTURY

In the earliest times, the Christian community was often termed the Church of God (cf. Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 1:2, 10:32, 11:16,22) or Church of Christ (Rom 16:16; cf. Mt 16:18) in reference both to the universal Church and to local Churches.5 However, this religious character of Christian communities did not prevent them from also having a civil aspect, as was also the case for Jewish synagogue communities of the period.6 Although before the time of Constantine the state did not recognise such functions of self-government as, for example, bishops’jurisdiction in what were considered civil cases,7 this role of local Churches existed from the beginning (cf. e.g., 1 Cor 6:5). Indeed, by the first half of the third century it was already quite developed, as can be seen in long passages from the Didascalia,8 among others. Local communities generally formed in cities, and were led by those entrusted with this responsibility.9 They also had a missionary function.10 11 It was their duty to bring in new members, prepare them for baptism, confer the sacraments on them, teach those already baptised - also studying day by day the sacred scriptures -11,

5 Cf. e.g., Erdő, P., II valore teologico del diritto canonico: una questione storica, in Ephemerides Iuris Canonici 58 (2018) 133-150, 135-136.

6 Park, Y.-H., Paul’s Ekklesia as a Civic Assembly. Understanding the People of God in their Politico-Social World (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament. 2. Reihe 393), Tübingen 2015. 90.

7 Cf. Cod. Theod. 1,27,1 (318); Const. Sirmond. 1 (333); Cod. 1,4,7 (398); for different opinions on the nature of bishops’ jurisdiction under Roman Law see Cimma, M. R., L 'episcopalis audientia nelle costituzioni imperiali da Costantino a Giustiniano, Torino 1989. 84-86. Vismara, G., Lagiurisdizione civile dei vescovi (sec. I-IX), Milano 1995. 87.

8 Didasc. 11,44,1-56,4; cf. e.g., Fonrobert, Ch. E. The Didascalia Apostolorum: a Mishnah for the disciples of Jesus, in Journal of Early Christian Studies 9 (2001) 483-509. Stewart-Sykes, A., The Didascalia apostolorum: An English version with introduction and annotation, Tumhout 2009. 171.

9 Cf. e.g., Burtchaell, J. T., From Synagogue to Church., Public Services and Offices in the Earliest Christian Communities, Cambridge 1992. 201-227.

10 Even in the fourth century, local episcopal Churches had the main role in theoretical reflection on mission, as well as in missionary activity.; cf. Baus, K. - Ewig, E., Die Reichskirche nach Konstantin dem Großen. Erster Halbband: Handbuch der Kirchengeschichte (ed. Jedin, H.), I-VII. Freiburg-Basel-Wien 1962-1979 [1985], II/1.220.

11 Cf. e.g., Didaché 4,2; Traditio Apostolica 35,2; 41,2-3; Canones ecclesiastici Sanctorum Apostolorum 12,1-2; Bradshaw, P. F. - Johnson, M. E. - Phillips, L. E., The Apostolic Tradition.