Clement counsels corinth: efficient hierarchy and the rise of Christianity

The corpus of Christian writings known as the Apostolic Fathers (ca. 70–150 AD) is an invaluable source for scholars of ecclesiastical polity. Using three contemporaneous sources from the Apostolic Fathers—1 Clement as our primary text and the Didache and Ignatius of Antioch’s authentic letters as secondary texts—we explore the constitution of the early Church. These texts show the Church confronting collective action problems stemming from maintaining discipline in worship. With evidence drawn from the texts, we make a rational-choice argument that clerical hierarchy and sacramental practices ameliorated these collective action problems by lowering the costs of screening and monitoring church members. Clerical authority over baptism and the eucharist were particularly effective at aligning individual self-interest with communal wellbeing, and hence important for governing the Church.