Elements of democracy in the Early Church
The article is devoted the comparative analysis of organizational structure of Orthodox and Gnostic communities in the 2-3 centuries. While in the Orthodox Church a system of the monarchic episcopate was created, Gnostic sects tried to adhere to St. Paul's doctrine about Church as a universal body, "a body of Christ". The Gnostic texts from Nag Hammadi, especially "Interpretation of knowledge" (NHC, IX, 3), have a special value. It is addressed to a community whose unity was threatened by "hatred", "envy" and "disputes" among its members. The author of "Interpretation" asserted that they rose against Christ from whom all gifts proceeded. This community is one spiritual organism, and all spiritual gifts aren't the property of their owner, but of all believers. The author of "Interpretation" didn't mention church officials: they didn't play any role in this community. But the assumption that Gnostic communities were more "democratic" than Orthodox requires one serious specification: it was democracy for the elite, only for pneumatics (spiritual men). As to psychics, they needed the help for rescue achievement, and the church organization was one of its kinds.