1 Clement 42

1The apostles were given the good news for us from the Lord Jesus Messiah, and Jesus the Messiah was sent out from God.

2So then Messiah is from God, and the apostles are from Messiah; therefore both came about in good order by the will of God.

3Therefore, after receiving instructions and being fully assured through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Messiah, and being confirmed in the word of God, they went out with the full assurance of the Holy Spirit, proclaiming the good news that the kingdom of God was about to come.

4So, preaching through regions and cities, they appointed their firstfruits, after testing them by the Spirit, to be overseers and deacons for those who were going to believe.

5And this was not something new, for indeed it had been written about overseers and deacons from many ages ago. For thus the Scripture says somewhere, “I will appoint their overseers in righteousness, and their deacons in faith.”