Why were the political divisions of Roman Empire used to create an hierarchy leaders for early Church?

The political divisions of the Roman Empire were used to create an hierarchy of leaders for the early Church because they provided a convenient and effective way to organize and administer the Church. The Roman Empire was divided into provinces, each of which was governed by a governor. The provinces were further divided into dioceses, each of which was governed by a bishop. The bishops of the dioceses were in turn subject to the authority of the metropolitan bishop of the province. This hierarchical structure allowed the Church to communicate and coordinate its activities effectively, and it also helped to maintain unity and order within the Church.

In addition, the political divisions of the Roman Empire provided a ready-made framework for the Church to expand its reach. As the Roman Empire expanded, so too did the Church. The Church was able to establish dioceses and provinces in new territories, and it was able to appoint bishops and other leaders to oversee the work of the Church in those territories. This allowed the Church to spread its message and teachings throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.

Finally, the political divisions of the Roman Empire helped to protect the Church from persecution. When the Roman Empire was united, the Church was able to enjoy a period of relative peace and stability. However, when the Roman Empire began to decline, the Church was subjected to increasing persecution from pagan rulers. The political divisions of the Roman Empire helped to shield the Church from this persecution, as it was more difficult for the persecutors to reach and control the Church in all of its far-flung territories.