Seculars

Seculars In the early Christian Church there existed a distinction between the clergy and laity, the latter being called not only laymen, but also βιωτικοί, "seculars" (Chrysostom, Homr. 3, in Laz.; Hom. 23 in Romans; Hom. 35 in 1 Corinthians 14; Theodoret, Com. in 1 Corinthians 14:16). See Riddle, Christian Antiquities, p. 191.

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.