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    Apostolic Succession
  • Apostolic succession is the line of bishops stretching back to the apostles. ... The role of apostolic succession in preserving true doctrine is illustrated in ...
  • http://www.catholic.com/library/Apostolic_Succession.asp
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Apostolic succession?
I know apostolic succession is a big thing in the Catholic church. How exactly does it work? Does anyone called to preach by an apostle have apostolic succession? For instance if I lived during the times of the apostles and say Paul taught me and told me to go forth preaching the gospel. Would that give me apostolic succession? Is the important part of apostolic succesion being called by an apostle or one of the successors? What if a priest with the succession conferred it on a non-Catholic priest?
All authority was given to the apostles from Christ and at least some of that special authority is recorded in Scripture and is certainly attested to by the ante Nicene fathers. There is no doubt that the apostles knew that their ministry would survive their death as it was needed to be a permanent living presence until the Parousia. (Mat 28:20 DRB) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. Knowing their responsibility in preserving the teaching of Christ they ordained successors giving them the gift of the Spirit with Episcopal consecration: (Act 1:8 DRB) But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth. (Act 2:4 DRB) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. (Joh 20:22 DRB) When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. (Joh 20:23 DRB) Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (1Ti 4:14 DRB) Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood. (2Ti 1:6 DRB) For which cause I admonish thee that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee by the imposition of my hands. (2Ti 1:7 DRB) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power and of love and of sobriety. There is no doubt that “Apostolic Succession” is a historical fact. Scriptures, as well show clearly that Christ chose these apostles and commissioned them to establish and continue his work with his authority and they ordained successors. It is Apostolic Succession that is the link connecting the Church to Christ. It is the authority from Christ of the Episcopacy that brings so many knowledgeable people to return to the Catholic faith as I am a witness. We see those who were ordained in apostolic succession fulfilling their ministry: (Act 20:28 DRB) Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood. (1Th 1:1 DRB) Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians: in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. (1Th 1:2 DRB) Grace be to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all: making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing, (1Th 1:3 DRB) Being mindful of the work of your faith and labour and charity: and of the enduring of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God and our Father. (1Th 1:4 DRB) Knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election: (1Th 1:5 DRB) For our gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power also: and in the Holy Ghost and in much fulness, as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes. (1Th 1:6 DRB) And you became followers of us and of the Lord: receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (1Th 1:7 DRB) So that you were made a pattern to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. (1Th 1:8 DRB) For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and in Achaia but also in every place: your faith which is towards God, is gone forth, so that we need not to speak any thing. (1Th 1:9 DRB) For they themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in we had unto you: and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. (1Th 1:10 DRB) And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead), Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come. (2Ti 1:6 DRB) For which cause I admonish thee that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee by the imposition of my hands. (Tit 1:5 DRB) For this cause I left thee in Crete: that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and shouldest ordain priests in every city, as I also appointed thee: (Tit 1:6 DRB) If any be without crime, the husband of one wife. having faithful children, not accused of riot or unruly. (Tit 1:7 DRB) For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not subject to anger, nor given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre: (Tit 1:8 DRB) But given to hospitality, gentle, sober, just, holy, continent: (Tit 1:9 DRB) Embracing that faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to convince the gainsayers. (1Ti 4:14 DRB) Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood. (2Ti 1:6 DRB) For which cause I admonish thee that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee by the imposition of my hands. St. Paul goes on to instruct St. Timothy as to who is a qualified candidate for ordination: (1Ti 3:1 DRB) A faithful saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth good work. (1Ti 3:2 DRB) It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher, (1Ti 3:3 DRB) Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but (1Ti 3:4 DRB) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity. (1Ti 3:5 DRB) But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? (1Ti 3:6 DRB) Not a neophyte: lest, being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil. (1Ti 3:7 DRB) Moreover, he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1Ti 5:22 DRB) Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself chaste. We also find in the Scriptures that those in Apostolic Succession had particular and varied duties: (1Co 12:27 DRB) Now you are the body of Christ and members of member. (1Co 12:28 DRB) And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors: after that miracles: then the graces of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches. (1Co 12:29 DRB) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all doctors? (Eph 4:11 DRB) And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors: (Eph 4:12 DRB) For the perfecting of the saints, for the word of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: We are further reminded of the foundation of the Church: (Eph 2:19 DRB) Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners: but you are fellow citizens with the saints and the domestics of God, (Eph 2:20 DRB) Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: This is only some of the Scriptures speaking of apostolic succession and the duties, need and authority of the office. In Christ Fr. Joseph One of the most bazaar doctrines of Protestants is that Jesus left his Church without leadership after the apostles died. That does not sound like a very good plan for a Church that will last till the Parousia. The truth is that almost the entire book of Acts records apostolic succession and the history of the Church confirms without any possible doubt that the Church continued in leadership through the successors of the apostles. To deny this is to ignore Scripture.
If a church breaks apostolicsuccession, is it still a realchurch?
If some malcontents leave a mainstream denomination and start their own church with the goal of restoring the church to its New Testament origins, does that mean that it's not a real church since they break apostolic succession? Is the Holy Spirit really limited to bishops and priests to pass Himself on to others? Isn't the Holy Spirit received at baptism, not by the laying on of hands?
depends on your faith. The Catholic Church is the first church. Well the Greek Orthodox Church could actually argue that point. At one time the Church in Roman days had two popes. One for the west and one for the eastern part of the empire. both popes excommunicated each other on the same day. The west became the Catholic Church the east Greek Orthodox. I'm a nerd for knowing all of this I know ~kneels to his boss~
Even if Jesus did build Hischurch on Peter, how does thatprove apostolic succession?
How does that prove apostolic succession and primacy of the Bishop of Rome over the Church Universal?
This is establishing the position of one person to preside over the entire flock. Apostolic succession is established through out the New Testament when ; - Jesus gave the Apostles authorities of various kinds - Jesus gave them "The Great Commission" - When the Apostles selected new bishops - etc Oh, and Chris, here are a few more words that aren't in The Bible for you ; - Incarnation - Rapture - Holy Trinity - Holy Bible (the front cover doesn't count) Are you going discount those as well? Didn't think so. Here's a saying that *is* found in the Bible however, but only in one place. "Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?" The only place in the entire Bible that "faith only" or "faith alone" is mention in the Bible is to utterly reject it. Will you drop that man-made doctrine of errors? Nope. That' wouldn't be hypocritical enough of you.
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