Apostolic Succession
Ministerial authority is handed down from the apostles through ordained succession.
This doctrine is actively contested between major traditions. Faithful Christians disagree.
What the traditions say
Essential to Catholic ecclesiology. Valid sacraments require bishops in apostolic succession. The Pope is the successor of Peter.
Bishops in unbroken succession from the apostles are the guardians of the faith. Without valid succession, there are no valid sacraments.
Irenaeus and Tertullian invoked apostolic succession to refute Gnostic claims. The bishop who stands in the apostolic chain teaches authentic doctrine.
Anglicanism claims apostolic succession through the historic episcopate. The validity of Anglican orders has been disputed by Rome (Apostolicae Curae, 1896).
Scandinavian Lutheran churches maintain episcopal succession; others do not. The Augsburg Confession subordinates church order to the gospel.
Rejected entirely. Each congregation is autonomous under Christ. There is no priestly class or institutional chain of authority.
Succession of doctrine, not office. What matters is faithfulness to apostolic teaching, not an unbroken chain of ordination.
Key scriptures
- 2Tim 2:2 — And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
- Acts 1:26 — And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
- Titus 1:5 — For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: