Joshua Bennett
The Catholic Church, along with the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, upholds the doctrine of apostolic succession, which asserts that bishops are direct successors to the apostles of Jesus Christ. This belief is based on the interpretation that the apostles established the office of bishop to ensure the continuity of the Church and its teachings after their deaths. Apostolic succession implies that bishops possess the full priesthood and have the authority to ordain other clergy, including other bishops, thus maintaining an unbroken line of succession from the earliest days of Christianity. While there are differences in the specific roles of apostles and bishops, the core function of shepherding the Church unites them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the connection | Apostolic succession |
| Who believes in this | Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, Old Catholic, Scandinavian Lutheran, Moravian, Hussite, Church of the East |
| Who are the apostles' successors | Bishops |
| Bishops' role | To teach Christ's gospel and shepherd the Church of a local diocese |
| Bishops' ordination | Bishops are ordained by other bishops |
| Bishops' powers | To confirm church members, to ordain priests, to consecrate other bishops, and to rule over the clergy and church members in their diocese |
| Bishops' authority | Bishops are not apostles, but successors of the apostles. Apostles may become bishops, as James and Peter did. |
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What You'll Learn
Bishops are successors of the apostles, not descendants
The Catholic Church, along with the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, believes in the doctrine of apostolic succession. This refers to the idea that bishops are successors of the apostles, with an unbroken line of succession from the beginning of Christian history to the present. This belief is based on the interpretation that the apostles passed on their authority and the office of shepherd to these early bishops, who then became their successors.
However, it is important to clarify that bishops are not descendants of the apostles. They are not physically related to the apostles or a continuation of the office of the apostle. Instead, they are chosen from among the members of the Church to lead and guide their congregations. The apostles themselves appointed different kinds of ministers to assist them, and as the apostles died, the task of leading the Church fell to the highest-ranking ministers, who became known as bishops.
The New Testament provides evidence of this, showing the apostles engaging in missionary and church-planting work and appointing non-apostles to organize and govern churches, giving them particular jurisdictions for ministry. For example, St. Paul is seen as passing on his office to Timothy shortly before his death, demonstrating a clear succession. Additionally, St. Ignatius of Antioch, who lived around the same time as the apostles, provides further evidence of the structure of the early Church, which included bishops as successors.
The doctrine of apostolic succession is central to the Catholic Church's identity, claiming a direct historical lineage from the original Twelve Apostles or Saint Paul. Bishops are understood to possess the full priesthood given by Jesus Christ, which includes the ability to ordain other clergy, including bishops, priests, and deacons. This belief in apostolic succession is a key factor in the Catholic Church's claim to authority and its connection to the original teachings of Christ.
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Apostles appointed bishops as successors
The Catholic Church, along with the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, believes in the doctrine of apostolic succession, which holds that there is an unbroken line of bishops from the beginning of Christian history to the present. This belief is based on the interpretation that the apostles appointed bishops as their successors, who would then appoint their own successors, ensuring continuity in the Church's leadership.
The apostles, as per the New Testament, engaged in missionary and church-planting work across the Roman world. As the Church expanded, the apostles appointed various ministers to assist them, placing limitations on their authority, often in the form of territorial restrictions. This group of ministers is known as bishops, who are considered the successors of the apostles.
The Epistle of Clement, an early Church document, explicitly mentions that the apostles appointed bishops as successors. Additionally, the New Testament implies a personal apostolic succession, from Paul to Timothy and Titus. For instance, in 2 Timothy, Paul appears to be passing on his office to Timothy shortly before his death. Similarly, in Acts 14:23, the Apostle Paul ordains presbyters in churches in Anatolia.
The doctrine of apostolic succession is central to the Catholic Church's identity, claiming a direct lineage from the original Twelve Apostles or Saint Paul. Bishops are understood to possess the full priesthood given by Jesus Christ and have the authority to ordain other clergy, including bishops. This belief in apostolic succession is also supported by the Petrine theory, which claims that Jesus designated Saint Peter as his representative and leader of the Church, and that this authority was passed on to subsequent bishops of Rome.
While some Christians, including Protestants, question the historical claims of apostolic succession, it remains a fundamental aspect of the Catholic Church's tradition and understanding of its connection to the apostles and the early Church.
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Bishops possess the full priesthood given by Jesus Christ
The Catholic Church, along with the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Old Catholic, Scandinavian Lutheran, Moravian, Hussite, and Oriental Orthodox Churches, maintains the doctrine of apostolic succession. This doctrine refers to the belief that there is an unbroken line of bishops from the beginning of Christian history to the present, with the bishops being the successors of the apostles.
Bishops are therefore seen as possessing the full priesthood given by Jesus Christ. This is based on the understanding that Christ conferred upon his apostles the task of shepherding the earthly Church in his absence, and as the apostles died, the task of shepherding fell to the highest-ranking ministers appointed by them, who became known as bishops.
As such, bishops are seen as having the authority to govern, teach, and sanctify the Church. They are responsible for leading and guiding their congregations, and they possess the power to confirm church members, ordain priests, consecrate other bishops, and rule over the clergy and church members in their diocese.
The doctrine of apostolic succession is supported by interpretations of various biblical passages. For example, in 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul says, "what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also," indicating a vision of succession. Additionally, in 2 Timothy 4:1-6, Paul appears to be passing on his office to Timothy shortly before his death, further illustrating the concept of apostolic succession.
The belief in apostolic succession also aligns with the understanding that the Church is built on the foundation of the apostles, as stated by St. Paul in Ephesians 2:20. Furthermore, the New Testament shows apostles engaging in missionary and church-planting work and appointing non-apostles to assist them, indicating a transfer of authority and responsibility.
While there are differences between the offices of bishop and apostle, such as the gift of miracles bestowed upon apostles, bishops are considered to have received the governance of the Church and to possess the full priesthood given by Jesus Christ.
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Apostles passed on the office of shepherd to the Church
The Catholic Church teaches that the College of Bishops, led by the Pope, is the successor to the College of Apostles. This means that the bishops of the Church today are seen as standing in the line of succession from the original Twelve Apostles, who were chosen by Jesus to be his closest companions and followers during his earthly ministry.
This belief is rooted in the understanding that the Apostles were given a unique mission and authority by Christ to preach the Gospel, make disciples of all nations, and shepherd the fledgling Christian communities. After Christ's Ascension, the Apostles appointed leaders in these communities, laying hands on them and passing on the Holy Spirit, as we see in the example of St. Paul ordaining elders in the early Church (see Acts 14:23).
The office of bishop, then, is seen as a continuation of the Apostles' role as shepherds and teachers. Just as Christ commissioned the Apostles, so too are bishops today commissioned to teach, govern, and sanctify the faithful. They are given the responsibility to guard and transmit the deposit of faith, ensuring that the Gospel is preached in its integrity and that the sacraments are administered faithfully.
This passing on of authority and office is often referred to as apostolic succession. Through the laying on of hands during the sacrament of Holy Orders, this succession is believed to have been maintained in an unbroken line from the Apostles to the present day. Thus, the bishops are seen as the successors of the Apostles, entrusted with their mission and authority to lead and guide the Church.
This belief in apostolic succession is a fundamental aspect of Catholic ecclesiology, providing a sense of continuity and unity with the early Church and a foundation for the Church's teaching authority. It is through this lineage that the Catholic Church understands itself as the living continuation of the community founded by Jesus and entrusted to the Apostles.
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Bishops are not identical to apostles
The doctrine of apostolic succession is central to the Catholic Church's identity with the Church founded by Jesus in the first century. It involves an unbroken line of bishops from the beginning of Christian history to the present. However, it is important to note that bishops are not identical to apostles.
Firstly, apostles were endowed with the gift of miracles to validate their ministry, while bishops do not typically receive this gift. This distinction is evident in 2 Corinthians 12:12. The manifestations of miracles provided motives of credibility, showcasing the divine authority of the apostles and those they appointed as successors.
Secondly, there is a difference in jurisdiction between apostles and bishops. Apostles had universal jurisdiction, as their mission was to cultivate and shepherd the Church of Christ wherever they went. In contrast, bishops are limited territorially and have particular jurisdictions for ministry. This distinction is mentioned in Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:14-15, Acts 14:23, Acts 20:17, and Titus 1:5.
Thirdly, apostles exercised personal infallibility in their teaching authority, while bishops rely on collegial infallibility. Christ promised the apostles special assistance by the Holy Spirit in remembering and understanding his teachings (John 14:26). This allowed any apostle to define an issue with authority. However, it was also recognised that certain teachings should be defined by the joint authority of all the apostles gathered in council.
Finally, while apostles passed on the office of shepherd and the teachings of Christ to their successors, they did not pass on their apostolic office. The apostles appointed bishops as their successors, entrusting them with the task of organising and governing churches within specific territories. This distinction is important to understand the unique roles of apostles and bishops within the Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Apostolic succession is the belief that there is an unbroken line of bishops from the beginning of Christian history to the present. In other words, it is the belief that the authority of the apostles was passed on to the early bishops of the Church, who then passed it on to their successors, and so on.
Catholic bishops are considered to be the successors of the apostles, or the "highest shepherds of the earthly Church". They are not, however, the physical descendants of the apostles, but rather men chosen from among the members of the Church to lead it.
There are several differences between bishops and apostles. Firstly, each apostle was endowed with the gift of miracles to validate his ministry, whereas bishops do not typically receive this gift. Secondly, apostles had universal jurisdiction, while bishops are limited to specific territories. Finally, the office of bishop is not identical to the office of apostle; bishops received governance of the Church when the office of apostle ceased.
