Apostolic Succession
Matthew 28:16-20 : And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And seeing him they adored: but some doubted. And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Going therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. 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
Notice that the eleven disciples were given authority to teach all nations. Obviously, Jesus, being God, knew beforehand that none of the eleven disciples would be able to live thousands of years to go all over the world and teach all nations, and all generations. So when Jesus commanded them to go to all nations, as we shall see below, the apostles will have to pass down the authority of their apostolic offices to future generations. This is called Apostolic Succession.
Luke 6:12-14 : And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray: and he passed the whole night in the prayer of God. 13 And when day was come, he called unto him his disciples: and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named apostles): 14 Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Among the many disciples that Jesus had, only twelve were chosen as apostles. As we'll see later on, the apostles will in turn ordain their successors.
Luke 10:16 : He that heareth you heareth me: and he that despiseth you despiseth me: and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Acts 1:15-26 : 15 In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty): 16 Men, brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus: 17 Who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged, burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same field was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take. 21 Wherefore of these men who have companied with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of his resurrection. 23 And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the heart of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave them lot, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Here we see that Peter, with the authority conferred to him by Christ, called this council to elect a person to take over the responsibility of Judas's office. Verse 17 tells us that Judas had obtained part of the ministry. Verse 20 quotes the book of Psalms tells this that someone else needs to take over the office. And verses 24 and 25 tell us again that the ministry and apostleship of Judas needed to be fulfilled by a successor. Matthias was elected.
Acts 6:1-6 : 1 And in those days, the number of the disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve, calling together the multitude of the disciples, said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying was liked by all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor, and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles: and they praying, imposed hands upon them.
As the infant Church increased in number of disciples, we can read here that the twelve apostles proceeded to appoint leaders, by imposing their hands upon the new leaders. We see this still happening in the Catholic Church in the ordination of bishops, priests and deacons.
Acts 9:7-19 : And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the city; and there it shall be told thee what thou must do. Now the men who went in company with him stood amazed, hearing indeed a voice but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the ground: and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. But they, leading him by the hands, brought him to Damascus. 9 And he was there three days without sight: and he did neither eat nor drink. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias, And he said: Behold I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said to him: Arise and go into the street that is called Strait and seek in the house of Judas, one named Saul of Tarsus. For behold he prayeth. 12 (And he saw a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hands upon him, that he might receive his sight.) 13 But Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that invoke thy name. 15 And the Lord said to him: Go thy way: for this man is to me a vessel of election, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 17 And Ananias went his way and entered into the house. And laying his hands upon him, he said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus hath sent me, he that appeared to thee in the way as thou camest, that thou mayest receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it were scales: and he received his sight. And rising up, he was baptized. 19 And when he had taken meat, he was strengthened. And he was with the disciples that were at Damascus, for some days.
Even though St Paul has received his authority and ministry directly from Jesus Christ, we see in verse 12 that St Paul still had to submit himself to the authority of the Church that Christ established. Verse 7 tells us that the Lord Jesus Himself ordered St Paul to go meet Ananias, who imposed his hands upon St Paul and baptized him.
Acts 13:1-3 : 1 Now there were in the church which was at Antioch prophets and doctors, among whom was Barnabas and Simon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene and Manahen who was the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Ghost said to them: Separate me Saul and Barnabas, for the work whereunto I have taken them. 3 Then they fasting and praying and imposing their hands upon them, sent them away.
Here we see that the Holy Spirit continued to call new people to serve the Church, Saul and Barnabas, who were ordained by the imposing of hands upon them.
Acts 14:21-23: 21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
We continue to read here that new successors were appointed.
1 Timothy 4:11-14: 11 These things command and teach: 12 Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity. 13 Till I come, attend unto reading, to exhortation and to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood.
This is a letter from St Paul to Timothy passing on the authority of commanding and teaching the people. In verse 14, we can read that St Paul asked Timothy not to neglect the ordination of new leaders.
1 Timothy 5:22 : Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself chaste.
Here St Paul cautioned Timothy to carefully select men he ordained.
2 Timothy 1:16 : For which cause I admonish thee that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee by the imposition of my hands.
Timothy was a successor of St Paul. He was ordained by St Paul who imposed his hands upon Timothy.
2 Timothy 2:1-2 : Thou therefore, my son, be strong in Christ Jesus: And the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men who shall be fit to teach others also.
St Paul instructed his successor Timothy to find faithful men to pass on to them the authority of teaching. They would be the second generation of successors of the apostle Paul.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 : I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by his coming and his kingdom: Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine.
The apostle Paul put Timothy in charge.
Titus 1:5-7 : 5 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: 6 If any be without crime, the husband of one wife. having faithful children, not accused of riot or unruly. 7 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:
The apostle Paul asked his disciple Titus to ordain new priests and bishops.
1 John 2:18-19: 18 Little children, it is the last hour: and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh, even now there are become many Antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us: but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us.
Christ sent out the twelve apostles. The apostles in turn sent out their own disciples, and so on. However, not all of those who were sent would be faithful to the teaching of Christ through the apostles. It's a good to compare our beliefs against the beliefs of the Early Christians of the first few centuries.
The above list of quotes of the Sacred Scripture is by no means exhaustive. I have selected only the texts that I believe are so obvious.
Unless otherwise indicated, all biblical texts are quoted from the Douay-Rheims Bible.
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