“There aren’t any succesors to the Apostles...”
Says Pope Iscool the First.
Holy Scripture disagrees:
Acts 1:15-26 - the first thing Peter does after Jesus ascends into heaven is implement apostolic succession. Matthias is ordained with full apostolic authority. Only the Catholic Church can demonstrate an unbroken apostolic lineage to the apostles in union with Peter through the sacrament of ordination and thereby claim to teach with Christ’s own authority.
Acts 1:20 - a successor of Judas is chosen. The authority of his office (his “bishopric”) is respected notwithstanding his egregious sin. The necessity to have apostolic succession in order for the Church to survive was understood by all. God never said, “I’ll give you leaders with authority for about 400 years, but after the Bible is compiled, you are all on your own.”
Acts 1:22 - literally, “one must be ordained” to be a witness with us of His resurrection. Apostolic ordination is required in order to teach with Christ’s authority.
Acts 6:6 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority has transferred beyond the original twelve apostles as the Church has grown.
Acts 9:17-19 - even Paul, who was directly chosen by Christ, only becomes a minister after the laying on of hands by a bishop. This is a powerful proof-text for the necessity of sacramental ordination in order to be a legitimate successor of the apostles.
Acts 13:3 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority must come from a Catholic bishop.
Acts 14:23 - the apostles and newly-ordained men appointed elders to have authority throughout the Church.
Acts 15:22-27 - preachers of the Word must be sent by the bishops in union with the Church. We must trace this authority to the apostles.
2 Cor. 1:21-22 - Paul writes that God has commissioned certain men and sealed them with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee.
Col 1:25 - Paul calls his position a divine “office.” An office has successors. It does not terminate at death. Or it’s not an office. See also Heb. 7:23 – an office continues with another successor after the previous office-holder’s death.
1 Tim. 3:1 - Paul uses the word “episcopoi” (bishop) which requires an office. Everyone understood that Paul’s use of episcopoi and office meant it would carry on after his death by those who would succeed him.
1 Tim. 4:14 - again, apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination).
1 Tim. 5:22 - Paul urges Timothy to be careful in laying on the hands (ordaining others). The gift of authority is a reality and cannot be used indiscriminately.
2 Tim. 1:6 - Paul again reminds Timothy the unique gift of God that he received through the laying on of hands.
2 Tim. 4:1-6 - at end of Paul’s life, Paul charges Timothy with the office of his ministry . We must trace true apostolic lineage back to a Catholic bishop.
2 Tim. 2:2 - this verse shows God’s intention is to transfer authority to successors (here, Paul to Timothy to 3rd to 4th generation). It goes beyond the death of the apostles.
Titus 1:5; Luke 10:1 - the elders of the Church are appointed and hold authority. God has His children participate in Christ’s work.
1 John 4:6 - whoever knows God listens to us (the bishops and the successors to the apostles). This is the way we discern truth and error (not just by reading the Bible and interpreting it for ourselves).
Exodus 18:25-26 - Moses appoints various heads over the people of God. We see a hierarchy, a transfer of authority and succession.
Exodus 40:15 - the physical anointing shows that God intended a perpetual priesthood with an identifiable unbroken succession.
Numbers 3:3 - the sons of Aaron were formally “anointed” priests in “ordination” to minister in the priests’ “office.”
Numbers 16:40 - shows God’s intention of unbroken succession within His kingdom on earth. Unless a priest was ordained by Aaron and his descendants, he had no authority.
Numbers 27:18-20 - shows God’s intention that, through the “laying on of hands,” one is commissioned and has authority.
Deut. 34:9 - Moses laid hands upon Joshua, and because of this, Joshua was obeyed as successor, full of the spirit of wisdom.
Sirach 45:15 - Moses ordains Aaron and anoints him with oil. There is a transfer of authority through formal ordination.
First, let's establish some truth...Your church CAN NOT establish an unbroken line of lineage from Peter...There are many 'missing links' in the list...
Scripture says that all the Apostles were chosen by Jesus...Twelve Apostles...
The eleven Apostles prayed for knowledge from God who to appoint as the 12th Apostle...And then they drew straws...
So God did not put it on all their hearts to pick the next Apostle...God only influenced 6 out of the eleven...Those other five who voted against God must have felt pretty bad...
Act 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
And this is your proof text...But then God hand picked Paul to be an Apostle...That makes 13 Apostles...
God fulfilled Acts 1:20 with Paul...Could be that the 11 acted a little hastily when they decided to pick their own Apostle...I mean, no one ever heard of or from this 12th Apostle after he got the six straws...
God never said, “I’ll give you leaders with authority for about 400 years, but after the Bible is compiled, you are all on your own.”
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would remind the Apostles what He said so they could teach us...They then wrote it all down...After the scripture was written down, there was no more need for Apostles...Leaders (not masters), yes...Thus pastors and deacons...
Acts 9:17-19 - even Paul, who was directly chosen by Christ, only becomes a minister after the laying on of hands by a bishop. This is a powerful proof-text for the necessity of sacramental ordination in order to be a legitimate successor of the apostles.
Nope...Ananias was not a bishop...Ananias was a disciple...Just like me and many millions like me...God uses regular, normal people...If what you say was true, God would have used another Apostle to do the laying of the hands...
Acts 13:3 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority must come from a Catholic bishop.
And of course this is not biblical and it's nonsense...
Acts 15:22-27 - preachers of the Word must be sent by the bishops in union with the Church.
That's true but not the Church...The church...Any church that believes and teaches the Gospel...
2 Cor. 1:21-22 - Paul writes that God has commissioned certain men and sealed them with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee.
Now if you were a student of the bible, you'd know where you err...God didn't seal certain men...He sealed ALL men with the Holy Spirit who trust in Him...
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Col 1:25 - Paul calls his position a divine “office.” An office has successors. It does not terminate at death. Or it’s not an office. See also Heb. 7:23 – an office continues with another successor after the previous office-holder’s death.
1 Tim. 3:1 - Paul uses the word “episcopoi” (bishop) which requires an office. Everyone understood that Paul’s use of episcopoi and office meant it would carry on after his death by those who would succeed him.
Yer making this stuff up...No one in the scripture expected to carry on as an Apostle after the Apostle's deaths...
There were requirements to be an Apostle...One of which was you had to be with Jesus from the beginning up through His Crucifixion...Paul was the exception to the rule but he was there while all this took place...Don't you guys read any of the scriptures???
2 Tim. 4:1-6 - at end of Paul’s life, Paul charges Timothy with the office of his ministry . We must trace true apostolic lineage back to a Catholic bishop.
Neither Paul nor Timothy were Catholic bishops...They were born again, bible believing Christians...
1 John 4:6 - whoever knows God listens to us (the bishops and the successors to the apostles). This is the way we discern truth and error (not just by reading the Bible and interpreting it for ourselves).
HaHa...Man, read the scriptures...You have to take the previous verse to understand it...
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
John wasn't saying we hear him or another Apostle or elder to the exclusion of the scripture...He is comparing us to non believers...We know who teaches God's word...Especially now since we have God's word to compare with what's taught...
Exodus 40:15 - the physical anointing shows that God intended a perpetual priesthood with an identifiable unbroken succession.
So then you don't believe the book of Hebrews...Hebrews says this priesthood is done away with...
This balderdash apparently works on those stuck in the middle of the Tiber Protestants, biblically uneducated people and cradle Catholics, but it doesn't get to first base with someone who reads and BELIEVES the scriptures...
1 John 4:6 - whoever knows God listens to us (the bishops and the successors to the apostles). This is the way we discern truth and error (not just by reading the Bible and interpreting it for ourselves).
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All that extraneous stuff you added to the verse stood out like a neon light...
John was talking to Christians...then and now...
When he said “we” he was talking about he and the group he was addressing...them then and us now...
He had been saying we and our all the way through the passage...
The epistle is to us, the Christians...
We are all called to preach the Gospel, ti tell others about jesus...
Jesus told us to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15
and also told us what to do if someone would not listen..
“But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ “ Luke 10:10, 11
So now John is saying the same thing...
We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:6