Replies

Correct. But Paul did not go there to establish his authority or to learn for himself the correct answer. He went there because there was not unanimous consent about the relationship Gentiles had to the Law of Moses. Particularly, the question at hand was whether Gentiles had to become Jews (Jewish proselytes) in order to become Christian (which was still considered a sect of Judaism).

This issue was not resolved by a single apostle or even without the input of other leaders such as James. (The James who summed up and penned the answer to this question in Acts was not James the apostle but James the Lord’s brother.)

Peter was instrumental in resolving the dispute by reminding the church in Jerusalem that God had specifically chosen him (by multiple visions) to be the first to deliver the Gospel to the Gentiles. God had already shown by giving them the Holy Spirit in a similar way as on Pentecost that Gentiles could be allowed entry into the Church (officially recognized at their water baptism) without their conversion to Judaism. The idea of Gentiles becoming part of the Church without converting to Judaism was so strange to these men that even after this experience Paul had to publicly reprove Peter for the hypocrisy of him trying to please the Judaisers by refusing to eat with Gentile believers.

My point in using these examples was to underscore that the Catholic doctrine of a “continuous line of succession” is foreign to the scriptures. A lost person can hear directly from Paul or Peter or John or the other apostles and be saved by believing their Gospel message. In some form or fashion this message has to be delivered to the unbeliever in order for it to be heard, but that does not preclude the message taking the form of a printed Bible translation.

The Catholic doctrine takes a Biblical pattern of discipleship which Christ and the apostles used to “train faithful men” who would, in turn, be able to do the same. This pattern does recognize that the church requires leaders but it does not limit God from being able to raise up men to serve him who have never been taught by anyone. Just like John the baptist told the religious leaders not to boast of their heritage because God was able to raise up seed to Abraham from the stones, God is also able to raise up Church leaders wherever and whenever He pleases.

Jesus called His apostles from many walks of life and used them to establish the Church, but He did not require their assistance to save and convert Paul and turn him into the greatest Gospel preacher and Bible expositor the Church would possibly ever see. God instructs and reveals to us the meaning of His word through the indwelling Holy Spirit both directly and indirectly (through Spirit-filled teachers). So even when teachers teach, it is actually the Holy Spirit who reveals the meaning to us.

We further see a pattern of local churches being formed in the New Testament which were able to mature to the point where they did not need outside teaching and leadership, but they were able to follow the pattern which God ordained of setting teachers and other leaders IN the local church rather than above or outside of it.

Matthew 16:17
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Hebrews 5:12
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God...

1 Corinthians 12:28
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers...

1 John 2:27
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you...