Answer:
The doctrine
of apostolic
succession
is the
belief that
the 12
apostles
passed on
their
authority to
successors,
who then
passed the
apostolic
authority on
to their
successors,
continuing
throughout
the
centuries,
even unto
today. The
Roman
Catholic
Church sees
Peter as the
leader of
the
apostles,
with the
greatest
authority,
and
therefore
his
successors
carry on the
greatest
authority.
The Roman
Catholic
Church
combines
this belief
with the
concept that
Peter later
became the
first bishop
of Rome, and
that the
Roman
bishops that
followed
Peter were
accepted by
the early
church as
the central
authority
among all of
the
churches.
Apostolic
succession,
combined
with Peter’s
supremacy
among the
apostles,
results in
the Roman
bishop being
the supreme
authority of
the Catholic
Church – the
Pope.
However,
nowhere in
Scripture
did Jesus,
the
apostles, or
any other
New
Testament
writer set
forth the
idea of
“apostolic
succession.”
Further,
neither is
Peter
presented as
“supreme”
over the
other
apostles.
The Apostle
Paul, in
fact,
rebukes
Peter when
Peter was
leading
others
astray
(Galatians
2:11-14).
Yes, the
Apostle
Peter had a
prominent
role. Yes,
perhaps the
Apostle
Peter was
the leader
of the
apostles
(although
the Book of
Acts records
the Apostle
Paul and
Jesus’
brother
James as
also having
prominent
leadership
roles).
Whatever the
case, Peter
was not the
“commander”
or supreme
authority
over the
other
apostles.
Even if
apostolic
succession
could be
demonstrated
from
Scripture,
which it
cannot,
apostolic
succession
would not
result in
Peter’s
successors
being
absolutely
supreme over
the other
apostles’
successors.
Catholics
point to
Matthias
being chosen
to replace
Judas as the
12th apostle
in Acts
chapter 1 as
an example
of apostolic
succession.
While
Matthias did
indeed
“suceed”
Judas as an
apostle,
this is in
no sense an
argument for
continuing
apostolic
succession.
Matthias
being chosen
to replace
Judas is
only an
argument for
the church
replacing
ungodly and
unfaithful
leaders
(such as
Judas), with
godly and
faithful
leaders
(such as
Matthias).
Nowhere in
the New
Testament
are any of
the twelve
apostles
recorded as
passing on
their
apostolic
authority to
successors.
Nowhere do
any of the
apostles
predict that
they will
pass on
their
apostolic
authority.
No, Jesus
ordained the
apostles to
build the
foundation
of the
church
(Ephesians
2:20). What
is the
foundation
of the
church that
the apostles
built? The
New
Testament –
the record
of the deeds
and
teachings of
the
apostles.
The church
does not
need
apostolic
successors.
The church
needs the
teachings of
the apostles
accurately
recorded and
preserved.
And that is
exactly what
God has
provided in
His Word
(Ephesians
1:13;
Colossians
1:5; 2
Timothy
2:15; 4:2).
In short,
apostolic
succession
is not
biblical.
The concept
of apostolic
succession
is never
found in
Scripture.
What is
found in
Scripture is
that the
true church
will teach
what the
Scriptures
teach and
will compare
all
doctrines
and
practices to
Scripture in
order to
determine
what is true
and right.
The Roman
Catholic
Church
claims that
a lack of
ongoing
apostolic
authority
results in
doctrinal
confusion
and chaos.
It is an
unfortunate
truth (that
the apostles
acknowledged)
that false
teachers
would arise
(2 Peter
2:1).
Admittedly,
the lack of
“supreme
authority”
amongst
non-Catholic
churches
results in
many
different
interpretations.
However,
these
differences
in
interpretation
are not the
result of
Scripture
being
unclear.
Rather, they
are the
result of
even
non-Catholic
Christians
carrying on
the Catholic
tradition of
interpreting
Scripture in
accordance
with their
own
traditions.
If Scripture
is studied
in its
entirety and
in its
proper
context, the
truth can be
easily
determined.
Doctrinal
differences
and
denominational
conflicts
are a result
of some
Christians
refusing to
agree with
what
Scripture
says – not a
result of
there being
no “supreme
authority”
to interpret
Scripture.
Alignment
with
Scriptural
teaching,
not
apostolic
succession,
is the
determining
factor of
the trueness
of a church.
What is
mentioned in
Scripture is
the idea
that the
Word of God
was to be
the guide
that the
church was
to follow
(Acts
20:32). It
is Scripture
that was to
be the
infallible
measuring
stick for
teaching and
practice (2
Timothy
3:16-17). It
is the
Scriptures
that
teachings
are to be
compared
with (Acts
17:10-12).
Apostolic
authority
was passed
on through
the writings
of the
apostles,
not through
apostolic
succession.