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Questions tagged [apostolic-succession]

The belief in some Christian churches that the ministry of Christ's Apostles is derived in a continuous succession usually through laying of hands.

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Which Church tradition (or denomination) can actually demonstrate unbroken Apostolic succession?

Many Church traditions claim unbroken Apostolic succession such as Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and others. It seems as though there are gaps in the successions of some of these ...
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Refutation of Protestant denial of the priestly ability to forgive sins?

Catholics and some Protestants believe that priests/pastors can forgive sin, usually citing John 20:23 as justification. For example, one variant of the Anglican liturgy has the Pastor make the ...
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Who Were the First Successors of the Apostles in the Churches They Founded?

I suppose this question is a bit twofold: I'm wondering what Churches the Apostles are historically held to have founded, and in what places; and I'm also wondering who are the men historically held ...
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What is the significance of the LDS claim that apostolic succession was lost till Joseph Smith was granted divine authority

I was recently in conversation with a lady who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She said they are the "true" church because apostolic authority was lost after ...
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How did the Catholic Church choose which Sacred Tradition is infallible?

How did the Catholic Church choose which Sacred Tradition is infallible when there are conflicting traditions, such as the Filioque controversy, especially considering that both the Catholic and ...
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Can There Be valid Apostolic Succession in multiple Churches?

Can there be valid Apostolic Succession in multiple churches, such as Orthodox, Anglican, Church of the East, and Coptic Church? If so, how do Catholic church reconcile this with it's belief in being ...
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Who consecrated Bishop Heahmund?

Who consecrated Heahmund as the Bishop of Sherborne, What was his Apostolic Lineage?
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Who are the remaining Apostolic Succession lineages that are non-Rebiban Succession?

If 95% of Catholic bishops today can trace their line of apostolic succession through Cardinal Scipione Rebiba; who are the 5% remaining lineages traced through? Who was Scipione Rebiba? Sicilian-...
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Who consecrated Scipione Rebiba?

His Eminence Scipione Rebiba is considered as the last bishop most Roman Catholic bishops can trace their episcopal lineages from. Who consecrated Scipione Rebiba? If we don't know, are there at least ...
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How do protestants respond to apostolic succession?

How do protestants respond to apostolic succession(the line of bishops stretching back to the apostles) ? Pope Clement I “Through countryside and city [the apostles] preached, and they appointed ...
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Why do the successors of the Apostles do not carry the titles and dignity as apostles?

Why do the successors of the Apostles do not carry the titles and dignity as apostles? It seems that the apostles do not have the successors known in title and/or dignity as an apostle? Why is this?
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Where do we find the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Bible?

Roman Catholics believe in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, which is a sacrament by which men are ordained as priests or deacons . It is a sacrament carried out by a bishop, who must lay his hands on ...
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Did the Early Church (ante-Nicene period) believe in the continuation or cessation of the office of Apostle?

What did the Apostolic Fathers, Ante-Nicene Fathers and the Ante-Nicene Church in general believe about the continuation of the office of Apostle? Were they cessationists or continuationists with ...
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What is the role of Apostolic Succession in lifting men and women to the ranks of saints?

In July 2014, Archbishop Timothy Paul of the Holy Orthodox Christian Church, as reported by Premier Christian News, said: Dr. King was Catholic because he inspired the Universal Church. He was ...
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What is the Biblical basis against Apostolic Succession?

Apostolic succession, in Christianity, the teaching that bishops represent a direct, uninterrupted line of continuity from the Apostles of Jesus Christ. According to this teaching, bishops possess ...
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Do Apostolic successionists allow for 'binding and loosing' powers apart from posession of the 'keys'

In Matthew 16 we see Jesus conferring the keys of the kingdom: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on ...
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What is the significance of apostolic succession in Anglicanism?

So my understanding of the issue is as follows: the C of E says it has apostolic succession and it’s bishops can trace themselves back to the apostles. But I thought one of the principles of the ...
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Did Paul consider Peter as the Leader of the Church? [closed]

From whichever theologies hold Peter to have been the first and highest authority in the visible Church I would like two questions answered, please. Please indicate which tradition you are speaking ...
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What and where are the evidences for the Catholic Church's Apostolic Succession?

How come there is no evidence issued out by the Vatican that proves their list of Popes that have carried on from Apostle Peter? I can't find this anywhere and since I can't meet Pope Francis unless ...
Katherine's user avatar
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Was there any meaningful difference between the terms "presbyter" and "priest" in early Christianity?

There has been much debate between Christian denominations on whether or not there is a special priesthood rooted in apostolic succession. I do not mean to disturb this debate with my question, but I ...
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Why does the Catholic Church deny Anglican apostolic succession?

Isn't the fact that Thomas Cranmer was validly ordained by the Roman Catholic Church certain proof that the Anglican Church holds valid apostolic succession? Why then is it denied by the Roman ...
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What did early Christians say about apostolic succession?

Did early Christian writers teach apostolic succession or reject it? How do their teachings on this topic compare with contemporary and significant historical understandings of apostolic succession?
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According to Protestants, must clergy be ordained by other ordained clergy?

Some of the initial leaders of the Reformation, who presumably ordained later Protestant clergy, were ordained priests in the Catholic Church. But, in (denominational, rather than congregationalist) ...
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How long can the Catholic Church be without a pope?

According to Wikipedia the longest papal election in the history of the Catholic Church was from November 1268 to September 1, 1271. How long can the Catholic Church be without a pope so that we can ...
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What objective, foolproof method do Eastern Orthodox have for working out which side is correct in the case of a Schism?

I'm Catholic but I have a great respect for and interest in Eastern Orthodoxy. I almost became Orthodox when I was converting out of protestantism but I became Catholic for reasons of convenience. ...
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When did Paul receive Holy Orders?

Presumably all the original apostles received holy orders directly from Christ at some point (as far as I'm aware this is not explicitly recorded in the new testament). However Paul converted to ...
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How did the threefold distinction of Deacon, Priest and Bishop come about?

I was reading in another question, and I've heard it said before, that in the early church (Apostolic era), there was not a clear-cut distinction between Deacon, Priest and Bishop in the sacrament of ...
TheIronKnuckle's user avatar
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I seek the LDS perspective concerning Cornelius and his house receiving the Holy Ghost without laying on of hands in Acts 10:44-45

While Yet Speaking - The Holy Ghost Preemptively Fell on All Acts 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (This_post) I found open, ...
Abstraction is everything.'s user avatar
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Does a comprehensive list for apostolic succession exist?

I'm actively studying apostolic succession and am trying to make a website (with API) that would try to make a timeline. However, finding the links between two bishops/priests is very hard to do. I'...
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How has apostolic succession been "unbroken" in the wake of depositions, antipopes, immorality, and simony?

In studying the history of the papacy one discovers all sorts of events that are interesting when considered in the context of apostolic succession from St. Peter until today, including, but not ...
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How do Anglicans, who recognize apostolic succession, trace theirs?

It appears Anglicans claim apostolic succession. How do they trace their apostolic succession?
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How do Lutherans who accept apostolic succession trace theirs? [duplicate]

It appears some Lutherans claim apostolic succession. How do they trace their apostolic succession?
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Do (or did) any Protestant denominations believe in apostolic succession like Catholics do?

Do (or did) any Protestant denominations believe in apostolic succession? If so, who do they consider the most recent valid Pope?
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Where within Biblical Scripture does it mention anything similar to the official Catholic and/or Orthodox church's hierarchy of church officials?

Where within biblical Scripture does it mention anything similar to the official Catholic and/or Orthodox church's hierarchy of church officials? Catholic and/or Orthodox church's may point to (2 ...
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How is "binding and loosing" extrapolated to all clergy?

Matthew 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. I recently ...
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Is there any historical evedence of more apostles being called that were not mentioned in the Bible?

In the Bible it mentions the apostles meeting together in prayer to determine who the lord would have them choose to fill the apostolic vacancy left by Judas. Acts 1:23 And they appointed two,...
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Why is Apostolic succession required in some denominations?

Many of the old churches such as the Roman Catholics and the various Orthodox churches hold to the principle of Apostolic succession. To quote from Wikipedia: The Orthodox Church traces its ...
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Is there any tradition that argues for prophetical succession under the Old Testament just like some argue for Apostolic succession?

Some Christians argue that Apostles are always brought into their office under the facilitation of another Apostle, like a chain of links succeeding each other. In the Old Testament, prophets seem ...
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How do Protestants in general respond to these points concerning them?

I haven't had much experience interacting with Catholics, but I have had a lot of interactions with the Orthodox and have been exposed to many of their writings and teachings. Whenever I would talk to ...
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Apostolic Succession in the Catholic church

Wikipedia says: In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle. cf. Pope | Wikipedia As someone who isn't Catholic I don't want to argue how true ...
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How to reconcile the Didache's instruction with Apostolic succession?

As it pertains primarily to Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and other large denominations that not only lay claim to an unbroken successive line, but who also put significant emphasis on it: The ...
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When did Martin Luther lose his Apostolic succession according to Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churchеs?

As far as I understand Martin Luther according to the Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Churches possessed the Apostolic succession while he was in the Roman Catholic Church (he was a priest, after ...
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Primacy of Andrew in Eastern Orthodoxy

I heard this from a Catholic friend of mine: He said, in explaining where Orthodoxy is coming from, that because St. Andrew told his brother Simon about Jesus, he's the real leader of the church and ...
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In which other churches do Roman Catholics recognize apostolic succession?

The Roman Catholic Church derives much of its claim to legitimacy from the teaching of "apostolic succession". Other churches also believe that their priests derive their authority in an unbroken ...
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How is Lutheran apostolic succession conferred?

I noticed in a comment that Lutherans have apostolic succession I figured this was a purely Catholic/Anglican/Orthodox thing is there a comparable Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Lutheran world?
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