Apostolic Succession

Apostolic Succession is one of the Four Marks of the true Church that we pledge belief in when we recite the Nicene Creed every Sunday.  For the Church to be Apostolic, it must be the one Church that was established by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago and the very same Church that the Apostles continued to build and grow during the 1^st century and beyond.

You might hear non-Catholics claim that before the Reformation, the Church was so corrupt and had so perverted Biblical teachings that it ceased to exist as the Body of Christ and therefore, had to be rebuilt or revived.  They speak of the“invisible Church” having been around from the beginning that had its rebirth during the Reformation.  This goes completely against the Word of God.

First of all – the idea of an invisible Church is not supported by Scripture.  InMatt. 5:14, Jesus tells the Apostles that the Church was “the light of the world”and that, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”  Furthermore, Jesus tells the Apostles that “the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18)despite what non-Catholics might claim.  After the Reformation, many different“denominations” splintered off from the Church and continue to splinter today to the tune of about 35,000 divided, sects.

Another charge is that after the death of Apostles, there was to be no succession.  This makes no sense, as God would never leave his Church an orphan (John 14:18)and in total chaos, teaching different doctrines from sect to sect. Acts 1:16-26 tells us that the Apostles chose another to take the office of Judas, which was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Psalms 109:8.  In Acts 15:15 we see that the Apostles told the people not to listen to anybody that they hadn’t mandated and sent out to them.

We have the writings of the Early Church Fathers who taught about Apostolic Succession from the 1^st Century on – while some of the Apostles were still alive.  One example is a letter from St. Peter’s successor, Pope Clement I in the year A.D. 80:

"Our Apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the office of bishop. For this reason, therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have already been mentioned and afterwards added the further provision that, if they should die, other approved men should succeed to their ministry" (Letter to the Corinthians 42:4–5, 44:1–3 [A.D. 80]).