Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Apostolic succession

The continuity of the church with the apostles — understood either as an unbroken chain of episcopal ordination (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican) or as faithful transmission of the apostles' teaching and mission (most Protestants).

Latin successio apostolica.

2 Timothy 2:2 ('what you have heard from me … entrust to faithful men'); Acts 14:23; 20:28–32; Titus 1:5; Ephesians 2:20.

Irenaeus (c. 180) appealed to the succession of bishops in the apostolic sees as a public guarantee that the apostolic teaching had been handed on faithfully, against Gnostic claims to secret tradition. The idea of a sacramental, tactile succession of orders (valid ordination requires ordination by a validly ordained bishop) developed further; the Reformers retained 'succession of doctrine' while most rejected the necessity of the episcopal chain.

For episcopal traditions, succession guarantees valid sacraments and teaching authority; for most Protestants, the church is apostolic by holding the apostles' gospel, and ministry is validated by call and Scripture.

Whether the historic episcopate is of the essence of the church (esse), beneficial but not essential (bene esse), or unnecessary; the validity of non-episcopal ministries.

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