Originally Posted by
Bethshaya
So Jesus never gave them permission to give others permission to baptise.
Actually, Jesus did just that. He gave them permission to send outhers the way He sent them, as the Father sent Him.
This is the heart of Apostolic Succession. The bible has to be taken as a whole.
Authority comes from God alone.
God cared enough to extablish a means by which all could know exactly where that authority resided, to prevent any confusion unless one rejects what God instituted.
It is in the bible.
Jeus was sent from the Father with the power and authoirty in heaven and on earth, which would include the power and authority to pass on HIS power and authority to others.
This He tells us and this He did - speaking to the apostles and only the apostles:
Matt 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
John 20:21
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
So, in the same way the Father sent Jesus, Jesus sent the Aposltes.
Since it is in the same way, "AS" the Father sent Him, which obviously INCLUDED the power and authority to PASS ON that same power and authority, the Apostles possessed the power and authority to pass it on to others.
That we see that this has happened is evident in other scriptural proofs
Acts 1:15-26 - the first thing Peter does after Jesus ascends into heaven is implement apostolic succession. Matthias is ordained with full apostolic authority. Only the Catholic Church can demonstrate an unbroken apostolic lineage to the apostles in union with Peter through the sacrament of ordination and thereby claim to teach with Christ's own authority.
Acts 1:20 - a successor of Judas is chosen. The authority of his office (his "bishopric") is respected notwithstanding his egregious sin. The necessity to have apostolic succession in order for the Church to survive was understood by all. God never said, "I'll give you leaders with authority for about 400 years, but after the Bible is compiled, you are all on your own."
Acts 1:22 - literally, "one must be ordained" to be a witness with us of His resurrection. Apostolic ordination is required in order to teach with Christ's authority.
Acts 6:6 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority has transferred beyond the original twelve apostles as the Church has grown.
Acts 9:17-19 - even Paul, who was directly chosen by Christ, only becomes a minister after the laying on of hands by a bishop. This is a powerful proof-text for the necessity of sacramental ordination in order to be a legitimate successor of the apostles.
Acts 13:3 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority must come from a Catholic bishop.
Acts 14:23 - the apostles and newly-ordained men appointed elders to have authority throughout the Church.
Acts 15:22-27 - preachers of the Word must be sent by the bishops in union with the Church. We must trace this authority to the apostles.
2 Cor. 1:21-22 - Paul writes that God has commissioned certain men and sealed them with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee.
Col 1:25 - Paul calls his position a divine "office." An office has successors. It does not terminate at death. Or it's not an office. See also Heb. 7:23 – an office continues with another successor after the previous office-holder’s death.
1 Tim. 3:1 - Paul uses the word "episcopoi" (bishop) which requires an office. Everyone understood that Paul's use of episcopoi and office meant it would carry on after his death by those who would succeed him.
1 Tim. 4:14 - again, apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination).
1 Tim. 5:22 - Paul urges Timothy to be careful in laying on the hands (ordaining others). The gift of authority is a reality and cannot be used indiscriminately.
2 Tim. 1:6 - Paul again reminds Timothy the unique gift of God that he received through the laying on of hands.
2 Tim. 4:1-6 - at end of Paul's life, Paul charges Timothy with the office of his ministry . We must trace true apostolic lineage back to a Catholic bishop.
2 Tim. 2:2 - this verse shows God's intention is to transfer authority to successors (here, Paul to Timothy to 3rd to 4th generation). It goes beyond the death of the apostles.
Titus 1:5; Luke 10:1 - the elders of the Church are appointed and hold authority. God has His children participate in Christ's work.
We can see this process of Apostolic Succssion with the Apostles laying hands on Paul . . Paul laying hands on Timothy . . Timothy laying hands on others. . .
So, in just one line of Apostolic succession we have seen here, we have
The Father . . .> to Jesus . . > to the APOLSTES . . > to PAUL . . > to TIMOTHY . . > to OTHERS . . . who would then have passed it on to others. . .
At least FIVE times the passing on of this power and authority has been documented in the NT.
There is a clear line extablished for the passing on of Apostolic Authority given by God in the begnning.
God has CHOSEN this method to pass on this authority . . this is so we are never left guesssing where it is or reliant on self claims of those who try to lay claim to it. We have a CLEARLY established line of succession, and example of which is easliy found in scripture if one undrestands what they are looking at.
There is never any indiciation in all of the NT that this plan of God's, this line of succession, was ever done away with.
It is still here today . . we can trace the lines of succession of our Bishops all the way back to the Apostles themselves. . . valid apostolic succession . . we have a clear line and know where this same power and authority first passed on to the Apostles resides today.