Apostolic Succession
Definition: The doctrine that the 12 apostles have successors to whom authority has been passed by divine appointment. In the Roman Catholic Church, the bishops as a group are said to be successors of the apostles, and the pope is claimed to be the successor of Peter. It is maintained that the Roman pontiffs come immediately after, occupy the position and perform the functions of Peter, to whom Christ is said to have given primacy of authority over the whole Church. Not a Bible teaching.
apostolic succession
–noun Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Anglican Church.
| the unbroken line of succession beginning with the apostles and perpetuated through bishops, considered essential for orders and sacraments to be valid. Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009. |
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