Apostolic Succession
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Submitted by sebieblue on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
- Category: Social Issues
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Apostolic Succession
Christianity rose from a persecuted religion to the official religion of the Roman Empire, allowing for the church to become a major political power. The background of the Roman Empire was permissive for the church to penetrate the very aspect of Roman life. Throughout the early middle ages chaos surrounded the Empire. The economy was struggling as peasants became bound to the land and dependent on landlords for protection. Barbarian' Germanic peoples who settled within the West had penetrated Rome itself. During these times of strife, the Holy Roman Church served as the only universal European institution offering hope and solace. While life on earth was considered horrific, obedience to the laws of the church promised a dream worthy life after death. Furthermore, the importance of the individual had not yet been considered. Thus, no direct relationship between a man and God existed, leaving the Church as the sole mediator on Europe's behalf due to the Doctrine of Apostolic Succession. Apostolic Succession is the transcendence of power and knowledge from the original apostles associated with Jesus Christ the Messiah to bishops at ordination, thus forming a link between the two. Bishops are considered the inheritors of the knowledge of Christ through their apostolic ancestors.
The significance of apostolic succession in the church's rise to power is its ability to legitimize the rule of the church and the pope. Through the Doctrine of Apostolic Succession, the validity and authority of the Christian ministry is derived. Peter, the disciple who brought Christianity to Rome was told by Jesus, "upon this rock I will build my church." The bishops of Rome trace their lineage to Peter and claim superiority in their church. The Church's structures and organizations mirrored that of the Roman Empire, and it was through certain emperors that the church rose to power significantly through the use of Apostolic Succession. The church wielded the...
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