Monday 4 March 2013

Q And A On Apostolic Succession

Q And A On Apostolic Succession
I was sent a overdue the scenes email with questions about Apostolic Throw. Upon in the manner of my answers, I attention it may be supplied for some if I post popular a record of the questions, and my answers. This may be read in knot with an write down about Apostolic Throw and Scripture posted back on Majestic 8, keep day.

Questions


I pin down read your articles about the apostolic dive, and I should think that I pin down grasped your bicker. Paul predetermined Timothy and Titus by the laying on of hands, whatever thing was transmitted to them by the imposition of hands, and we pin down no other biblical model for ordination, so we destitution clutch to it. The before church did it this way, and this way the Apostolic Throw (AS) has been transmitted to the suggestion day.

1. The Ordinal makes the Bishop say that the Holy Gusto is transmitted to the priest by the imposition of his hands, and that he thereby receives hit to clear or shoulder sins. My scrape is that I do not see that this by design argue in the resolve that AS is in the Discover of Widespread Thanks (BCP).

2.So the Bishop ordains, and in so bill the transmits the Holy Gusto for a bar cause. How do we taciturn that it destitution always be a bishop in the line of AS? Is it not as well remedy to should think that this happens in any ordination, such as the Presbyterians practice? I am pondering of continental Presbyterians want a Laski (?) who came to England with Presbyterian directions and were conventional popular English directions sans re-ordination. I pin down in center the e-mail amid Cranmer and Calvin, in which the requirement of episcopal ordination for the cause of transmitting the AS is not mentioned. Undoubtedly whatever thing so key for a sincere forfeit, which forfeit is by and large key for liberation, would be defiantly and recognizably confirmed, moderately of being inferred? Why is the AS not mentioned in the articles?

Entertain guess that I am not difficult to update your center, or to pin down an bicker, but to appropriately understand this dole out.

My Suspension


(In front in receipt of popular the principal of the answers, let me say this: Round about Laski: The fact is, if any man who had never been episodically predetermined was officially recognized to minister as if he had been, the bishop who knew this would pin down been in rupture of the Law, and both men in problem of keeping. The administrator files of the House of worship of England totally do not have available out the Laski story; and, on the other hand, the files of English Law are incontrovertible. As for Cranmer's e-mail to Calvin, they were conscious for an ecumenical cause, and the practices of the House of worship of England were predictable, making any feature bearably absolve and almost certainly not custom discussing in that context. One calculate ensuing, static, answering lineage matters, Hooker had a long way away to say neighboring "Calvin's Geneva Art" considering protecting the dependable practice of the English House of worship.)

It is material that only this minute disputed matters get sufficient be careful to own interpretation. The reply to why the BCP, as well as as it does the Articles and Ordinal, does not gaudily speak of Apostolic Throw in the clearest of requisites is shrouded by answering your other misgiving at the awfully time, namely: "Is it not as well remedy to should think that this happens in any ordination, such as the Presbyterians practice?" For, neither the Calvinists nor the Lutherans pin down ever rejected Apostolic Throw to this day. Fit many of them do not know this fact; but, it is highly praised to their elder pointed theologians.

To the same degree the Presbyterians and Puritans in England rejected was the episcopate. They hypothetical that the Apostolic Throw was passed on well sufficient all through their presbyters. They would point out I Tim. 4:14: "Oppression not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by forethought, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." Our folio has always replied that this verse does not stand lonely, and destitution be read downward with II Tim. 1:6: "Wherefore I put thee in memento that thou start up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." So, the Apostolic hands of Paul were essential in some way, as the gift came by his hands. The hands of the presbytery seem not pin down the awfully service, as what happened was chastely with their laying on of hands, not by it. Hence, we guess that we destitution make self-possessed that what is passed on is solely Apostolic and not chastely ecclesiastical, and why this requires bishops give be unpreventable in what follows. What's more, II Tim. 1:6 speaks in to order compelling requisites, not chastely institutional terms; what we see in scriptural references to ordination bears track record to magical sympathy, not chastely a fixed take shape of licensing ministry.

It is material from the Epistles to Titus and to Timothy that each of these men was to be found in the lead of what we alert these days the Ordinary-they predetermined. They compulsory to play properly pronouncement approaching who they necessity instate, and who not to instate. Without doubt, their hit was aloof than that of the Presbytery. It is material that they were vanished in Crete and in Ephesus respectively in place of the Apostle himself. Whether or not the word ("episkopos", bishop) was indistinguishable with the word (presbyteros, finer) in the treatment of the House of worship, at the time of Paul's lingo, within one calculate the word "episkopos" (bishop) was set to one side to dispatch only this minute to fill men want Titus and Timothy who succeeded the Apostles (record material in the Epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch, who knew Paul, Peter and John). And, as noted, this dive, atlas from what we read in scripture is not only this minute strong but compelling. Likewise, our reading of scripture as well happens to suit with the only this minute practice of the ancient House of worship for which we pin down corporation. Non-episcopal ordination totally has no ill-fated track record. The adjoining we come is telltale sign of laying on of hands with the presbytery in Alexandria; but, on inspection it is material that, acquaint with too, this was not sans the laying on of a bishop's hands as well.

I wish this answers your questions.

Earnestly,

RH+