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__NOTOC__==''Synopsis==:'' Apostolic succession is the doctrine (or teaching) that today's [[church]] is (or those in church leadership are) the spiritual successor to the original followers of [[Jesus Christ]] - the [[Apostles]]. The doctrine of ''Apostolic Succession'' has different meanings to different Christians in different denominations. In episcoal churches, such as [[Roman Catholicism]], the [[Anglican Communion]] and [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], the teaching is that the bishops who lead the church have received their authority through an unbroken line of bishops through the centuries from the apostles, and so are the rightful leaders of the church.
The doctrine of Apostolic Succession maintains that the [[church]] today is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in [[Christ]] composed of the [[Apostles]]. Different Christian [[denominations]] interpret this [[doctrine]] in different ways. Specifically in the case of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], the Apostolic Succession as passed on through the [[Apostle Peter]] is also the basis for the specific claim of the authority of the [[pope]]. Within the [[Anglican Communion]] this is seen more as a symbolic precedence, not unlike the [[Eastern Orthodox]] Patriarch of Constantinople. In any event, all these communions recognize the doctrine of Apostolic Succession.----__TOC__==Contents=={{topics}}
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The Apostolic succession is the doctrine of Apostolic Succession maintains (or teaching) that the today's [[church]] today is (or those in church leadership are) the spiritual successor to the original body followers of believers in [[Jesus Christ]] composed of - the [[Apostles]]. Different Christian [[denominations]] interpret this [[The doctrine]] of ''Apostolic Succession'' has different meanings to different Christians in different waysdenominations. Specifically in the case of the In episcoal churches, such as [[Roman Catholic ChurchCatholicism]], the Apostolic Succession as passed on through the [[Apostle PeterAnglican Communion]] and [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] , the teaching is also that the basis for the specific claim of bishops who lead the church have received their authority through an unbroken line of bishops through the [[pope]]. Within centuries from the [[Anglican Communion]] this is seen more as a symbolic precedenceapostles, not unlike and so are the [[Eastern Orthodox]] Patriarch rightful leaders of Constantinople. In any event, all these communions recognize the doctrine of Apostolic Successionchurch.
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==Main article==
===Views===
====Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican====
Churches that have maintained the historic episcopate of a hierarchy of bishops and priests include the [[Roman Catholic Church]], [[Eastern Orthodox]] churches, [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches, [[Assyrian Church]], [[Independent Catholics]] and the [[Anglican Communion]]
These churches generally teach that [[Jesus Christ]] founded a community of believers (the church) and selected the apostles to serve as the leaders. The apostles then selected further leaders as the church grew and the years passed; these leaders now had authority to lead because they were chosen by the apostles. This, according to churches such as the [[Roman Catholic Church]] has continued until this day, with an unbroken line of leadership, and so today's bishops have received their authority through the apostles.
The Roman Catholic Church further teaches that the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome, has primary authority among the bishops. The Church interprets [[Matthew 16]] in a particular way to support this doctrine. In Matthew 16, Jesus gives the [[apostle Peter]] the keys to [[Kingdom of Heaven]]. Tradition holds that Peter travelled to Rome and was the first bishop of Rome, and so today's Pope holds those same keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. There are many alternative views regarding this passage. One of the common opposing views is that Jesus gave Peter the keys in the sense that Peter would be the apostle who as-it-were unlocked the door of the Kingdom of Heaven to non-Jews (Gentiles). This view holds that the words of Jesus were fulfilled in Peter in the book of Acts. In [[Acts 1:8]] Jesus reveals that his disciples will be his witnesses to Judea (that is, the Jews), Samaria (that is, the Samaritans) and to the ends of the earth (that is, Gentiles, or non-Jews). In Acts, we see Peter being present when the Holy Spirit comes to the Jews at Pentecost (in Acts 2), to the Samaritans (in Acts 8) and to [[Cornelius]] and the [[Gentile]]s (in Acts 10).
Roman Catholic and Orthodox theology additionally hold that the authority to administer the [[sacrament]]s (such as [[Holy Communion]]) is passed on only through this unbroken line of apostolic succession. These churches understand the sacraments are a means by which grace is received by the believer. This concept of the sacraments being conveyors of grace is not held by Protestant denominations, who instead see the sacraments as outward signs of an internal truth.
====Common Protestant views====
Most Protestant churches (other than the Lutheran and Anglican churches) do not generally hold to the concept of an unbroken historic line of apostolic succession. These churches mostly teach that their leaders have positions of leadership only because they are called by God, and recognized by their congregation to lead. Most Protestant churches also do not teach traditional Catholic or Orthodox views about the sacraments.
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