Been happening now for close to 2,000 years.......after all, Jesus promised to be with the Church ALWAYS, even to the end of the world.
HIS church is made up of the elect,the saved, not a denomination but by His grace and mercy..
Show us where Jesus TOLD the apostles they could pass on their special gift and authority... Show me that scripture
Matthew 28:16-20
the authority Jesus gave the disciples to:
1. make disciples of all nations
2. baptizing them
3. teaching them
was meant not only for the 11 disciples, but for the Church for all time, until the end of the world.
if this authority was meant only for the 11, Jesus would not have said “ I am with YOU always, even to the end of the age”
the “you” he referred to had to be the Church and not only the 11.
the Apostolic Tradition of ordaining men is clearly shown in 1 Timothy 5:22.
when Timothy laid hands on other men, was this merely symbolic or was actual authority in the Church conveyed?
the real opposition to the doctrine of apostolic succession comes from those who do not want to be part of the Church, but wish to start new man made organizations like the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, and a host of others.......
the only difference between the bishops today and the Apostles is the Apostles had the authority to bring new revelation of God’s Word, whereas the bishop’s today can not bring new revelation, but MUST teach the Apostolic Faith.