apostolic authority
Church's inherited legitimacy
Apostolic authority is the claim that religious leadership derives its legitimacy from direct succession to Jesus's original apostles.
In Catholic and Orthodox traditions, bishops trace their authority through an unbroken chain of ordinations back to Peter and the other apostles.
Protestant churches generally reject this hierarchical model, locating authority in scripture rather than institutional succession.
The pope's apostolic authority gives him final say on matters of doctrine.
- divine inspirationGuidance from the sacred
- creedsFormal declarations of faith
- PentecostSpirit's arrival celebration
- laying on of handsRitual healing through touch
- bishopricBishop's jurisdictional district
papacy · Holy See · early church · Twelve Apostles · sacred scripture · Church Fathers · ordination · sacraments · infallibility · patriarchate · presbyter · ecclesiology · clergy · canon law · vicar · gospel · Great Commission · Rome
- papacypontiff, Pope, pope, Holy See, papal election
- early churchapostles, early church, Church Fathers, apostolic fathers, Acts of the Apostles
- scriptureBible, New Testament, Old Testament, verses, passages
- church governancediocese, episcopacy, polity, parish councils, archdiocese
- LDS DoctrineD&C, Book of Mormon, revelations, sections, Joseph Smith
- Pentecostalismspeaking in tongues, glossolalia, tongues, Holy Spirit, holy spirit
apostolic authoritydemocratic governance
System where citizens hold power
apostolic authorityheresy
Belief opposing official doctrine
schism · usurpation · antipope · pretender · sectarianism
apostolic authoritysecular authority
Governmental power without religious basis
false prophecy · civil authority · state authority · political power · civic leadership