Episcopal Ordination of the Apostles

[Catholic4Christ]

Holy Thursday is considered the institution of the priesthood for the twelve. At what point in scriptures can we properly think of the Apostles as having the authority and sacramental character of “bishops” (as we would call them now)? Was it a multi-step process between Holy Thursday and Pentecost, or did they have a sacramental “moment”?

I’ve often thought of John 20:21-23 as at least part of this (when Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on them, giving them the authority to forgive and retain sins. Bishops can inherently absolve sins, and they themselves give priests the faculties to absolve). Pentecost is associated with the sacrament of Confirmation, but did it also “ordain” the Apostles to the episcopacy (Mary and the relatives of Jesus seem to have been there as well, but we know this wouldn’t apply to them)?

Thoughts/insights?

 

[TimothyH]

To be clear, John does not use the word Apostle in his Gospel. He uses the phrase “The twelve” to indicate the Apostles and the term “Disciples” to indicate the larger group of followers. Jesus breathed upon the larger group of disciples in the upper room in John’s Gospel. Jesus did not only breathe on “The twelve.”

It is interesting that you brought up Pentecost because Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit on the disciples is John’s version of Pentecost. Keep in mind that Jesus said he must go to the Father before the Holy Spirit comes.

In Acts of the Apostles, Jesus ascends to the Father and the Holy Spirit rushes in as a mighty wind ten days later. In John’s Gospel however, the resurrection and ascension were one “theological action”. John portrays’ Jesus as having returned from the Father that very night after his ressurrection, glorified, and the Holy Spirit is given to the disciples. This is John’s version of Pentecost, the receipt of the Holy Spirit by the Church.

-Tim-

 

[Catholic4Christ]

Oh man, I need to go back and read John again with this lens, that’s awesome.