I’m just guessing this because the apostles’ reception of the Spirit sounds like the same Spirit a priest receives at ordination. I’ve heard it said that Peter was the only one ordained by Christ (being given the authority to bind and loose) or that they were not ordained until Christ gave them the Great Comission. But if it was the former, I think we’d have to conclude that Peter ordained the rest of the apostles, which I’ve never heard of. If it was the latter, how are we to understand Pentecost?
Or is the origin found somewhere else entirely?
Here is the origin of the succession of many lines:
John 20:22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
John 20:23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.
Peter ordained and called into existence the common priest, and the deacon. Neither of these were commanded by Jesus; but the bishops were ordained by Jesus from the last supper. It is at that supper, that Jesus washed his priests on pain of excommunication, and then beginning the supper said “do this in memory of me”.
Pentecost is the fulfillment of the spirit being poured out on
all flesh as we are told explicity in Acts 2:17-21
Moses said to Joshua, long before, “I would that they all prophecy”.
Numbe 11:27 And when they prophesied in the camp, there ran a young man, and told Moses, saying: Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp.
Numbe 11:28 Forthwith Josue the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, and chosen out of many, said: My lord Moses forbid them.
Numbe 11:29 But he said: Why hast thou emulation for me? O that all the people might prophesy, and that the Lord would give them his spirit!
God fulfilled Moses’ request, and the prophecy of Joel, on the day of Pentecost.
What Jesus did quietly, is the conception of the Church, and what was done on Pentecost is the birthday. They had been with him, Jesus, the “way” for some time before Pentecost – and as long as Jesus was with them, they had the fruits of his baptism; but on the Day of Pentecost he sent his Spirit to take his place at their side so that their baptism into him would no longer require his presence bodily. Exactly what that means, I am not certain – but he then went to heaven to prepare a place for all to live with him at the end of their world.
Apostolic succession was instituted the moment Jesus used the phrase “Rock” and applied it to Simon; for the Patriarch “Abraham” is the rock, historically, and his wife “Sarai” the quarry from which all twelve tribes came; and the tribal succession of each family line was God’s promise. Just so, When Jesus appointed Peter in the place of Abraham to act as a father figure to the other 11 Apostles, a “pillar” of strength, so did he likewise invoke the promise of old and apply it freshly to a new family of his choosing.
Jesus told the old family what was coming when he said – “have you not heard that the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?” and:
Luke 20:15 *
So casting him [the son] out of the vineyard, they killed him***. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? **
Luke 20:16 He will come and will destroy these husbandmen and will give the vineyard to others.
Which they hearing, said to him: God forbid.
…
Luke 20:19 And the chief priests and the scribes
sought to lay hands on him the same hour: but they feared the people,
for they knew that he spoke this parable to them.
So that the succession of twelve children from Abraham has been taken away and given to another; the twelve apostles. The authoritative “chair” of Moses was removed from these older priests and scribes, and given over to the twelve – for they are now the Judges who can hold a man’s sin against him – or acquit him of it.
That is how we know apostolic succession was instituted; for it existed before and by Jesus was given to another in the very way he copied the old succession of twelve into the new.
Again, we have no record of the Deacon being called into existence by Jesus; nor even the non-bishop priest; but the authority to bind and loose is Peter’s, and no one challenges him but all agree to the utility of the Deacon; and so it is with the priest whom we hear nothing at all – but just see them appear without argument.
Peter has the right to parcel out the ministry entrusted to him as he sees fit; in PART or in whole, as the church sees expedient.
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