True believers vs partial believers. Can the "SAVED" be saved?

[jlhargus]

Catholic scholar Francis Sullivan wrote the following regarding catholic apostolic succession:

No doubt proving that bishops were the successors of the apostles by divine institution would be easier if the New Testament clearly stated that before they died the apostles had appointed a single bishop to lead each of the churches they had founded. Likewise, it would have been very helpful had Clement, in writing to the Corinthians, said that the apostles had put one bishop in charge of each church and had arranged for a regular succession in that office. We would also be grateful to Ignatius of Antioch if he had spoken of himself not only as bishop, but as a successor to the apostles, and had explained how he understood that succession. Unfortunately, the documents available to us do not provide such help." (Sullivan, From Apostles to Bishops, pg 223)

JL: I added bold print to the above. Yes it is easier when everything is spelled out in black and white. It certainly would have been easier had scripture spelled out the Trinity, a doctrine that took three hundred years, many heresies and several councils to define. Also what books were and were not inspired which also took several hundred years to settle and some Protestants dispute today. Both of which are central to being Christian. Yet God chose otherwise that’s why he made the Church the pillar and ground of truth, 1Tm3:15.

When something is already known through the lived out faith life and practice of the Church from Apostolic Tradition it doesn’t need to be spelled out in black and white, although it would be nice for those in the future.

The following remarks I added bold print to Francis Sullivan’s quote from his book.

Sullivan also states pg 218 same book on Amazon and one can read that page. He states in the last chapter he will, “discuss the theological grounds I believe justify the assertion of Vatican II” “bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church” (LG 20).

Thanks for bringing that book to my attention I will be buying it for a reference and good read.