The true Church must be Apostolical. Hence in the Creed framed in the first Ecumenical Council of Nicea, in the year 325, we find these words: I believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. This attribute or note of the Church implies that the true Church must always teach the identical doctrines once delivered by the Apostles, and that her ministers must derive their powers from the Apostles by an uninterrupted succession. Consequently, no church can claim to be the true one whose doctrines differ from those of the Apostles, or whose ministers are unable to trace, by an unbroken chain, their authority to an Apostolic source; just as our Minister to England can exercise no authority by our Government and represents its views. The Church, says St. Paul, is built upon the foundation of the Apostles,[Eph. ii. 20.] so that the doctrine which it propagates must be based on Apostolic teachings. Hence St. Paul says to the Galatians: Though an angel from heaven preach a Gospel to you beside that which we have preached to you, let them be anathema.[Gal. I. 8.] The same Apostle gives this admonition to Timothy: The things which thou hast heard from me before many witnesses the same commend to faithful men who shall be fit to teach others also.[II. Tim. ii. 2.] Timothy must transmit to his disciples only such doctrines as he heard from the lips of his Master. Not only is it required that ministers of the Gospel should conform their teaching to the doctrine of the Apostles, but also that these ministers should be ordained and commissioned by the Apostles or their legitimate successors. Neither doth any man, says the Apostle, take the honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.[Heb. v. 4.] This text evidently condemns all self-constituted preachers and reformers; for, how shall they preach, unless they be sent?[Rom. x. 15.] Sent, of course, by legitimate authority, and not directed by their own caprice. Hence, we find that those who succeeded the Apostles were ordained and commissioned by them to preach, and that no others were permitted to exercise this function. Thus we are told that Paul and Barnabas had ordained for them priests in every church.[Acts xiv. 22.] And the Apostles says to Titus: For this cause I left thee in Crete, ... that thou shouldst ordain Priests in every city, as I also appointed thee.[Tit. I. 5.] Even St. Paul himself, though miraculously called and instructed by God, had hands imposed on him,[Acts xiii. 2, 3.] lest others should be tempted by his example to preach without Apostolic warrant. To discover, therefore, the Church of Christ among the various conflicting claimants we have to inquire, first, which church teaches whole and entire those doctrines that were taught by the Apostles; second, what ministers can trace back, in an unbroken line, their missionary powers to the Apostles.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 19:15:16 +0000