Evening journal., 1912-04-20
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION IN
SCRIPTURAL.
Mark III, 7-19; Matthew v, 1916
April 2L
APOSTOLIC

Text. 0Y%did not choose Me- but I
chose you and appointed you, that ye
should go and bear fruit John Nv
f0 Or. W
Today's lesson shows the particu-
larity with which the twelve Apos-
Ties we're chosen. Many were the Re-
doemer's followers at times, both men
and women, but only The Twelve were
specially deputized as His mouth
pieces and representatives Some OF
the things said to and respecting them
are equally appropriate to every one
of Jesus followers, but other things
taid to The Twelve and respecting
Them apply to none others of their day
nor since-as. for instance, the Savior
said to The Twelve and TO none 9TH
hrs. Whatsoever ye shall bind on
narth shall be bound in heaven, and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth
lhall be loosed in heaven. Watt. xvi,
10 xviii. 1S.
The import Of these words clearly
IS that the persons indicated were as
sured that they would be so specially
kuided of Divine providence in all
heir efforts that they would set forth
IS the Divine will amongst men moth
hg to which Heaven would not as
cent. And. on the other hand, they
Mould declare not binding upon the
1Ollowers Of Jesus only such things as
h Gods sight would not be binding.
IN those twelve men, therefore, we
tecognize a plenary inspiration, OF
special guidance not accorded In this
particular degree to others of the
brethren"
We do not forget that Judas was one
tf the original Twelve and that prov
lng traitorous, HE went to his OWL
blaoe We remember also that he was
ipecihcally referred to by the Prophet
David, through whom the Divine mes.
lage came, that another would take
he Apostleship which Judas forfeited
What we do claim is this that the an.
houncement was prophetically made
bf a successor 10 Judas, so as to teach
hs that the appointment OF his sue
tessor was exceptional and not The
rule: that aside from this one case
there would be no successors.
Surely there is no intimation in tn,
New Testament that as one after an
nther Of the Apostles died other mer
were recognized as succeeding them
On the contrary the Scriptures re
beatedly refer to the Twelve Apostles
of the Lamb" Moreover, as the Jewisl
Dispensation began at the death o
Jacob i'm the recognition of his twelv'
sons. so the Christian DispensatioI
began AT the death of Jesus. in thl
recognition Of His twelve Apostles
And as one of the tribes of Israel wa
cut of. and is not mentioned in tn
enumeration in the Apocalypse, bu
the tribe of Manasseh substituted, 81
amongst Jesus Apostles Judas
dronoed and a successor is appointed
81. Paul 10 Succeed Judas.
In the past we may have read TO
oarelessly the account of how IN
eleven faithful Apostles exceeded the
authority in the selection of Matthia
TO take the place of Judas It wa
proper enough that they should sea
the prophecies. and that they shoul
note as they did, Gods declaratiC
Of the unfaithfulness Of Judas, ar
that another was 10 take his speci
place IN the Church; but they shou
>~l have remembered that they had n
as yet qualified as Apostles thar
selves. They should have remember,
tnat whatever Apostolic or speci
power they exercised during Jest
ministry came TO them from Him al
not from the Heavenly Father-Th
sasus 'endued them as His represent