The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-20
APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION
SCRIPTURAL,
UN-

81.
| TeSt: eye did not choose Ne, but chose
you and appointed you, that ve should 90 and
bear fruit. John rD- I6 (R. ~.
Today's lesson shows the particu-
| larity with which the twelve Apostles
were chosen. Some of the things said
to and respecting them are equally
appropriate to every one of Jesus fol-
| lowers, but other things said 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 others 'rWhatso-
ever we shall bind on earth shall be
bound in heaven, and whatsoever We
shall loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven"
The import of these words clearly is
that the persons indicated were as
sured that they would be so specially
guided of Divine providence that they
would set forth as the Divine will
amongst men nothing to which Heav-
en- would not assent; and they would
declare not binding upon the follow
ers of Jesus only such things as in
Gods sight would not be binding. In
those twelve men, therefore, we recOg-
nize plenary inspiration, or special
guidance, not accorded in this particu-
lar degree to others of the brethren"
Surely there is no intimation in the
New Testament that as one after an
other of the Apostles died other men
were recognized as succeeding them.
On the contrary, the Scriptures re-
peatedly refer to the Twelve Apos-
ties of the Lamb Moreover, as the
Jewish Dispensation began at the
death of Jacob, in the recognition of
his twelve sons, so the Christian Dis
pensation began at the death of Jesus,
in the recognition of His twelve Apos-
ties. And as one of the tribes of Is
rael was cut off, and is not mentioned
in the enumeration in the Apocalypse,
but the tribe of Manasseh substituted,
so amongst Jesus Apostles Judas is
St. Paul to Succeed Judas.
In the past we may have read too
carelessly the account of how the elev-
en- faithful Apostles exceeded their au-
thority in the selection of Matthias to
take the place of Judas. They should
have remembered that the Master spe
officially told them to do nothing until
after receiving the heavenly bene-
diction.
Accrediting them with the very best
of heart Intentions, it was, neverthe-
less, effrontery on their part to select
two names and to determine that one
or the other must be the successor OF
Judas. They had no authority for so
doing. AS for the one upon whom the
Hot fell, Matthias, we hear nothing fur
Their of him. In Gods due time. He
Himself brought forth Saul of Tarsus.
st. Paul tells US that he found evil
dences that God had chosen him for a
special service from his mothers
womb. And such special preparation
and supervision we doubt not was APP
plicable to all of the twelve.
"a Crown of Twelve Stars
The Lords specialization of the
twelve Apostles is variously referre.
to. He said, Have not I chosen you
twelve?" And again, I'VE shall sit on
twelve thrones" In the symbolical
book of Revelation He pictures the
light, standing over or near to the moon,
which symbolizes the Jewish law
covenant; and upon her head was a
crown of twelve stars, representing the
twelve Apostles of the lamb.
Again, later on in the same book, we
find pictured the church in glory be-
yond the veil. the bride-the New Je-
rusalem. OF this city we read that it
had twelve foundations, and in the
twelve foundations the names of the
twelve Apostles.
The recognition of successors to the
Apostles was one of the first errors
after their death. Every bishop was
recognized as one of the successors
and hence as possessing Apostolic auth |
GRITTY It was not long until the words
of the original Twelve were neglected. |
The living bishops were acknowledged |
as speaking with the same Divine |
uthority-up-to-date. Later great |
church councils were called in which |
these bishops, as claimed successors |
to the Apostles decided what should |
and what should not be believed by |
the church, what was and what was
not orthodox.
1t can be readily seen that this ex-
altation of false apostles Revelation
Ii, p, contrary to the Divine arrange
ment, opened a f1ood-gate of error,
however well intentioned all concerned
may have been. 1t is surprising that
so many still hold to the creeds thus
formulated by pseudo-apostles The
need of the hour is d. recognition of
.hese facts and an abandonment of all |
hose creeds and a return to the words
IF Jesus and the Apostles and the
Prophets. Only thus can we extricate
ourselves from the multiplied errors
represented in the six hundred divf-
'ions of the church of Christ