Summary
This article provides an overview of the historicity and continuity of the episcopacy from the Anglican perspective. It posits a positive case for the transfer of apostolic authority and responsibility from the original Apostles of Christ to the subsequent generations of bishops.
Overview
Theological Tradition of the Author:
Anglican
Position / Topic:
Episcopacy; Apostolic Succession; Historic Episcopate; Apostolic Authority
Links:
[Source]
Quotes
“The reason the Evangelical Protestant church holds the local church to be autonomous is not because the Bible teaches it, but because they do not want a ‘pope’ or a ‘bishop’ or a ‘synod’ telling them what to do.”
“It is also important to understand that when you reject the authority of the ‘bishop’ over a number of churches, all you get is a minister who acts as a ‘bishop’ over his church. It does not remove the authority, it just transfers it.”
“Paul calls for Timothy to be an example to his flock: ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity’ (1 Tim. 4:12). Titus is also given the same charge: ‘In everything set them an example by doing what is good’ (Titus 2:7). We see here that Christ, the Chief Shepherd, appointed the apostles as under-shepherds, who in turn appointed shepherds to carry on the ministry; we see also that those whom the apostles appointed they charged with the care of protecting the flock of God.”
“The New Testament church was not a collection of churches, but the one church of God. The ancient church was not a group of churches, but the catholic church throughout the world. Further, the church has always been Apostolic. To be both one and Apostolic requires the episcopacy. There can be no autonomy that maintains both unity and orthodoxy. Therefore, if the church is to reach the ‘fullness of Christ’, she must be under the authority of the episcopacy.”
episcopi ecclesiarum protestantium 