Continuity
“The first Christians had no doubts about how to determine which was the true Church and which doctrines the true teachings of Christ. The test was simple: Just trace the apostolic succession of the claimants.
Apostolic succession is the line of bishops stretching back to the apostles. All over the world, all Catholic bishops are part of a lineage that goes back to the time of the apostles, something that is impossible in Protestant denominations (most of which do not even claim to have bishops).
The Church Fathers, who were links in that chain of succession, regularly appealed to apostolic succession as a test for whether Catholics or heretics had correct doctrine. This was necessary because heretics simply put their own interpretations, even bizarre ones, on Scripture. Clearly, something other than Scripture had to be used as an ultimate test of doctrine in these cases.”
http://www.catholic.com/library/Apostolic_Succession.asp
Discontinuity
“There was a second fundamental difference between Melchizedek and the Levitical priests. There was an established line of succession to the Levitical high priesthood. But this is not true of Melchizedek in Scripture. For the writer of Hebrews, engaged in the interpretation of Scripture, this was a crucial consideration. Scripture does not refer to any predecessor and it is silent concerning any successor. Consequently, there were no Scriptural limitations to Melchizedek’s life and work. He did not require priestly ancestry nor priestly succession to authorize his unique and unending priesthood,” W. Lane, Hebrews 1-8 (Word 1991), cxxxi.
Notice the antithesis between the Catholic priesthood and the priesthood of Christ. A chain of succession, linking successors to predecessors, is a key principle which underlies the Catholic priesthood. It must be stepwise.
By contrast, the Melchizdekian priesthood of Christ is fundamentally unsuccessive. Discontinuity is a key principle. It skips over everything in-between. A long jump from Melchizedek to Christ.
If permitted and I will soon find out, let me opine outloud in writing hereon about this:::>
ReplyDelete"....Scripture does not refer to any predecessor and it is silent concerning any successor. Consequently, there were no Scriptural limitations to Melchizedek’s life and work. He did not require priestly ancestry nor priestly succession to authorize his unique and unending priesthood,” W. Lane, Hebrews 1-8 (Word 1991), cxxxi....".
It's just my speculation and maybe this fellow is still living and someone can ask him about my opinion now?
I wonder if he might have been thinking about this and an exchange between Jesus and John when he penned that that I cite above?:::>
Luk 9:46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.
Luk 9:47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side
Luk 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great."
Luk 9:49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us."
Luk 9:50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you."
I see no qualifier here other than, being for Jesus and doing the Works Jesus was doing and giving others to do for Him by sending them out after giving them His power and authority to bring the Gospel to the masses.
Luk 9:1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,
Luk 9:2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Luk 9:3 And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
Luk 9:4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.
Luk 9:5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."
Luk 9:6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
and
Luk 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
Luk 10:2 And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Luk 10:3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Luk 10:4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
Luk 10:5 Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!'
Luk 10:6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.
Luk 10:7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.
Luk 10:8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.
Luk 10:9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
Luk 10:10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,
Luk 10:11 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'
Hey? When did Jesus find time to disciple that guy John brought to the Master's attention, anyway? :)