Apostolic Succession Requires Unity of Faith, Not Only a Historical Chain
The video responds to a Protestant creator known as Redeemed Zoomer, arguing that a historical line of ordination does not by itself establish apostolic succession. It notes that mainstream Protestant ministers trace their orders through Reformation leaders such as Luther, Knox, and Zwingli, who were originally ordained as Catholic priests.
However, the video contends that apostolic succession entails more than an unbroken chain of bishops; it requires the preservation of the apostolic faith within a unified church, as confessed in the Nicene Creed's description of the church as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Because Protestantism rejects that unity and the doctrine that undergirds it, the video concludes that Protestants cannot claim apostolic succession while separating it from apostolic unity and doctrine.
The argument also distinguishes mainstream Protestant bodies from non-denominational groups, which lack even a historical chain.
Key moments
- Apostolic succession requires an unbroken chain of bishops going back to the apostles.
- Mainstream Protestant ministers are ordained by other ministers tracing back to the apostles via the Catholic Church, because Reformation leaders like Knox, Luther, and Zwingli were originally ordained as Catholic priests.
- This does not apply to non-denominational groups.
- A nation alone does not establish apostolic succession.
- Claiming Protestants have apostolic succession while they remain divided in doctrine and communion undermines the entire idea.
- Apostolic succession is not just a historical chain of bishops; it requires preserving the apostolic faith within a church.
- The Nicene Creed identifies the church as one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic.
- Protestantism rejects all of that, so you cannot claim apostolic succession while separating it from apostolic unity and doctrine.