Apostolic Succession
Preserved but no longer current.
This is the term in use for the doctrine that the mission given to the apostles by Christ (John xx, 23 and Matt. xxviii, 19) must extend to their legitimate successors in an unbroken line. This means in practice that only those clergy who have been ordained by bishops who are themselves • in the succession can administer the sacra- ments and perform other sacerdotal functions.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Apostolic Succession” mean?
This is the term in use for the doctrine that the mission given to the apostles by Christ (John xx, 23 and Matt. xxviii, 19) must extend to their legitimate successors in an unbroken line. This means in practice that only those clergy who have been ordained by bishops who are themselves • in the succession can administer the sacra- ments and perform other sacerdotal functions.
Is “Apostolic Succession” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.