What It Means to Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church

by Gavin Ortlund

The basic idea of apostolic succession is that there is an unbroken line of bishops extending from the present-day church back to the apostles. But in its fuller and more technical expressions, apostolic succession usually involves four tenets: (1) the office of bishop is distinct from the office of presbyter/elder jure divino (by divine right), with those in the former office specifically designated as the successors of the apostles; (2) bishops exercise regional jurisdiction in an overarching hierarchical unity; (3) valid episcopal succession subsists via the laying on of hands from one bishop to another; (4) apart from valid apostolic succession, there is normally no valid ordained ministry (holy orders) and thus no efficacious sacraments (with only baptism as a frequent exception).