MA2007 Session 1 - Intro and An Apostolic Church

1 of 4. An Apostolic Church
See hopc.org sermons link for full outlines

1. The NT Witness to the Apostolic Character of the Church
   Acts 2:42 and the Apostles’ Teaching and Fellowship

2. The Early Christian Witness ...
   How do you find the true church if you don’t have the New Testament to guide you?

3. Irenaeus and the Meaning of Apostolic Tradition
   But as God’s creature, the sun, is one and the same in the whole world, so also the preaching of the truth shines everywhere ...(Against Heresies 1.10.2)

We learned the plan of our salvation from no others than from those through whom the gospel first came to us. ... (3.1.1)

But when we appeal again to that tradition which has come down from the apostles and is guarded by the successions of elders in the churches, they oppose the tradition, saying that they are wiser .. than the elders, ... even than the apostles... (3.2.2)

The Catholic Catechism says that this living transmission [of the apostolic tradition] is distinct from Sacred Scripture, though closely connected to it (78).

4. Reformed Teaching on Apostolic Succession
   The Second Helvetic Confession states that Jesus is:
   the most perfect teacher of the world; in whom is hidden the wisdom of God...
   chose disciples ... went out ... gathered together churches by the preaching of the Gospel... then ... appointed pastors or teachers according to Christ's command; through their successors he has taught and governed the Church unto this day. (18)