使徒統緒

使徒統緒（Apostolic succession），天主教中文譯作宗徒傳承，是指基督教教會的聖職是從耶穌的十二使徒傳承開始代代相傳，通常與聲稱是一系列的主教有關^[1]這一系列的主教，起初被視為由一個或多個使徒建立的教座的主教，但現在被理解為一系列的主教（不論來自那個教座）受其他主教祝聖，而施行祝聖的主教也是以同樣的方式受祝聖，一直追溯至使徒^[2]^[3]。

使徒統緒也可以理解成從使徒至今的教義連續性^[4]。例如，英國循道宗會議將「真實連續」定為「基督經歷的連續，同一靈所賜的團契，屬於一主的連續，訊息的持續宣告，使命的持續領受……^[5]」。

一些人視按手禮為使徒統緒的重要部分，因新約聖經提及個人的使徒傳承（例如從保羅到提摩太和提多）。他們也認為早期教會書信，特別是聖紀文書信^[6]。紀文特別提到，使徒委派主教為繼承人，並指示主教也應照樣委派繼承人，因此，這樣的教會領袖不能無故罷免。此外，提倡主教擁有個人使徒傳承的人指出，早教統一的教會（公元431年及之前）普遍奉行這規定。

加爾文主義背景的歸正宗與長老宗、少部分的聖公宗與信義宗等新教派別否定使徒統緒的必要^[1]^[7]，並質疑這些歷史聲稱的真實性。

使徒座

使徒座（英語：Apostolic see）是指宣稱自身是由一個或多個使徒所建立起來，維繫和傳承該使徒權威、教義和宗教實踐傳統的重要主教座。列表如下：

五大宗主教區

聖座：是羅馬主教，即眾所周知的教宗，的教務職權（英語：Ecclesiastical jurisdiction），也是天主教會內超乎眾教座之上的主教教座，承繼自使徒之首彼得（伯多祿）和保羅（保祿）^[8]。
君士坦丁堡普世牧首區：是東正教會的首席大主教區，最高領袖稱為君士坦丁堡普世牧首，承繼自使徒安德烈（安德肋）。
亞歷山大港教區：是亞歷山大科普特正教會和亞歷山大及全非洲地區東正教會（英語：Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa）的教區，最高領袖稱為亞歷山大港牧首，承繼自使徒馬可（馬爾谷）。^[9]
安提阿教區：是安提阿正教會（現駐大馬士革），默基特希臘禮天主教會（現駐大馬士革），敘利亞東方正統教會（現駐大馬士革），敘利亞禮天主教會（現駐貝魯特），馬龍尼禮教會（現駐貝凱克（英語：Bkerké））的教區，最高領袖稱為安提阿牧首，承繼自使徒之首彼得（伯多祿）和保羅（保祿）^[10]
耶路撒冷教區：是耶路撒冷正教會（英語：Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem）的首席大主教區，最高領袖稱為耶路撒冷牧首，承繼自使徒公義者雅各（雅各伯）^[11]

其他教區

塞浦路斯教會，承繼自使徒保羅（保祿）和巴拿巴（巴爾納伯）^[12]，自431年成為東正教自主教會
喬治亞正教會：承繼自使徒安得烈（安德肋）、奮銳黨的西門（熱誠者西滿）和等同使徒的聖徒尼諾（英語：Saint Nino），自486年成為東正教自主教會
埃奇米阿津聖座：是亞美尼亞使徒教會的首席教區，位於瓦加爾沙帕特的埃奇米阿津主教座堂，承繼自使徒巴托羅繆（巴爾多祿茂）、使徒達太（達陡）和等同使徒的聖格列高利^[13]
泰西封座堂：是東方亞述教會的教區，最高領袖稱為東方亞述教會牧首（現駐巴格達），承繼自使徒多馬（多默）
印度喀拉拉邦的聖多馬基督徒（英語：Saint Thomas Christian denominations）教會，承繼自使徒多馬（多默）^[14]
埃塞俄比亞正統台瓦西多教會，承繼自傳福音者腓利（斐理伯）^[15]，以及亞歷山大科普特正教會
聖公會，承繼自英格蘭天主教會第一位坎特伯雷大主教奧古斯丁的使徒統緒，從1530年代起脫離羅馬天主教會自立為聖公會
瑞典教會，承繼自瑞典烏普薩拉大主教的使徒統緒，從1530年代起脫離天主教會成為信義會
菲律賓獨立教會（英語：Philippine Independent Church），1902年脫離天主教會，1948年獲得美國聖公會授予其使徒統緒

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會

耶穌基督後期聖徒教會（摩門教）稱約瑟·斯密在1829年從彼得、雅各、約翰獲得祭司的職分^[16]

參考文獻

^ ^1.0 ^1.1 F.L. Cross, E.A. Livingstone (editors), The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3), article "apostolic succession"
^ Justo L. González, ''Essential Theological Terms'' (Westminster John Knox Press 2005 ISBN 978-0-664-22810-1), p. 15. Google.com. [2013-07-18]. （原始內容存檔於2021-10-27）.
^ Walter A. Elwell, ''Evangelical Dictionary of Theology'' (Baker Academic 2001 ISBN 978-0-8010-2075-9), p. 89. Google.com. [2013-07-18]. （原始內容存檔於2021-05-29）.
^ Donald S. Armentrout, Robert Boak Slocum An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church (Church Publishing 1999 ISBN 9780898692112), p. 25 or
^ Jay, Eric G. The Church. John Knox press: 1980, p.229
^ Adam, Karl. The Spirit of Catholicism Doubleday & C°, Inc: 1957 p. 20
^ "Apostolic Succession" in ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', Sixth Edition (Columbia University Press 2004). Questia.com. [2013-07-18]. （原始內容存檔於2011-06-04）.
^ St. Irenaeus. Adversus Haereses. 1907. Because it would be too long in such a volume as this to enumerate the successions of all the churches, we point to the tradition of that very great and very ancient and universally known Church, which was founded and established at Rome, by the two most glorious Apostles, Peter and Paul: we point I say, to the tradition which this Church has from the Apostles, and to her faith proclaimed to men which comes down to our time through the succession of her bishops, and so we put to shame . . . all who assemble in unauthorized meetings. For with this Church, because of its superior authority, every Church must agree — that is the faithful everywhere — in communion with which Church the tradition of the Apostles has been always preserved by those who are everywhere
^ St. Mark The Apostle, Evangelist. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2018-12-26）.
^ The Patriarchate of Antioch: Founded by Saints Peter and Paul. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2021-04-23）. Ignatius was the second successor to Peter and may actually have been consecrated by that Apostle or Saint Paul.
^ 305 Chapter XIX.—The Episcopal Chair of James. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2021-11-12）.
^ Cyprian Orthodox Church Official Website. Churchofcyprus.org.cy. [26 July 2011]. （原始內容存檔於2011-07-23）.
^ We are the One Holy Universal Apostolic Orthodox Armenian Church. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2011-07-05）.
^ Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. malankaraorthodoxchurch.in. [18 August 2011]. （原始內容存檔於2011-07-21）.
^ THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ETHIOPIAN CHURCH. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2011-06-11）.
^ The First Presidency of the Early Church: Their Lives and Epistles. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2018-10-24）.

參見

[ODCC-1] 1.0 ^1.1 F.L. Cross, E.A. Livingstone (editors), The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford University Press 2005 ISBN 978-0-19-280290-3), article "apostolic succession"

[ETT-2] Justo L. González, ''Essential Theological Terms'' (Westminster John Knox Press 2005 ISBN 978-0-664-22810-1), p. 15. Google.com. [2013-07-18]. （原始內容存檔於2021-10-27）.

[3] Walter A. Elwell, ''Evangelical Dictionary of Theology'' (Baker Academic 2001 ISBN 978-0-8010-2075-9), p. 89. Google.com. [2013-07-18]. （原始內容存檔於2021-05-29）.

[4] Donald S. Armentrout, Robert Boak Slocum An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church (Church Publishing 1999 ISBN 9780898692112), p. 25 or

[autogenerated229-5] Jay, Eric G. The Church. John Knox press: 1980, p.229

[6] Adam, Karl. The Spirit of Catholicism Doubleday & C°, Inc: 1957 p. 20

[7] "Apostolic Succession" in ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', Sixth Edition (Columbia University Press 2004). Questia.com. [2013-07-18]. （原始內容存檔於2011-06-04）.

[8] St. Irenaeus. Adversus Haereses. 1907. Because it would be too long in such a volume as this to enumerate the successions of all the churches, we point to the tradition of that very great and very ancient and universally known Church, which was founded and established at Rome, by the two most glorious Apostles, Peter and Paul: we point I say, to the tradition which this Church has from the Apostles, and to her faith proclaimed to men which comes down to our time through the succession of her bishops, and so we put to shame . . . all who assemble in unauthorized meetings. For with this Church, because of its superior authority, every Church must agree — that is the faithful everywhere — in communion with which Church the tradition of the Apostles has been always preserved by those who are everywhere

[9] St. Mark The Apostle, Evangelist. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2018-12-26）.

[10] The Patriarchate of Antioch: Founded by Saints Peter and Paul. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2021-04-23）. Ignatius was the second successor to Peter and may actually have been consecrated by that Apostle or Saint Paul.

[11] 305 Chapter XIX.—The Episcopal Chair of James. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2021-11-12）.

[12] Cyprian Orthodox Church Official Website. Churchofcyprus.org.cy. [26 July 2011]. （原始內容存檔於2011-07-23）.

[13] We are the One Holy Universal Apostolic Orthodox Armenian Church. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2011-07-05）.

[14] Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. malankaraorthodoxchurch.in. [18 August 2011]. （原始內容存檔於2011-07-21）.

[15] THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ETHIOPIAN CHURCH. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2011-06-11）.

[16] The First Presidency of the Early Church: Their Lives and Epistles. [2017-10-28]. （原始內容存檔於2018-10-24）.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]