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“And thus preaching through countries and cities, they (the apostles) appointed the first-fruits of their labors, having first proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe.……. Our apostles also knew, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that there would be strife on account of the office of the episcopate. For this reason, therefore, inasmuch as they had obtained a perfect foreknowledge of this, they appointed those ministers already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions, that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry….”
– St. Clement, AD 96, (the 4th Successor of St. Peter), Epistle to the Corinthians
Throughout the history of Christianity, its leaders, in order to keep unity in its teaching, established councils that helped clarify issues that arose. Starting as far back as 50AD we read in Acts 15:1-31 about the Jerusalem Council in which it was decreed that Gentile Christians did not need to observe Mosaic Law, specifically regarding circumcision. In 325 AD the Council of Nicaea was held which established the Nicene Creed, namely in response to the heresy of Arianism. Arianism denied the divinity of Christ. This creed modeled the beliefs held for all Christians at Baptism and in it four marks were established that the Church was One, Holy, Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic.
These four marks helped to safeguard the Christian Church against false teaching. The last mark, Apostolic refers to what is known as Apostolic Succession. That is Christ’s Church was established on the Rock of Peter (Mt. 16:18) and from then until this day, can trace its origins through a line of successors Bishop, Priest and Deacon back to the original twelve Apostles. The early Church was unequivocally Apostolic. Thus, by the laying on of hands new Bishops are created from preceding Bishops, an unbroken line that stems all the way back to the original Twelve!
The “laying on of hands” is even seen in the Old Testament as a means of transferring authority through a formal ordination. In Deut. 34:9 and Sirach 45:15 we read of Moses laying on hands and anointing with oil Joshua and Aaron to announce this new authority. So it was with the Apostles and their successors. In 2 Timothy we see Paul reminding Timothy of the gifts he has received “through the imposition of my hands.” (2 Tim. 1:6) and charging him to carry on the authority given to him to succeeding generations. (2 Tim. 2:2) Paul refers to the “office of Bishop” in 1 Tim. 3:1 as that of a “noble task” and therefore this cannot be handed down to just anyone as he warns Timothy, “Do not lay hands too readily on anyone.” (2 Tim. 5:22)
In a unique way, the Church chose Peter as Bishop of Rome (Pope), the leader of the Church and source of unity. Peter was in turn succeeded by Linus as the second Pope. St. Irenaeus writes: “The blessed apostles [Peter and Paul], having founded and built up the church [of Rome] . . . handed over the office of the episcopate to Linus” (Against Heresies 3:3:3 [A.D. 189]). So important was this notion of Apostolic Succession that even Judas had to have a successor! (Acts 1:12-20)
Therefore it must be concluded that for this reason only someone who was ordained with the “laying on of hands” could fittingly minister in the sacrament of the Eucharist. In his Epistle to the Smyrnaens in 107 AD, St. Ignatius of Antioch beautifully sums up this Christian belief:
See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid.