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The person (apostle) or the office (position)? (ceases to exist)
If the 'person' ceases to exist (like Judas), scripture (NT) shows us (Acts 1:15-26) that Peter used scripture (OT) - "let another fill his office" (Psalm 109:8),
to answer that portion of the question once and for all. I think they prayed & threw dice or something to select between the candidates.
If the 'office'/position of leadership 'ceases to exist'; undefined? Thoughts?
Given Christ's promise that the gates of hell will not prevail, and given our lack of instruction of what to do in such an event; I don't see it as a possibility. The visible Church will remain in some actual capacity as long as the world lasts.
Have you read Lord of the World, A Canticle for Leibowitz, or Father Elijah? All very good dystopian novels with Catholic authors (although Walter Miller, author of Canticle was lapsed) that deal with that problem to some degree.
On the other hand if "the household of God [is] built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone," what happens to that structure if the foundation (apostles and prophets) ceases to exist?
No one ceases to exist, Katz, they just change residency. Jesus is available to us as the Comforter within our consciousness and accessible when we are in the states of mind associated with God's Holy Spirit of agape love and forgiveness.
The person (apostle) or the office (position)? (ceases to exist)
If the 'person' ceases to exist (like Judas), scripture (NT) shows us (Acts 1:15-26) that Peter used scripture (OT) - "let another fill his office" (Psalm 109:8),
to answer that portion of the question once and for all. I think they prayed & threw dice or something to select between the candidates.
If the 'office'/position of leadership 'ceases to exist'; undefined? Thoughts?
Scripture (OT) and (NT) also already show us about the office of keyholder re: keys - ISA 22 & Mt 16.
Obviously, the individuals who held that office will die, and others will be ordained to that office in their place. And that's what happened for a period of time. As one apostle died, another was called to replace him so that there would always be twelve. I suspect that, given the persecution against the Church in its early years and given the extent to which the twelve were traveling to (at that time) faraway places, the practice at some point ceased to continue.
Obviously, the individuals who held that office will die, and others will be ordained to that office in their place. And that's what happened for a period of time. As one apostle died, another was called to replace him so that there would always be twelve. I suspect that, given the persecution against the Church in its early years and given the extent to which the twelve were traveling to (at that time) faraway places, the practice at some point ceased to continue.
Yeah, thinking about it now, I think one of the requirements was that any perspective 'apostle' had to have witnessed Jesus while alive
(Paul being a special exception having witnessed the Living Resurrected Christ, and confirmed/ratified by living apostles):
"21 Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.â€" (acts 1)
so certainly the later/last apostles would have recognized that 'time's up for any new witness apostles',
John being the last to die (and an interesting related story: https://www.churchpop.com/2016/09/01...-apostle-died/ )
Obviously, the individuals who held that office will die, and others will be ordained to that office in their place. And that's what happened for a period of time. As one apostle died, another was called to replace him so that there would always be twelve. I suspect that, given the persecution against the Church in its early years and given the extent to which the twelve were traveling to (at that time) faraway places, the practice at some point ceased to continue.
Yeah, thinking about it now, I think one of the requirements was that any perspective 'apostle' had to have witnessed Jesus while alive
(Paul being a special exception having witnessed the Living Resurrected Christ, and confirmed/ratified by living apostles):
"21 Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.â€" (acts 1)
so certainly the later/last apostles would have recognized that 'time's up for any new witness apostles',
John being the last to die (and an interesting related story: https://www.churchpop.com/2016/09/01...-apostle-died/ )
No, it's an historical fact. You can argue about whether ordination (laying on of hands) actually confers anything; but the succession can be traced all the way back to the Apostles.
No one ceases to exist, Katz, they just change residency. Jesus is available to us as the Comforter within our consciousness and accessible when we are in the states of mind associated with God's Holy Spirit of agape love and forgiveness.
That is not what I meant, Mystic, and I have a hunch you know that.
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