The Answer:	What is and how does Apostolic Succession work? Apostolic Succession is the unbroken line of Catholic bishops, from present day, to the Apostles. Each bishop is charged with the task of teaching the next generation what he had been taught. In this way, the very teachings of the Apostles, who received their instruction from Christ, is passed on. This has often been used, especially in the early Church, to refute erroneous interpretations of Scripture. When a new interpretation on Scripture was brought up, it was brought against the teachings of the Apostles, which had been passed on through the ages. This practice is even illustrated in Scripture. In 2 Timothy, Paul writes to Timothy, telling him: "What you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). Paul teaches Timothy. Timothy, in turns teaches someone who can then continue the teaching. What does this mean for Protestants? Most Protestant churches don't have bishops, and those that do can't trace their lineage back to the Apostles. Thus, there is no check against different interpretations of Scripture. In fact, Protestant faiths, when boiled down, simply are different interpretations of Scripture that didn't match up with the teachings that had been passed down from the Apostles. If I were a Protestant, this would worry me. If the Apostles were taught from Jesus, and their teaching has been passed down from age to age, and my faith doesn't agree with that, how can I be sure its in accordance with God's will? That is for your own discernment though...
Sources:	http://catholic.com/library/Apostolic_Succession.asp
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