Apostles and Bishops in Early Christianity
Posted by Dave Keller on November 5th, 2006
I have putting off a review of the 15th volume in The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley since reading it before starting the Mormons and Catholics blog for a number of reasons. The first is that I wanted to set the tone for this site by not diving directly into a books or criticisms that would put Catholics on the defensive. After reading some discussions on ZLMB, Catholic Answers, and FAIR I have come to realize there are good Catholic responses to challenges made in regards to apostolic succession. When I read some Catholic debates with Protestants over issues of authority, I generally find more affinity with the Catholic arguments. I would hope that Catholics could come to likewise appreciate the Mormon arguments presented in Mormon/Protestant debates. Protestant ones rely on, as I see it, promoting a “priesthood of all believers” at the expense of having a lineage traceable to the apostles and essentially refusing to recognize Mormon or Catholic priesthoods as legitimate primarily based on criticisms derived from scriptural interpretations. So perhaps in exploring ideas that Nibley introduces might reveal more common ground between Mormons and Catholics and hence not be so divisive.
A second reason is that I have had to re-examine Mormon paradigms for priesthood succession and development. I hesitate to levy a criticism of Catholic apostolic succession if it works against the Mormon paradigm as well. So I have read a number of Mormon books recently that have been disorienting at times. Here is a quick survey of some of the relevant Mormon literature:
- The angelic restoration of the priesthood: Priesthood Restoration Documents (BYU Studies 35:4), and The Restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods (Ensign, Dec. 1996).
- Priesthood development: Organize My Kingdom (Tvedtnes) and Power from on High (Prince) [see BYU Studies 37:1 reviews]
- Apostolic succession: Andrew Ehat’s Master’s Thesis and Joseph, Brigham and the twelve: a succession of continuity (BYU Studies 21:3)
- Priesthood in an ancient times: Authority in the Book of Mosiah (FR 18/1)
I do not claim to be as well versed on analogous Catholic literature, but I will attempt to compile some resources and welcome other bibliographic suggestions.
- Apostolic Succession: The Catholic Encyclopedia and Catholic Answers.
- Priesthood development: The Catholic Encyclopedia
This should give me some background to make some comparisons that Hugh Nibley may have missed back in the 1950’s when he compiled lecture note for a BYU class. Back then some students could take a class in whatever Nibley was interested in at the time. Hopefully next week I will be able to post a summary of the editors’ lengthy introduction for this book.
November 6th, 2006 at 12:45 am
I actually have that book, though I haven’t even come close to reading it. I need to buck up and finish Early Christians In Disarray and review it first.
November 13th, 2006 at 11:55 am
I just finished reading it. Warning. It never comes to a conclusion. These are just class notes.
Nibley attacked the issue in a couple of different ways. First, establishing that the office of Bishop changed over time.
Second, succession of Peter to the bishop of Rome being unsupported by period documentation.
Third, logic of succession of Peter to Rome is faulty.
Those are the things that I remember. Some arguments are stronger than others.
FWIW
http://www.christiansonline.cc/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=3136
November 19th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Brad,
I look forward to your review of ECiD, but I totally understand motivational issues and competing priorities. I continue to enjoy reading what you do cover on your blog so please keep up the good work.
Darth,
Thanks for that quick summary as it paints a realistic picture of what to expect from A&BiEC. It is a very unfinished, raw product. Nibley is good at sifting through numerous sources, but I think the definitive work on ancient priesthood concepts has yet to be written. No doubt progress has been made by Christian scholars since the 50’s and some of Nibley’s ideas might not hold up, but they deserve a hearing.
December 6th, 2006 at 7:32 am
Hey, what happened to the review? I know it was there at one point.
December 10th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Darth,
It is back up. I must have accidentally removed it while fixing some formatting problems. I should have more installments up in the weeks ahead.
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