Sola Scriptura and the Problem with Apostolic Succession

One of the central tenets of the Protestant Reformation was sola scriptura: the principle that Scripture alone is the final authority for faith and practice. This principle emerged in direct opposition to the Roman Catholic emphasis on apostolic succession and the authority of church tradition. While Catholicism argues that the Pope and bishops inherit an unbroken line of authority from the apostles, a careful biblical and theological examination shows why this claim is both unnecessary and ultimately unbiblical.

Apostolic Succession in Catholic Thought

Catholics defend apostolic succession by asserting that Christ established the apostles as the authoritative leaders of the church, with Peter as the “rock” (Matthew 16:18-19) and the rest of the apostles commissioned to teach, govern, and safeguard doctrine. From this, they argue that bishops, as successors of the apostles, inherit their authority, and that the Pope, as the successor of Peter, possesses supreme teaching authority.

Catholic apologists often appeal to passages like 2 Thessalonians 2:15—“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter”—claiming that oral tradition, preserved and interpreted by the church, carries divine authority alongside Scripture.

The Biblical Problem with Apostolic Succession

Several key issues arise when comparing this model with Scripture:

1. Authority is rooted in Christ, not men. While apostles were indeed authoritative, their authority came from Christ Himself. Acts 1:15-26 and 1 Corinthians 9:1-2 emphasize that their legitimacy came from Christ’s calling and commissioning, not from a humanly traceable succession. Once the apostles completed their work—teaching, writing Scripture, establishing churches—the basis for claiming special authority through lineage vanishes.
2. The apostles themselves foresaw the completion of their teaching in Scripture. Paul repeatedly instructed churches to test all teaching against what he and other apostles wrote (Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). The New Testament repeatedly stresses the sufficiency of apostolic teaching, implying that no later bishops or popes can add to it.
3. Tradition is inherently unstable. Unlike Scripture, human tradition is mutable. Popes and councils have historically disagreed, sometimes drastically, on doctrine. Even the claim of “progressive revelation” within tradition is theologically problematic because God Himself does not progress in truth. His character, His commands, and His moral law do not evolve (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). If Scripture reveals God’s eternal truth fully and finally, then any claim that tradition can develop new doctrine risks contradicting that truth.
4. Scripture warns against elevating human authority. Jesus warned against those who would place human traditions above God’s Word (Mark 7:7-9). Paul rebuked the Galatians for turning from the gospel to human instructions (Galatians 1:6-9). The implicit critique of apostolic succession is clear: no lineage of men can stand above or replace the authority of God’s revealed Word.

The Misconception of “Progressive Tradition”

Some Catholic apologists respond by arguing that the Church grows in understanding over time, refining doctrines like the nature of the Trinity, Mary’s role, or moral theology. But there’s a critical distinction: understanding Scripture more deeply is not the same as Scripture itself progressing. God’s truth does not change; His commands are eternal. What the Church discovers in reflection must always be measured against the fixed truth of Scripture. Any claim that papal authority or tradition can create new moral imperatives risks putting the Church above Christ.

For example, God’s teaching on marriage (Matthew 19:4-6) has not evolved, despite centuries of differing papal interpretations or disciplinary accommodations. To suggest that truth progresses as “tradition develops” undermines the very notion of divine immutability.

Conclusion

Sola Scriptura is not a denial of church authority or history; it is a safeguard against the instability and mutability of human traditions. Apostolic succession, when taken as a claim to infallible authority, contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture: authority rests in Christ, His Word is complete, and human intermediaries cannot add to or redefine divine truth.

Churches may honor the historical apostles and the faithful men who followed, but Christ’s Word alone is sufficient to guide, correct, and preserve the church for all generations. In this light, Scripture is the final court of appeal—not bishops, not popes, and not tradition.