Apostolic succession

Okay, kiddo, so imagine that a long, long time ago, a man named Jesus picked some special people called apostles to help him spread his message to the world. These apostles were like Jesus’ friends and students, and they learned everything they could from him.

Now, after Jesus went back to heaven, the apostles continued to teach and lead the early Christian church. But eventually, these original apostles died off, and new leaders had to take their place.

Apostolic succession is the idea that these new leaders – like bishops and priests – were chosen and trained by the original apostles or by people who the apostles had chosen and trained.

So, it’s like a giant game of follow the leader! The idea is that the authority and wisdom of the original apostles get passed down from generation to generation of bishops and priests, all the way up to the present day.

The idea is important because it means that the leaders of the Christian church today can trace their teachings and authority all the way back to Jesus himself, through this unbroken chain of succession.

Of course, not everyone agrees with the idea of apostolic succession, but for many Christians, it’s an important part of their faith and helps them feel connected to the history and traditions of the church.