Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1993 Apostolic Succession in the Writings of Yves Congar and Oscar Cullmann Carlos Alfredo Steger Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Steger, Carlos Alfredo, "Apostolic Succession in the Writings of Yves Congar and Oscar Cullmann" (1993). Dissertations. 147. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/147 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Order Number 9325661 Apostolic succession in the writings of Yves Congar and Oscar Culim ann Steger, Carlos Alfredo, Ph.D. Andrews University, 1993 Copyright ©1993 by Steger, Carlos Alfredo. AH rights reserved. UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor. MI 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION IN THE WRITINGS OF YVES CONGAR AND OSCAR CULLMANN A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Carlos Alfredo Steger April 1993 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © Copyright by Carlos A. Steger 199 3 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION IN THE WRITINGS OF YVES CONGAR AND OSCAR CULLMANN A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Carlos A. Steger APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Faculty Advisor: Raoul ' Wernej fster. Dean l^gJi Emeritus _ j m k Fernandojn3o L. Canale,Canale Associate Date Kpproved Professor of Theology of/oid Testament and Biblical The ' Atilio R. Dupertuis, Professor of Theology __ '—Richard A. Muller P. J. Zondervan Professor of Historical Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION IN THE WRITINGS OF YVES CONGAR AND OSCAR CULLMANN by Carlos A. Steger Chair: Raoul Dederen Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION IN THE WRITINGS OF YVES CONGAR AND OSCAR CULLMANN Name of researcher: Carlos A. Steger Name and degree of faculty chair: Raoul Dederen, Dr. es- Sc. Morales Date completed: April 1993 Since its first explicit enunciation by the end of the second century, apostolic succession has been considered as one of the basic components of the church's apostolicity. As history shows, however, there have been different views on the nature and function of apostolic succession. Moreover, its legitimacy and normativeness have been challenged, particularly since the sixteenth century onwards. In our century, fairly established confessional positions have been reexamined in the light of new theological perspectives, as is evident in the documents produced by the ecumenical movement. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The purpose of this research was to set forth, analyze, compare, and evaluate Yves Congar's and Oscar Cullmann's views on apostolic succession. To attain this goal their convictions were considered in the context of their doctrine of the church, and, whenever relevant, from the perspective of their overall theological systems, without neglecting the presuppositions undergirding these authors' ideas and the methodologies used to support them. After a concise overview of apostolic succession throughout history, the dissertation focuses on Yves Congar's position regarding the apostolicity of the church, including apostolicity of ministry and apostolicity of doctrine. Besides his views on Christian history, it includes Congar's view of the bishop of Rome as successor of Peter and his understanding of tradition as the content of apostolic succession. The study also describes and analyzes Oscar Cullmann's view of the uniqueness of the apostles within the framework of salvation history and his categorical denial of apostolic succession. Attention is given to Cullmann's influential study on the role of Peter in the early church, as well as his analysis of the relationship between tradition, the apostles, and Scripture. Finally, the dissertation compares and evaluates the inner consistency, the use of sources, and the relative strengths and weaknesses of Congar's and Cullmann's positions from the point of view of their Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. theological systems, their methodologies and presuppositions, and in the light of scriptural statements relevant for the issue of apostolic succession. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................... vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................... X Chapter I . INTRODUCTION ..................................... 1 Y. Congar and 0. Cullmann on Apostolic Succession .................................. 2 Statement and Justification of the Problem . 6 Purpose and Scope of the S t u d y ............. 12 Outline of the S t u d y ......................... 13 II. APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE 15 Apostolic Succession throughout History . 16 Apostolic Succession from the Second Century to the End of the Middle Ages . 17 Apostolic Succession in Protestantism . 25 Apostolic Succession in Roman Catholicism from the Council of Trent to the Second Vatican Council ................ 3 3 Contemporary Views on Apostolic Succession . 42 Issues in the Current Debate on Apostolic S u c c e s s i o n ................................ 4 3 Apostolic Succession in the Ecumenical M o v e m e n t ................................ 50 III. YVES CONGAR AND APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION ......... 58 The Man and the Theologian .................. 59 Congar's Ecclesiology ......................... 69 Congar's Concept of Apostolic Succession . 84 Succession to the Apostolic College . 85 Defining an Apostle .................... 85 Apostolic Succession: Definition . 90 Apostolic succession: limits .... 91 Apostolic succession: components . 96 Apostolic Succession: Evidences .... 103 Succession to Peter's Primacy ............ 110 Peter's Primacy According to the New T e s t a m e n t ........................... Ill iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Succession to Peter's Primacy: E v i d e n c e s ..................... 118 Apostolic Succession and Salvation History . 125 Congar's View of Salvation History .... 126 Apostolic Succession and the Time of the C h u r c h ........................... 13 2 Apostolic Succession and Tradition