1. Successors of the apostles. The institution of the episcopate is to be understood only in relation to the institution of the apostles by Christ. Examination of the texts in the NT permits one to make the following observations:

a) The apostles are called to the service of the whole Church, a diakonia which finds its most perfect exemplar in Christ, who came not to be served but to serve (Mk 10:42–45; Mt 20:25–28).

b) According to Mt 28:19-20, their mission is to teach all men, to sanctify them by the sac…