late 1st century (c. 96)

First Clement: the apostolic succession of ministry

The letter of the Roman church to the Corinthians, long ascribed to Clement, was written about a dispute in Corinth, where the congregation had removed its presbyters. Clement stresses order: God sent Christ, Christ sent the apostles, the apostles appointed bishops and deacons, and these appointed their successors, who cannot be removed without cause. González sees here the first claim to authority on the basis of apostolic succession: the leaders' authority does not come from the congregation, and the congregation cannot depose them. Hall calls this a clear formulation of the doctrine of apostolic succession.