Apologeticae sive Theologiae Fundamentalis, Tomus II (Pars Altera): Demonstratio Catholica

From the books of the New Testament it is clearer than the sun that the apostles received, held, and handed on the authentic magisterium.

1. The apostles received the authentic magisterium from Christ. Christ, as we have set forth elsewhere,¹ at the beginning of His public life chose the twelve apostles, i. e. legates, instructed them in the faith in a special manner, taught them the office of discharging the apostolate, and sent them forth to preach the gospel. And although by this manner of acting He already sufficiently signified the authenticity of the apostolic magisterium, yet He admonished them also in express words that they were sent as legates in the name and by the authority of the Master to teach men: "He who receives you, receives me: and he who receives me, receives him who sent me."² "He who hears you, hears me: and he who despises you, despises me. But he who despises me, despises him who sent me."³

Finally, about to return to heaven, He solemnly confirmed the magisterium already granted to them, saying: "You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Samaria and Judea and even to the uttermost part of the earth"⁴ "Going into the whole world, preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved: but he who does not believe will be condemned."⁵ "All power is given to me in heaven and on earth: going therefore, teach all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold, I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world."⁶ Therefore, by the authority of Christ Himself, the apostles are commanded to make all nations (πάντα τὰ ἔθνη) and all men (πάσῃ τῇ κτίσει) their disciples (μαθητεύσατε διδάσκοντες). And indeed for all time even to the consummation of the world, so that the authentic magisterium of the apostles must always be continued in their successors. Moreover, the faithful are bound to believe the apostles and their successors when teaching, with the sanction of eternal salvation added for believers, and of eternal damnation for non-believers. Therefore the authentic magisterium of the apostles and of their successors, established by Christ Himself, is the proximate rule of faith which all must follow.

2. The apostles themselves held the authentic magisterium. For, mindful of the mandate received, "they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs that followed."⁷ And indeed they exercise the magisterium in the name and by the authority of Christ: "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were exhorting through us."⁸ "Christ sent me ... to evangelize."⁹ They demand absolute obedience from the faithful: "We have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith in all nations for His name."¹⁰ "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God for the destruction of fortifications [of adversaries], destroying counsels and every height that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every understanding into the obedience of Christ, and having in readiness to avenge every disobedience."¹¹ And indeed they inflict the gravest punishments upon the disobedient, who fall away from the faith they have received: "Some have made shipwreck concerning the faith ... whom I have delivered to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."¹² "Everyone who revolts and does not remain in the doctrine of Christ has not God."¹³ They establish their preaching as the only proximate rule of faith: "Let that which you have heard from the beginning [the apostles preaching] abide in you."¹⁴ "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [apostolic], do not receive him into the house; nor say to him, God speed."¹⁵ "Although ... an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema."¹⁶ But in order that the office of teaching might always remain in the Church:

3. The apostles handed on the authentic magisterium to others. For together with the pastoral office they delegate to their disciples also the office of teaching. Thus Paul exhorts Timothy, to whom he had entrusted the government of the Ephesian church: "Attend ... to exhortation and to doctrine ... Take heed to yourself and to doctrine. For in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you."¹⁷ "O Timothy, keep the deposit [of faith], avoiding profane novelties of words and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called."¹⁸ "Labor in the gospel according to the power of God ... Hold the form of sound words, which you have heard from me in faith and in charity in Christ Jesus. Keep the good deposit through the Holy Spirit."¹⁹ "Carefully study to present yourself approved to God, a workman not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."²⁰ "Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season ... do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."²¹

But what the apostles enjoin upon their disciples, these in turn must enjoin upon their associates and successors, namely the bishops of the individual churches. Therefore Paul to Timothy: "The things which you have heard from me by many witnesses, commend these to faithful men, who will be fit to teach others also."²² "It behooves therefore a bishop to be blameless ... a teacher."²³ Likewise to Titus: "For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are wanting, and should ordain priests in every city, as I also appointed you ... For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God ... embracing the faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine and to convince those who contradict."²⁴ Whence the rulers of the individual churches, who at that time were called now bishops, now presbyters, were the authentic masters of the faith and of the faithful.

Nay, Paul asserts that these pastors and doctors were given by Christ the Lord Himself to the Church of all times and places, with the same right as the apostles: "He gave some indeed apostles, some moreover prophets, others indeed evangelists, others moreover pastors and doctors for the perfecting of the saints into the work of the ministry, into the edification of the body of Christ: until we all meet into the unity of faith ... that we may no longer be little children fluctuating and carried about by every wind of doctrine in the wickedness of men, in cunning craftiness for the circumvention of error."²⁵²⁶ Behold the authentic magisterium committed by Christ to the apostles and their successors for preserving the integrity and unity of the faith, and for warding off error and uncertainty among the faithful. How consonant are these testimonies of Sacred Scripture with the Catholic rule of faith, how dissonant with the Protestant rule!