episcope must be recognized and accepted. From this arises the principle of continuity by succession, which appears to be indispensable, at least from a human point of view.16 The second commonly held conviction is that the office of bishop in the church of God represents a partial (not total) continuation of the office of an apostle. Of course, the apostles had and could have no successors in their capacity as eyewitnesses of the resurrected Lord, with a direct commission from him. What the historical