Catholics : Which powers/gifts/etc that Christ gave to the apostles were of the type that died with them?

Question

Looking specifically for Catholic doctrine... I'm not sure if my question is clear, though. I am wondering if any of the abilities, etc that Christ imparted to the apostles were specific to the physical people that Christ sent out personally. IE, an example of Catholic doctrine of an ability that didn't die with them, as I understand it, would be the ability to forgive sins.

Not sure why artimis chose to rudely accuse me of spreading hate, then hypocritically ask me if I was a good Christian.

This is a legit question that I am seeking for a Catholic answer on.

I am not looking for any posts from anyone who is not a Catholic, or who is emotional in any way. It's a simple question that I am looking for a real answer to.

Pastor Billy, maybe I am unclear, perhaps you can go a little further. In "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" by Karl Keating, page 183, reads, "It is said by some that any power given to the apostles died with them. Not so. Some power, certainly, must have, such as universal jurisdiction."

Are there others? What are they?

Answer 1

the best post so far has been the one separating gifts from authority. This is not to say one does not happen with the other but in your case I think you need to understand both separately.

Authority is in fact something all Christian groups have whether they acknowledge it or not. Now I'm not talking about authentic authority but the structure of authority a hierarchy of authority with in their earthly community.

For example some non-Catholics poke fun at the leadership of the Catholic Church and yet they themselves usually always have a preacher, pastor, minister, elder, council of elders etc guiding the interpretative understanding of the church. Basically they lie to themselves when claiming "bible alone" guidance simply because of the authority of their preacher among the flock.

Now turning to gifts one of which is knowledge if all gifts have be done away (as many bible alone groups teach, some baptists as one group) than how can be know the gospel today? It takes the gift of knowledge to preach the gospel to conduct what baptists call "the great commission". Once again this idea of "bible alone" doesn't wash in explaining away gifts of the spirit.

Read any of the lives of the great saints and you will find examples of God's gifts, healing , prophecy, knowledge, tongues.
If only our Pentecostal brothers and sisters would do this I'm sure they would on mass change the perverted view many of them have of the Catholic Church.

Peace of Christ

Answer 2

Hi Edward, as a Catholic I can only give you my opinion and faith experience, I think that the major gift given to the Apostles and is not so common today is the gift of miracles, it would seem that this great gift was to aid the young church to grow and spread with the teaching of the Gospel, I am not saying that miracles do not happen today only that they are very few and far between.
another gift I think has greatly diminished or no longer with us is the speaking of anothers native tongue as on the day of Pentecost, I do not see any similarity with the modern Charismatic babbling and this original gift at all, as for the other charisms bestowed on St.Peter and the Apostles I believe that the church retains these to the present day and will always have them. Best Regards.

Answer 3

These did not die with the Apostles:
Apostolic succession through the Episcopate,
the authority of Tradition itself,
the authority of Scripture,
the three fold ministry (bishop-priest-deacon),
the Eucharist as Sacrifice
belief in baptismal regeneration,
prayers for the dead,
veneration of the Saints,
the Seven sacraments,
the evangelical counsels,
and others.

These Traditions existed in the first century, and the second, and right up until the Bible was compiled into a book, and have continued unchanged to this day. The evidence is there for anyone who wants to see it.

Answer 4

I believe you need to make a distinction between gifts and authority. Gifts (or powers and abilities) are associated with the individual. They include things like talents, like the ability to write and speak well, including teachers. Other powers and gifts that were associated with the apostles include the gifts of tongues and healing.

The authority given the apostles to serve as leaders of the church did not die out with the apostles but continues through apostolic succession. This includes the church's authority to define doctrine. As Christ told them, "what you bind on earth will be bond in heaven."

Answer 5

You love to spread hate. Are you a good Christian? If you are actually looking for a good honest answer-- certain abilities would have been particular to those people---ability to speak in languages so all could understand the word. Other abilities are things we should all have and practise--love you nieghbour, forgiveness. But I don't think it's Catholics doctrine that the ability didn't die with them. It's just the way we should live.

Answer 6

We all have the ability to forgive sins that hasn't changed. Jesus said to his disciples and all those who follow him "all these I give to you and greater things shall man do after me". He spoke of the gifts and Powers of the Holy Spirit which would be given onto men.