Chapter 9: Inventing Apostolic Traditions Summary and Analysis

Along with the invention of the twelve apostles came the notion of an apostolic age. The twelve apostles became inseparable from Jesus. They were considered witnesses of his life and teaching that were charged with continuing on his work. As centrist Christians developed their connection to these apostles, they also formed a tradition of apostolic succession that created a blueprint for the leadership structure of the church.

The Acts of the Apostles by the author called Luke was one early attempt to delineate the apostolic age. The version of Christianity encountered in the Acts is not as extreme as some of the other writings included in the New Testament and instead seemed to be an attempt to appeal to a "common denominator" for Christianity that focused on self-control and righteousness rather than the solution of...