Source: “Border lines : The Partition of Judaeo-Christianity” By Daniel Boyarin, University of Pennsylvania Press. 2004

The Video Overview

2. Apostolic Succession.mp4

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2. Orthodoxy Invented The Rabbinic Lineage.pdf

The Podcast Dialogue

Naturalizing the Border Apostolic Succession in the Mishna.wav

Main Theme:

This topic argues that the concept of apostolic succession in both early Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism developed around the late second century, suggesting they were parallel processes rather than one influencing the other. The author posits that Rabbinic Judaism, as formalized in the Mishna, created a legitimating genealogy tracing authority back to Moses, similar to Christian ideas of succession. This move was part of a larger struggle for religious authority that aimed to centralize power within the Rabbinic elite, particularly the lineage of Rabbi Yehuda. The author analyzes the structure of Tractate Avot in the Mishna, highlighting how an insertion into the succession list reveals a likely attempt to assert the patriarchal line's legitimacy by connecting it to an earlier tradition.

Chains of Authority: Understanding Apostolic Succession in Early Judaism and Christianity

Introduction: The Unbroken Chain

At the heart of many religious traditions is a powerful idea: an unbroken chain of authority stretching back to a divine or foundational origin. This concept, known as 'apostolic succession,' functions as a legitimating narrative, establishing a specific group as the sole and true heir to a tradition. This explainer moves beyond a simple historical summary to offer a scholarly interpretation of this idea's origins. We will explore how this concept was strategically used by both nascent Christianity and nascent rabbinic Judaism in the second century to define themselves and establish their authority—a critical analysis that refutes older historical views. Together, we will trace the concept's roots in Greek philosophy, analyze its specific application in the foundational Jewish text of the Mishna, and observe its parallel development in early Christian thought.

1. The Blueprint: From a List of Teachers to a Line of Power

The idea of apostolic succession in both Judaism and Christianity did not appear out of thin air. Its blueprint can be found in the Hellenistic world, specifically in the concept of a diadoche: a succession list of recognized teachers in a philosophical school, beginning with the founder. However, both religions critically transformed this simple list of intellectual heritage into a powerful tool for claiming exclusive authority. The difference between the original concept and its religious adaptation is profound.