Strange as it may seem, those sects of professed Christians that make the most ado about "apostolic succession" have the least in common with the apostles, either in doctrine or practise. Of all, they are the most governed by the traditions of men. The best evidence of apostolic succession is the apostolic spirit of self-denial and devotion to the plain Word of God. The apostles recognized "all scripture" as "profitable for doctrine" (2 Tim. 3: 16); therefore they saw no light in anything that was not according to the law and the testimony (Isa. 8: 20). Only those who stand on this ground can claim apostolic succession.