The Origins of Apostolic Succession

Clement of Rome wrote about apostolic succession as he may have personally experienced it. Clement writes, quote, Our apostles knew there would be strife on account of the office of the episcopate. For this reason they appointed ministers and afterwards gave instructions that when these should pass away, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry. In the epistles of the three apostolic fathers we can read the words of those appointees themselves as to how apostolic succession happened.