Apostolic SuccessionThe first Christians had no doubts about how to determine which was the true Church and which doctrines the true teachings of Christ. The test was simple: Just trace the apostolic succession of the claimants.
Apostolic succession is the line of bishops stretching back to the apostles. All over the world, all Catholic bishops are part of a lineage that goes back to the time of the apostles, something that is impossible in Protestant denominations (most of which do not even claim to have bishops).
The role of apostolic succession in preserving true doctrine is illustrated in the Bible. To make sure that the apostles’ teachings would be passed down after the deaths of the apostles, Paul told Timothy, "[W]hat you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). In this passage he refers to the first three generations of apostolic succession—his own generation, Timothy’s generation, and the generation Timothy will teach.
The Church Fathers, who were links in that chain of succession, regularly appealed to apostolic succession as a test for whether Catholics or heretics had correct doctrine. This was necessary because heretics simply put their own interpretations, even bizarre ones, on Scripture. Clearly, something other than Scripture had to be used as an ultimate test of doctrine in these cases.
Thus the early Church historian J. N. D. Kelly, a Protestant, writes, "[W]here in practice was [the] apostolic testimony or tradition to be found? . . . The most obvious answer was that the apostles had committed it orally to the Church, where it had been handed down from generation to generation. . . . Unlike the alleged secret tradition of the Gnostics, it was entirely public and open, having been entrusted by the apostles to their successors, and by these in turn to those who followed them, and was visible in the Church for all who cared to look for it" (Early Christian Doctrines, 37).
For the early Fathers, "the identity of the oral tradition with the original revelation is guaranteed by the unbroken succession of bishops in the great sees going back lineally to the apostles. . . . [A]n additional safeguard is supplied by the Holy Spirit, for the message committed was to the Church, and the Church is the home of the Spirit. Indeed, the Church’s bishops are . . . Spirit-endowed men who have been vouchsafed ‘an infallible charism of truth’" (ibid.).
Thus on the basis of experience the Fathers could be "profoundly convinced of the futility of arguing with heretics merely on the basis of Scripture. The skill and success with which they twisted its plain meaning made it impossible to reach any decisive conclusion in that field" (ibid., 41).
[A series of patristic references follow at source]
Both St. Paul and Apollo, as well as Jo Kus and I have taught without a formal sanction from a bishop. Obviously, any time my bishop corrects me or silences me I will obey, as I do not argue my opinions as such, but in consonance with the teaching of the Church. Something similar happened to Apollo. He, or Jo Kus (I presume) or I are not in the line of apostolic succession and cannot speak but tentatively on behalf of the Church; but to speak we are encouraged, as it is our Catholic Christian duty to witness the Gospel.
An apostle is someone in direct contact with Christ. St. Paul was given that status extraordinarily from St. Peter and St. James following his extraordinary conversion at the hand of Christ himself. He then went on and consecrated Timothy and Titus. We do not have a record of Apollo ever being consecrated or ever teaching with apostolic authority. A bishop is someone consecrated by an apostle or another bishop. In addition to the ability to speak on the doctrine with authority of a member of the Living Magisterium, a bishop can also consecrate bishops and ordain priests. Thus a priest receives his teaching authority from the bishop and is connected to the Apostles through him.
I agree completely with everything Annalex said. If someone finds I have misrepresented the Catholic faith and is able to show that, I must humbly submit my obedience to this teaching. We believe that God has given the Church, not individuals, the charism of infallibility. Christianity is a revealed religion - objectively so, not subjectively to the whims of society OR Catholics who are wrong on a Catholic teaching!
Regards