[Mad Dawg]

Well, that's a point of view. I don't think it's scriptural, IMHO. There is a clear distinction from the sermon on the mount through the Pentecost and after, with the ordination of deacons, the appointment of Matthias, the apostolic conference in Acts, that there are those with apostolic authority and those who do not have it but are members of the Church.

This is not an argument, simpliciter, for the RC church, just for SOME hierarchy of some kind being attested to in the NT.

[unspun]

I never said there shouldn't be organization and organizers on to get the earthly responsibilities of the Chuch met. And there are leaders in that regard, but all are followers of Christ and Christ alone.

But relationship with God is not hierarchical -- not in the least.

BTW, look up the root of "apostle" in the NT and you will find "sent one." You probably already know that. When you see the list of "offices of the church," isn't it strange that it doesn't say "missionary?" Not strange at all, because it does: "sent ones."

[Quix]

I suppose it’s my . . . construction on reality again . . .

But I think St Paul made a tiny fraction of the fuss about such titles and roles

that most maticstericals make of them in most denominations.