Dr. E: That opinion contradicts the words of Christ who tells us whom He came to gather..."I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. " -- Matthew 15:24...And whom He prays for..."Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" -- Matthew 17:20
What your random verse generator produced has nothing to do with passing of the authority to all believers. The Church had its elected elders from the beginning. Not every Tom, Dick and Harriette who can read was commissioned to preach and teach.
For people who hang on to every word in the Bible, a lot of Reformed seem to be missing the key words in it.
The Great Commission (in both Matthew's and Mark's accounts) was given to the eleven apostles only.
That commission was then given to select others by their choice in succession until the present day.
That's why Protestant "clergy" have no apostolic authority, and that's why their "churches" are not churches.
As a Presbyterian, I believe the church still has elected elders. These elected elders govern the earthly body of the church; they do not dispense God's grace; they are not infallible in any way; they are not "another Christ;" they are not required to remain in some kind of anti-life monasticism; and they are not the final authority which belongs to God and His word alone.
That's why Protestant "clergy" have no apostolic authority, and that's why their "churches" are not churches.
LOL. According to the anti-Scriptural legalisms of Rome and the EO.
According to God's word...
"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." -- Matthew 18:20
“The Great Commission (in both Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts) was given to the eleven apostles only.”
So that means NOBODY today has any responsibility to proclaim the Gospel? You don’t say that the Great Commission was given to the 11 apostles and their successors. I guess the pope is an interloper.