Alright, I see that. And of course there needs to be SOMEONE in authority in a church body, if for no other reason than someone needs to teach the apostolic teaching.
I don’t see how this goes into the authority of the Roman pontiff, though. Paul’s concerns aren’t about a line of succession; Paul’s concerns are that pure teaching is observed and that it comes from those who are beyond reproach.
This passage, from what I can see, suggests more that apostolic succession comes about by teaching the same thing that Paul taught—which is the same thing that Jesus taught.
Good, someone in authority to teach the truth, discipled by, and appointed by, an unbroken chain in direct succession from the Jewish Apostles; now we agree.