[Laissez-faire capitalist]

Why then does the RCC quote 1 Clement to bolster its claims concerning the Apostolic Succession when it(1 Clement) is not Canonical to them? If it is truly inspired by God, should it not be included in their Canon?

Secondly, Clement's belief that the mythical phoenix was a literal creature is shown in that the ancients truly believed in the mythical phoenix. This belief was common among the Greeks, and among the Romans. Pliny believed in the mythical phoenix.

Clement apparently was trying to use the phoenix as a proof that Christ arose from the dead. Because, if God could create the phoenix which is a creature that arises again, could not God also raise His Son from the dead?

Most of the scholarly work and comments that I have read from various Protestants, Catholics, Anglicans and others state pretty much in agreement that Clement did believe that the mythical phoenix was a literal creature.

[steadfastconservative]

"Canonical" means included in the canon of Scripture; it does not mean "authoritative" or "inspired by God." Documents do not have to be canonical in order to be authoritative.

Clement is a reliable historical source on the issue of apostolic succession because he had personal knowledge of this. Whether or not he believed in the mythical phoenix, as many of the ancients did, is entirely beside the point.