[Petrosius]

Apostles were witness to the resurrected Lord. When the witnesses died, so did the office. There was nothing to pass down since the eye witness was personal and only given to those chosen by God. You had to be there.

And yet Paul uses the same term, episkopos, for others that was used to describe the office of Matthias. Additionally, nowhere in the Bible does it say that their office ceases with the death of the first generation. This is purely your speculation based on a preconceive notion of the Church. I think that I will stay with the Bible, and the constant teaching of the Church, over your private opinion.

[blue-duncan]

“And yet Paul uses the same term, episkopos, for others that was used to describe the office of Matthias.”

Right, and since Matthias was a second generation “apostle” where does it say they laid hands on him? And by the way, it was the 120 plus, that chose Matthias, since Peter is talking to all that were in the house.