Mosheli
Member
Mathias was a successor to the Apostles. So were the bishops and elders. Letters to Timothy from Paul were pastoral instructions to Timothy. Do you not believe Timothy was a successor of Paul?
No one is denying that there have been successors (though not in the apostolic succession sense) and that true christian church(es) apostles/bishops/elders/pastors have authority of sorts. The issue is rather who is true christian & true church & true apostle/bishop/elder/pastor/successor.