The NT letters are clearly written with the expectation they would be understandable to true believers. Otherwise a group in the intended audience could say 'this is just a letter, we may be misinterpreting it, why don't we wait for an Apostle to explain it.' & there'd be no point in writing the letter in the 1st place. It'd be better for the Apostle to wait for him to get there so he can explain it to them in the flesh & debunk them in person rather than send a letter & give them time to stray. We don't see that. We see these letters being sent with the clear trust people would be able to correctly interpret them. No magisterium required, only an understanding of context.
By and large the churches which received letters did seek clarifications from the authors whenever they were unsure of the intended meaning, and when a local church was sure of an interpretation but mistaken about it, the authors of the new testament wrote back to them to correct the erroneous interpretation. The picture in the New Testament of Christians interpreting scripture is one of apostolic authority not only being recognised but sought out. One cannot construct an independent interpretation rights movement from new testament materials; independent interpretations rights is the product of modern philosophical ideas from the Renaissance and the Enlightenment with further development over the centuries. In the New testament a magisterium not only was required but its need was implicit in every church interaction we have recorded.
One of the key passages in the New Testament that discusses magisterial authority is found in the letter of Paul to Titus, in which he instructs Titus to appoint leaders in the various cities of Crete. These leaders, referred to as "elders," were to be men of good character who could teach and guide the community. In this sense, they held a magisterial authority over the community, as they were responsible for maintaining order and directing the beliefs and practices of the members.
Another significant reference to magisterial authority can be found in the letters of the apostle Peter, in which he writes about the responsibilities of those in positions of leadership in the Christian community. He states that leaders should be examples of good behaviour, serving as models for the rest of the community. They were to use their authority to instruct and guide the community, encouraging them to live lives of holiness and obedience to God.
The gospels also provide examples of magisterial authority in the actions of Jesus and the disciples. For example, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus appointed the Twelve disciples to be with him and to be sent out to preach and heal. He gave them authority over demons and sicknesses, demonstrating the power and influence they held in the community. Similarly, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples with authority over unclean spirits and to heal the sick.
The New Testament references to magisterial authority refer to the power and influence held by religious leaders in the early Christian communities. This authority was used to direct the beliefs and practices of members, to maintain order, and to instruct and guide the community in a way that reflected the teachings and example of Jesus. Every letter written by an apostle or by one who was called to exercise apostolic authority is indisputable evidence of the recognition of magisterial authority and the exercise of it within the Church while the Apostles were still physically and personally present on the Earth.
