Authority? Of what 'brand?'
Absolute Authority is not available to mankind. Paul certainly didn't take that position unto himself. He admittedly only saw IN PART as any person in their 'right' mind should be able to come to grips with.
Seeing only IN PART rules out Absolute Authority on any basis.
Even when I went through RCC catechism as an adult, after our 'group' did the ritual incantations, etc etc, the priest still asked us, DID YOU REALLY MEAN THAT? And he did so because NO ONE can definitively say their ritualistic practice was ANY GOOD whatsoever apart from the MEANINGFUL sincerety of the individuals, which they CANNOT SEE or PERCEIVE internally. They can't 'see there' within, therefore as it pertains to the individual's reflections, the only TRUE authority is the individual doing the reflections on these matters.
So, in short NO INDIVIDUAL reflections or NO GROUP reflections have ANY 'absolute authority' over any matter because IT'S ALL partial sight and INDIVIDUAL reflections that are involved.
The 'Pope' does not even ascribe ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY to his own positions. He recognizes for example that there MAY BE people who are saved OUTSIDE the scope of his groups supposed absolute authority.
Even in the doctrines of traditional orthodoxy the practioners STILL have their own 'individual reflections' of these matters because of what is IN themselves as they view these matters, even if those views remain unspoken/unwritten. And even orthodox tradition is STILL BASED on the original 'reflectors' PARTIAL SIGHT, meaning that even these cannot be 'absolute.' Traditional orthodox beliefs do not provide ABSOLUTE authority to their members about solid facts of salvation for example. It's only their BEST GUESS as to the determination of salvation, as even they defer to the FINAL AUTHORITY who can only be GOD Himself.
The best authority in regards to common christianity can only be a muddled...
MAYBE...maybe not. Call that authority...if that works for you.
I have no use in bowing to maybe's and partial visions as any type of absolute definitive authority nor do I believe any of the Apostles took that upon themselves. Even orthodox authority tells me that I will have to stand before God with my OWN INDIVIDUAL REFLECTIONS...and be judged therein, both GOOD and BAD...so even in this they still DEFER their own authority to God Alone. Middle non-absolute authority muddlers often serve only to cloud the picture of my own reflections or to even state something as solid when it may NOT BE SO...
Rather I stand before God as a blindman compared to HIM...therefore I 'squint.'
enjoy!
squint
