There isn't a biblical mandate for anything. Bible records mandates given by God and Church.
Its like saying the newspaper is the boss for keeping record.
"The Biblical apostles had special authority and power given by God and when they died that was the end of the special office of an apostle."
You can't find one verse that says this. Yet I can repeatedly bombard you with the apostles telling folks to take their command to follow their example.
2 timothy 3
10Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
Here Paul equates that Timothy has picked up even Paul's purpose.
2 timothy 2
2The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3Suffer hardship with
me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
5Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
6The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.
7Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Here Paul entrusts Timothy again.
1 Timothy 1
18This command I entrust to you, Timothy,
my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
19keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
20Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.
Again Paul's command is entrusted to Timothy.
1 Timothy 5
17The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
19Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
20Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful
of sinning. 21I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of
His chosen angels, to maintain these
principles without bias, doing nothing in a
spirit of partiality.
22Do not lay hands upon anyone
too hastily and thereby share
responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
How can Paul charge timothy to maintain the principles and to be wary of who he appoints authority?
“Through countryside and city [the apostles] preached, and they appointed their earliest converts, testing them by the Spirit, to be the bishops and deacons of future believers. Nor was this a novelty, for bishops and deacons had been written about a long time earlier. . . . Our apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife for the office of bishop. For this reason, therefore, having received perfect foreknowledge, they appointed those who have already been mentioned and afterwards added the further provision that, if they should die, other approved men should succeed to their ministry” (
Letter to the Corinthians 42:4–5, 44:1–3 [A.D. 80]). Clement I
Here is a guy consecrated by Peter active with the apostles, Apostles are still alive when he is around.