Well that's your problem right there, because you have no way of know what is and what is not the word of God -- unless you accept it on someone's authority. So where can that rock-solid, reliable authority be found?
The Bible is not self-authenticating or self-interpreting. Some person has to have the authority. So who's the pope? Me? You? Unless Jesus played us a dirty trick, somebody has to be.
Christians throughout history have worked together to collect and preserve the scriptures. One group or individual can try to elevate themselves to supreme authority, but it is the Christian collective that has worked through the holy spirit.
The Bible is not self-authenticating or self-interpreting. Some person has to have the authority.
There is no final authority on earth. Test every spirit. Who is to do the testing? The individual christian within the individual churches within the various synods.
With regards to the interpretation, there is a process that has been going on since the beginning of the church. Not everything that has been interpreted has been true. Mistakes leads to heresy and heterodox. Starting with the early church, through the reformation, and continuing until today. The individual does not have his own interpretation, but works with other like-minded Christians to follow those who interpretations are right and orthodox. We judge to the best of their ability, never expecting perfection.
So who's the pope? Me? You? Unless Jesus played us a dirty trick, somebody has to be.
Stop thinking of earthly matters and earthly dominion. There is no final authority on earth who can speak for all of Christianity. The authority is based within each congregation, with the pastor having the primary role. But this is not unquestioning devotion, but a trust. If the pastor breaks that trust, he is reproached. If he does not repent, he is removed.
Why would you put your trust in a man and abdicate your responsibility to the word of God. There is no new revelation. There is no secret revelation. There is the written word. Hearsay doesn't cut it.