Just go to Bible Gateway and search for the word "church" in the NT. These guys aren't isolated singletons, Lone Rangers. They all act in concert with each other. They act in, and as, a corporate body: the church.
This is why Scripture itself says:
"God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." 1 Cor 14:33
And again...
"The Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the Truth." - 1 Timothy 3:15
And again...
"If he refuses to listen even to the Church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." Matthew 18:17
The Church is the Body of Christ. The people who comprise it, are not single atoms floating around in isolation. They are the conjoined organs and systems, limbs and senses of Christ: His Body.
They operate together. This Body that operates together is called the Church.
Surely it is not to be said, that Christ built a church for no special reason --- one which has no tasks, no role in His plan of salvation --- a church which does nothing in particular --- one which does not exist or act in history and which He has no use for!
“You have made a distinction without a difference. The Scriptures quoted by you show that “men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” These men -— Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James, Jude, Paul -— were leaders of the church.”
First, it isn’t just a distinction. It directly contradicts you claim that “the church wrote the Scriptures.”
They did not.
It is crowing posts like that one that reveal that the average catholic cannot look beyond an earth-bound perspective. He or she becomes focused on an earthly institution instead of on God’s larger reason and plan.
And not one single thing in Scripture indicates that it’s the ROMAN CATHOLIC church that they are referring to when they say *the church*.
The Roman church claiming it means them retroactively, is being opportunistic in its power grab to claim authority over all Christendom.
All the different congregations mentioned in the NT operated independently from each other. They were not under one central head and Rome has no legitimate, Biblically based reason for claiming that it is THE one true church to which all must be in subjection.
HMMMmmm...
Revelation chapters 2&3 show just what CATHOLICISM wrought early on.