[hopefulpilgrim]

If you think this is true, explain why God didn't rely on only the Gospel of John being written, but instead saw the need to establish a visible, teaching church with bishops, deacons, and prebyters?

Uuummm, to organize and fulfill the mission he gave his disciples---to go to all nations, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching them to observe ALL THAT HE COMMANDED THEM, perhaps? End of story.

[Titanites]

Uuummm, to organize and fulfill the mission he gave his disciples---to go to all nations, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching them to observe ALL THAT HE COMMANDED THEM, perhaps? End of story.

So, I think we are in agreement here. The written Word is not "all" that God intended.