But a book about trees is a lot better than a council convened to tell us what trees are :)
The tree is better than either; it's the "thing" the book is describing in its limited way, and what the council is trying to clarify and distinguish among other views.
In terms of scripture, we should remember the purpose of the scripture and the council and not lose sight of this purpose: to be of help in knowing God, not the book or council's view, by direct personal experience, more intimately. However much they help us in this is to their good.
I think there are good and valuable teachers in both camps, but they and all the books and words in the world can only take us so far, then we have take the last steps without them, and approach God without words, concepts, preconceptions, judgements, expectations or conditions. This is an individual choice, your mileage may vary. But, a map becomes less useful when confused for the destination, yes?
In Christ, we believe the Word became flesh. We sometimes try too hard to reduce the flesh into words, so we can grasp it. I think as soon as we believe we have God in our mental grasp, we can be certain what we have grasped is not God.