You responded: No, I believe that God acts through all believers, not just the select, unelected few.
You still have not given me a verse that says that the individual believer is guided by the Spirit to interpret the Scriptures with uncanny accuracy! Remember, God has given His Church apostles, preachers, evangelists and so forth. Everyone is NOT an apostles, preacher, evangelist, and so forth. Is it surprising that God would leave an authoritative body to interpret His Word? He had been doing it for hundreds of years before the Incarnation, and has continued to provide the Church with this for hundreds of years after.
Regards
I have given you several Spirit/sanctification verses and argued that interpretation is part of sanctification. However, it may have been on a different line, and after your post here. If you have not seen it by now, just let me know and I'll try to find it.
Remember, God has given His Church apostles, preachers, evangelists and so forth. Everyone is NOT an apostles, preacher, evangelist, and so forth. Is it surprising that God would leave an authoritative body to interpret His Word?
Yes, it is surprising as practiced because it separates the laity from a personal relationship with God, and there is no accountability. It establishes "kings" which God said He didn't want in the OT.