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I think you're closer here.

So do I. But then it doesn't allow Catholics to make the fun argument that "if it wasn't for us, you wouldn't have a Bible." Which not all Catholics argue, and I must confess that I might think the same argument fun if I were a Catholic myself. Obviously, the Church played a huge role in preserving the Word of God for us today. Of course, God would have preserved His word one way or another. But it is worth our Protestant thanks to the Church for its work in preserving the Canon.

Ah come on Bass you still would have 2/3rds of it whether the Catholics babysat it or not. :-)

So do I. But then it doesn't allow Catholics to make the fun argument that "if it wasn't for us, you wouldn't have a Bible."

In my experience, that type of statement is used 99.99% of the time as a response to an allegation that the Catholic Church has attempted to destroy the Bible.

Obviously, the Church played a huge role in preserving the Word of God for us today.

The fact of the matter is that the scriptures were preserved by the Church. Before the invention of the printing press, it was Catholic monks who served as scribes, reproducing by hand each and every codice.^*

Of course, God would have preserved His word one way or another.

Absolutely...

But it is worth our Protestant thanks to the Church for its work in preserving the Canon.

It would at least be helpful if more Protestants would confront the wackos in their midst who make ridiculous accusations that the Catholic Church has tried to destroy the Word of God.

Having said that, thanks for the great post! A breath of fresh air around here!

^*It should be noted that much of this scriptural reproduction and distribution, done prior to the Great Schism of 1054, was done in the East and in North Africa...and that the use of the word Catholic Church should probably be given in a transliteration of the Greek: ekklesia katholikos (the Church Universal). I point this out in deference to my Orthodox brethren, so as not to be misinterpreted as asserting that the Latin Church was solely responsible for the preservation, reproduction, and distribution of the original texts. The common text in the Latin Church after the 4th Century was the Vulgate.