Fair enough. So which Church was it then, that Christ said He would build (in Matt 16) and against which the gates of hell would not prevail? Which Church was it, that is the pillar and bulwark of truth (1 Tim 3:15)?
Where is the word "Catholic" in scripture???
Next to the word 'Trinity'. Seriously, your question presumes the truth of 'sola scriptura', but sola scriptura is itself nowhere in the Bible, and in fact the existence of magisterial authority and an oral tradition are both affirmed in Scripture.
-A8
The church that was full of those who believed the Gospel [the Believers] and were baptized [the Baptists] and were taught orthodox doctrines [the Orthodox] by Pastors, and Presbyters [the Presbyterians], and Episkopos [the Episcopalians] in city after city.
There were no priests and therefore no Catholic Church.
Seriously, your question presumes the truth of 'sola scriptura', but sola scriptura is itself nowhere in the Bible, and in fact the existence of magisterial authority and an oral tradition are both affirmed in Scripture.
All church organizations have some degree of organizational authority and oral tradition, but true churches put Scripture above them. And as you can see the Believers Churches, Baptist Churches, Presbyterian Churches, Orthodox Churches, Episcopalian Churches can trace their roots and names to Scripture, but the Catholic Church is absent. They all have a form of magisterium, and oral traditions, but they have something that the Catholic Church lacks: a respect for the Scriptures as above the other two.
While you guys seem to be playing defense, some of us are in the Church that's prepping to knock those gates of Hell down.