>> the Catholics would still rule the roost......they wrote and interpreted the scriptures.....get it now??<<
The Catholic Church as you understand it did NOT write the Scriptures. Lets look at who really did write the books of the Bible.
Old Testament Books
Genesis – 1688BC Moses
Exodus – 1600BC Moses
Leviticus – 1686BC Moses
Numbers – Moses just before entering Canaan
Deuteronomy – 1645 Moses
Joshua – 1646-1616 Joshua with perhaps help of Eleazar, Phinehas, and Samuel
Judges – 1126BC Samuel most likely but maybe Isaiah
Ruth – 1163-1123BC probably Samuel
1-2 Samuel 1204-1035 Samuel, David, Nathan, and Gad, compiled by Isaiah in 743-683BC
1-2 Kings – 1046-616 by Scribes under individual Kings, compiled probably by Isaiah and Jeremiah
1-2 Chronicles – 1279-461BC by Scribes and compiled by Isaiah and Ezra
Nehemiah – 44-430BC either Nehemiah or Ezra
Esther – 516-506BC Ezra the Scribe
Job – 1843-1703 probably by Job and Moses
Psalms – 1500-450BC by the 100 with proven authors 50 without compiled by Ezra
Proverbs – 1000BC Hezekiah but last 2 chapters by unknown man and woman but probably added by Hezekiah
Ecclesiastes – 1000BC Solomon
Song of Solomon – 1000BC Solomon
Isaiah – 792-722BS Isaiah
Jeremiah – 685-616BC Jeremiah
Lamentations – 616BC Jeremiah
Ezekiel – 622-600BC Ezekiel
Daniel – 606-536BC Daniel
Hoea – 781-711BC Hosea the prophet
Joel – 795-755BC Joel the prophet
Amos – 824-810BC Amos the prophet
Obadiah – 899-795BC Obadiah the prophet
Jonah – 853-824BC Jonah
Micah – 772-722BC Micah the prophet
Nahum – 786-787BC Nahum the prophet
Habakkuk – 679-648BC Habakkuk the prophet
Zephaniah – 679-648BC Zephaniah the prophet
Haggai – 557-525BC Haggai
Zechariah – 557-525BC Zechariah
Malachi – 557-525BC Malachi the prophet
New Testament Books
Matthew – 37AD written by Matthew, called Levi, son of Alphaeus and brother of James
Mark – 57-63AD written by John Mark
Luke – 58-63AD written by Luke
John – 90AD written by John
Luke - 63AD written by Luke, the beloved physician
Romans – 58-60AD the 6th of Pauls letters written in Crinth and sent to Rome by Phebe
1 Corinthians – 59AD written by Paul at Ephesus
2 Corinthians – 60AD written by Paul
Galatians – 69AD written by Paul
Ephesians – 64AD written by Paul
Philippians – 64AD written by Paul
Colossians – 64AD written by Paul
1 Thessalonians – 54AD written by Paul
2 Thessalonians – 54-55AD written by Paul
1Timothy – 67AD written by Paul
2 Timothy – 68AD written by Paul
Titus – 67AD written by Paul
Philemon – 64AD written by Paul
Hebrews – 68AD written by Paul
James – 45AD written by James the brother of Jesus
1Peter – 60AD written by Peter
2 Peter – 61-65AD written by Peter
1-3 John – 90AD written by John the Apostle
Jude – 66AD written by Jude
Revelation – 96AD written by John the Apostle
I know, as well as you do, that the Catholic church did not author the scriptures. While there may have been written copies of the old testament at the time the church was founded....there were certainly no published copies of what is now known as the new testament. The early church compiled these various writings, catalogued they, copied them (by hand) bound them, protected them, brought them before ecumenical councils, verified thier authenticity, and passed them on to you as the new and everlasting testament thet Christ had promised. Of course the various letters were written by thier stated authors, but Paul, James, Thomas, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John et. al. were not publishing companies. They submitted their writings to their leaders (Catholic Church) wwhich recorded them aand saved them for posterity (you) say thanks to the Catholics, if it were left up to the protestants, nothing would have been recorded for 1,500 years and you would know nothing about it.......THERE WERE NO OTHER CHRISTIANS AROUND in early church history.....the Catholic were the only ones and no one can refute that.