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Church often means congregation, if translated correctly.

Let’s look at Corinthians:

Who is the letter written to?

” 2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:” - 1 Cor 1

So it is to the local congregation, and to all believers.

And one of its central themes is for unity in the congregation at Corinth:

“11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

Notice people were following individuals. And what does Paul say?

“17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written...”

Golly, he calls for unity. But notice what he doesn’t do: He never tries to unify the congregation or the believers by referring to Peter.

According to Catholic theology, Peter was the Vicar of Christ and the earthly head of the Church, so in a call to unity, Paul SHOULD have mentioned Peter. Instead, what happens?

19For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—

9For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.”

Paul relies on two authorities when dealing with their divisions: scripture, and his authority as an Apostle (which is why we use his writings as scripture).

Not once does he appeal to Peter, or to Rome.

And because we take it as Scripture, it is useful for teaching all the church and not just in Corinth.

Paul didn’t have to call on Peter here because he was an Apostle and as such his authority was recognized.

Later, when the Apostles are all gone is when we see all the church throughout the area turning to Rome to settle differences.

Just as we see the Apostles claiming authority based on their relationship to Jesus, though that relationship is very different in the case of Paul, we see the Church claiming authority based on her connection to the Apostles through succession.