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With regard to the beginning of the church, it is intertwined with the concept of the "kingdom". The words "kingdom" and "church" are often used interchangeably in the Bible, especially in the New Testament (e.g., Matt. 16:18-19; Heb. 12:23,28; Rev. 1:4,6), but not always (e.g., Psalms 103:19; Matt. 8:11; 12:28; 25:34; Luke 13:28-29; II Tim. 4:18). God has had a kingdom long before New Testament times. In its broadest sense, the "kingdom" is the rule or government of God both on earth and in heaven at all times and in all of its aspects. The term is frequently used, however, in the Old Testament and in the gospels to point to something future, when there would be a kingdom in a special sense.

There is a common idea today among some (particularly among those who hold to the religious belief known as dispensationalist premillennialism) that Jesus came to this earth to set up his kingdom, but being rejected by the Jews, he postponed his kingdom and set up the church instead. People of this persuasion believe that Jesus will set up his kingdom at his second coming. This idea relegates the church to the role of a stop-gap measure, a kind of afterthought in the mind of God to provide something to fill the gap between Christ's ascension into heaven after his resurrection and his second coming to earth at the end of the age. This is not how the church is presented in the Bible, however.

The church (kingdom) is seen in various stages and from various vantage points in the Bible:

a. The church (kingdom) in the eternal purpose of God: Eph. 3:7-11

   b. The church (kingdom) in prophecy: Daniel 2:44-45; 7:14, 27; Joel 2:28; Isaiah 9:7; etc.

  c. The church (kingdom) in preparation:

       1) "will build" (Matt. 16:18-19)
     2) "at hand" (Matt. 3:2; 4:17; 10:5-7; Mark 1:15; cf. Luke 10:9,11)
     3) The kingdom was to come during the lifetime of those living at the time of Jesus' ministry (Matt. 16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27).

   d. The church (kingdom) as a present reality:

      1) The coming of the kingdom of God (and the establishment of the church) finds its fulfillment in the events at Jerusalem in Acts chapter 2.

           a) Mark 9:1---"the kingdom of God" will come in the generation of those present "with power" (cf. Matt. 16:28; Luke 9:27)

          b) Luke 24:46-49

               (1) "with power" (v.49)
               (2) "beginning from Jerusalem" (v.47)

         c) Acts 1:6-8

              (1) "shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" (v.8)
              (2) "witnesses in Jerusalem..." (v.8)

          d) Acts 2:1-5

               (1) the coming of the Holy Spirit (vv.1-4)
              (2) "Jerusalem" (v.5)

[Note the key words in these related passages:

Mark 9:1--"the kingdom of God", "with power"
Luke 24:46-49--"with power", "beginning from Jerusalem"
Acts 1:6-8--"power", "Jerusalem", "Holy Spirit"
Acts 2:1-5--"Jerusalem", "Holy Spirit"]

       2) Acts 11:15---"at the beginning" (referring back to the events at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2) [the "beginning" of what? --not the beginning of Jesus' ministry, nor the beginning of their following of Jesus, since he had already been crucified and had ascended into heaven; it apparently is referring to the beginning of the church]

       3) the "church" mentioned as a presently existing reality: Acts 5:11; 8:1,3; 11:22; etc.

       4) the "kingdom" mentioned as a presently existing reality: Col. 1:13; Heb. 12:28; etc.

The conclusion drawn is that the church (and the kingdom) came into existence in association with the events in Acts chapter 2.

So, with regard to the original question, the church came first (Acts 2), but books of the New Testament, as noted in the previous post, were recognized as Scripture in the first century, long before the decree of any later church council.

“There is a common idea today among some (particularly among those who hold to the religious belief known as dispensationalist premillennialism) that Jesus came to this earth to set up his kingdom, but being rejected by the Jews, he postponed his kingdom and set up the church instead. People of this persuasion believe that Jesus will set up his kingdom at his second coming. This idea relegates the church to the role of a stop-gap measure, a kind of afterthought in the mind of God to provide something to fill the gap between Christ’s ascension into heaven after his resurrection and his second coming to earth at the end of the age. This is not how the church is presented in the Bible, however.”

I know quite a few dispensationalist premillennialists. Not one has ever expressed the “afterthought” strawman you set up. They may not be right. But latching onto such a silly cartoon version of dispensationalist interpretation reveals the ignorance of the latcher. But then, it’s easier to criticize Beetle Bailey and Sarge than it is to criticize the actual Army.