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Perhaps it is the opposite - since antiquity had no written word.

How far back are you going with "antiquity"? Ever since Moses, there was the written word and he dates back to 1400 B.C. Many of the accounts happened long before Moses was born, but God-breathed truth was always correctly revealed to the writers of Scripture no matter when they lived. God had His prophets, as well, that "spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit". Going back that far into antiquity, we need a source that is not susceptible to legend and myth. That is why we can have assurance that what God has revealed AND preserved in Scripture IS the truth and every word of God is trustworthy.

Perhaps the purest form of Christ’s teachings in His life itself- no (written words) describe it properly.

The purest form of Christ's teachings IS His life AS it was recorded in Scripture by the very people who walked with him for three years and who were led by the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised would bring to their remembrance everything he had taught them and who would lead them into all truth as the Holy Spirit revealed more truth than what Jesus did before he ascended. The word of God is "quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. Piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." There is power in the word and that is also how we can know that what we read in Scripture came from God. It has power to change hearts. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone that believes. The gospel as it was enscripturated for us by the very same Apostles and disciples that personally knew Jesus.

I think it is suspect when people try to downplay the importance of the Bible in the life of a Christian or try to usurp its teachings for something men developed later. I will continue to trust God rather than man. I don't think you can go wrong as long as you understand that.