“Your thinking here is circular. It was evidently His sovereign will to build His Church, which undeniably functioned in history as transmitter of the Scriptures, definer and guardian of the Canon. Because He guaranteed that His Church, built on “this Rock,” would prevail: “The gates of Hell will not overcome it.””
The circles you perceive straighten out when you let go of your presuppositions about the Catholic Church. Not saying you will. You are bound by the presupposition of your belief. He has used everything from Baalam’s donkey to Moses’ staff to flawed people, nations (even heathen ones), his nation of Israel, his gathering of believers in every form.
Nothing we spoke of here will keep His will from prevailing. When it is opposed, He moves forward anyway.
I'm glad we agree on that.