But don't you rely on just such "endless verses" to prove the authority of the Church?
If I recall, the OT and the Gospels are full of miracles intended to prove that God is God with visible signs. God did not expect anyone to believe without eyewitness.
What? This is what the Gospels say:
John 20:29 : Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
I think God's expectations are very clear. He used miracles to show some, but to others He gave true faith without a use of the visuals. It doesn't make anyone a better person, it just means that He will bring all of His children to faith in the way He so desires.
But don't you rely on just such "endless verses" to prove the authority of the Church?
Which verses say the Church has authority? Church authority comes from the Apostles who passed it on to their successors. The bible hints at that, and the Church documents this with earliest writings. From the beginning the Church had "elders" who were in authority.
Christ serves as an example of how we should try to be. The whole purpose of going to curch is not to read endless verses but to worship and praise God, to erepent and to try as much as possible to live a Christ-like life. It's a way of life, FK. It's not bible study. Anyone can do bible study.
But not anyone can live a Christ-like life. There are those who have memorized the bible and still don't live a life of Christ, and then there are those who couldn't quote a verse but could walk on water if they had to.