***So I guess there was Scripture before Carthage, well that is a start.***
There were all sorts of writings including the Gospel of Judas, the Gospel of Thomas, the Apocalypse of Peter and so on. Didn’t mean it was true and inspired.
***Guess what, the Assumption (Stick to the subject matter) was never inspired yet or included ANYWHERE***
Most Church teachings then were not codified. People simply knew what was being taught because of the oral tradition. Councils were convened in response to heresies or other concerns. The difference between the Church and the Protestants is that we understand that the Church is the authority; the Protestants think that a piece of paper is.
And are you saying the “authorities” can contradict itself?
Over 20 books, written before 100AD, were never questioned as not being inspired, hence always deemed from oral Apostolistic tradition. The fight was over 5 books suspected as not being inspired and geographically flip-flopped around by various “authoritative” councils.
The only REAL authority is GOD and He made it clear what would be in the Bible (Temporal speaking) before 100AD.