i agree with much of what you had to say. The main point is it is the Holy Spirit that protects the Church from teaching error, not man! But the Holy Spirit will not lead someone to believe a different doctrine in the 16th century than the 1st! The Church was given the authority of Jesus to teach in Matthew 28. sola scriptura was not practiced in the Apostolic era and should not be now. The NT example is for the Church to teach, not for everyone to read the Scriptures and come to their own conclusions on the Trinity, baptism, the Eucharist, apostolic succession, sola fide, once save always saved, predestination, the Mass, infant baptism, etc. etc. sola scriptura has led to so much confusion in doctrine, that now we are told doctrine doesn’t really matter, who can know the truth, etc. the cults eat this thinking up!! the churches you mention were local churches, all holding the Catholic Faith received from the Apostles. You can read about this Church in the early Church Fathers, what they taught, how they worshipped. By the grace of God and the protection of the Holy Spirit, you will find that Church is still here 20 centuries later. That is not due to men, but Jesus! you may not think of yourself as your own “pope”, but when it comes to doctrine, you follow what you believe to be true, rather than being taught by the Church. there is no record of anyone doing this in the NT. let me ask you, what power on earth has the authority to absolutely declare what books belong in the Bible and which don’t? anyone? or are we all supposed to decide the canon on our own? you may not like it or accept it, but Jesus decided to use “men” ( we call them the Apostles ) and they have successors, sorry they are “men” too!