[metmom]

Just go to Scripture and find out what GOD says.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

--- Just go to Scripture and find out what GOD says. --- That's good, but there are dangers to that approach, according to the Bible.

His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures , to their own destruction.

This is why Jesus didn't leave us with a book, but with a Church.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; --Jesus

"if he won't listen to the church, treat him as a pagan or tax collector." --Jesus ...which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.

Where does JESUS give similar TEACHING AUTHORITY to Scripture? Jesus gives the Apostles the power to "bind and loose," ie, ultimate/final ecclesial authority. And the Apostles occupied the OFFICE of bishop.