[pegleg]

I'm actually rather friendly and have been so throughout.

Ok

You consider the Church decisively authoritative OVER the scripture.

So which came first, the Church or the New Testament?

[xzins]

The Apostles came first. Their testimony precedes the Church and was the accepted rule over the church. Their writings ARE their testimony.

After their deaths, the believers VERIFIED those writings that were the apostles. The believers did NOT write those writings.

Once full body of the word of the apostles was identified, the believers had to become subject to the testimony of the apostles.