Have you never had a passage/verse take on new meaning for you? Or, have you never fully understood what was being said and prayed over it for an answer? Are you completely satisfied with all your understanding of every part of the Bible right now? I love it when I ‘see’ things in a new way. I am not satisfied with all my understandings. I’ve said when (and I should say IF) I get to Heaven, I’ll see all my misunderstandings. You are making my point better than I did. It’s not a matter of being able to put one verse in context to the whole Bible (although it’s good to be able to do this), it’s more a matter of study, listen (to other explain), pray and be open to what the Holy Spirit says. It’s not complex though because we are human it may be hard to practice it all the time.
I learn more all the time, or so it seems to me.

My hope is to always be ready to learn.
I’m going to post more on what you say we disagree on above, but for now I’d be really interested in your thoughts on Jesus’ use of the term scriptures and Church as I explained mine.
Why don’t you open a new thread, please?
Is your Church a single entity? It’s part of the Body with authority to deal with it’s members. That is, there are no affliated Churches with the same beliefs/teachings/doctrines anywhere? I’m not sure, in the context of Matthew 18, why this is imporant. With those questions up front, I’d like to explain my interpretation of the authoritative Church a bit more.
Mat 18:17 And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.
Mat 18:18 Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
The above was only spoken to Christ’s disciples and not the multitudes. I would tend to agree there are teachings for church leaders which are not for the average church goer. He was telling them How He would be with them in eccumenical decisions that would affect His flock. I don’t understand your meaning. Later on, before he ascended, he told them again He would be with them until the consummation of the world.
Mat 28:16 And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
Mat 28:17 And seeing him they adored: but some doubted.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world. .
The first above were appointed by men, the latter was appointed by God. Who has more power to protect the original trutch? I missed something? What first, what latter?
Popes do not appoint themselves, just as Matthias did not appoint himself to take Juda Iscariot’s place. My guess is that poor Matthias was not God’s chosen, I believe Paul is. Remember, they chose him by casting lots, leaving the choice in God’s hands. Did God have a choice in that situation.? Didn’t they choose the two and kind of telling God He had to choose from these two? Non of the other disciples where chosen by casting lots.
Christ has protected His truth, even through sinful men who sat in power within His Church.
Mat 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples,
Mat 23:2 Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses.
Mat 23:3 All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not. For they say, and do not.