You never needed the church. "Where two or more of my people gather, there I am also." The church needs followers more than followers need the church. It's Paul's influence that created a bunch of man made addons that are likely not even applicable.

But Paul wasn't the first... nor the last... in the years leading up to Christ's arrival, the ancient texts were also likely perverted and distorted by other ambitious and well meaning false prophets.

In an ideal world where the Bible couldn't be molested by man's corruption, the Book would probably be its own Library of Congress if not bigger. And yes, the ideas would contradict themselves, but that doesn't mean they would be wrong. We are all supposed to be writing our own books to add to the great story, but instead someone assumed John's words at the end of Revelation to be absolute for all continuing works... even though he wrote it before most of Paul's letters were added...

There's a lot we have been lied to about. And a lot we will be lied to about to come... but I believe Jesus meant everything when He said "all that is unknown will be known" and that time or a time like it is coming very soon.