Perhaps you weren't paying attention or were blinded by your own anti-whatever pet peeve, but I quoted the same scripture ("For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.") for both Catholics and Protestants.
Nonetheless, both have manufactured a non-biblical hierarchy among leadership in the church, misrepresenting the so called authority that Jesus did not even relinquish to the Holy Spirit. It is one thing to be under or acting in the authority of Christ, but quite another to claim it. Although they have champion it, this error is not limited to the Catholics.
The church has One Head and one body. A servant is not higher than his Master. Nor is one servant higher than his brother, and none among the body have more authority than the Holy Spirit, to whom Christ gave none.
Like I said before, you don't need nor do you have bishops contrary to the numerous mentions in Scripture. You limit Christ's authority by denying the authority He gives to Peter and the Apostles.
"Nonetheless, both have manufactured a non-biblical hierarchy among leadership in the church, misrepresenting the so called authority that Jesus did not even relinquish to the Holy Spirit" is a lie, a straw man fallacy, and an insult. Evidently, you don't understand the meaning of "authority" and appear to flatly reject Matthew 28:18-20. Nor do you understand what "infallibility" means, because all sola scripturists have a mental block that prevents them from understating it. I could post walls and walls of explanations but you still won't get it.
VI. The Church is Hierarchical
Matt. 16:18; 18:18 – Jesus uses the word “ecclesia” only twice in the New Testament Scriptures, which demonstrates that Jesus intended a visible, unified, hierarchical, and authoritative Church.
Acts 20:17,28 – Paul refers to both the elders or priests (“presbyteroi”) and the bishops (“episkopoi”) of the Church. Both are ordained leaders within the hierarchical structure of the Church.
1 Cor. 12:28 – God Himself appoints the various positions of authority within the Church. As a loving Father, God gives His children the freedom and authority to act with charity and justice to bring about His work of salvation.
Eph. 4:11 – the Church is hierarchical and includes apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers, all charged to build up the Church. The Church is not an invisible entity with an invisible foundation.
Phil. 1:1 – Paul addresses the bishops and deacons of the Church. They can all trace their unbroken lineage back to the apostles.
1 Tim. 3:1; Titus 1:7 – Christ’s Church has bishops (“episkopoi”) who are direct successors of the apostles. The bishops can trace the authority conferred upon them back to the apostles.
1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:5; James 5:14 – Christ’s Church also has elders or priests (“presbyteroi”) who serve the bishops.
1 Tim. 3:8 – Christ’s Church also has deacons (“diakonoi”). Thus, Jesus Christ’s Church has a hierarchy of authority – bishops, priests and deacons, who can all trace their lineage back to Peter and the apostles.
Exodus 28:1 and 19:6 – shows the three offices of the Old Testament priesthood
(1). high priest – Aaron (Ex. 28:1);
(2). Ministerial priests – Aaron’s sons (Ex. 19:6; 28:1); and
(3). Universal priests – Israel (Ex. 19:6).
The New Testament priesthood also has three offices:
(1) High Priest – Jesus Christ (Heb. 3:1);
(2) Ministerial priests – the ordained bishops and priests (Rom. 15:16; 1 Tim. 3:1,8; 5:17; Titus 1:7); and
(3) Universal priests – all the baptized (1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6).
30. The lack of a
definitive teaching authority in Protestant (as with the Catholic magisterium) makes many individual Protestants think that they have a direct line to God, notwithstanding all of Christian Tradition and the history of biblical exegesis (a
"Bible, Holy Spirit and me" mentality). Such people are generally under-educated theologically, unteachable, lack humility, and have no business making presumed "infallible" statements about the nature of Christianity.
34. The absence of the idea of
submission to spiritual authority in Protestantism has leaked over into the civic arena, where the ideas of personal "freedom," "rights," and "choice" now dominate to such an extent that civic duty, communitarianism, and discipline are tragically neglected, to the detriment of a healthy society.
150 Reasons why I am Catholic by Dave Armstrong ::