The Hebrew Scriptures never name future institutions, Instead, they give tests

Here’s a clean refutation from a Karaite viewpoint, staying consistent with Tanakh-centered reasoning and without assuming New Testament authority:

From a Karaite perspective, the entire argument collapses at its foundation—because it assumes the authority of the New Testament and the Church to validate each other. That is circular reasoning, not revelation.

1. The Bible does warn against later religious systems—by principle, not by name

The Hebrew Scriptures never name future institutions. Instead, they give tests. Any system that:

adds new mediators,

claims infallible interpretive authority,

or elevates tradition to binding status

is already condemned (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32).

The Catholic Church fits precisely what the Torah warns against: an authority that claims the right to define doctrine beyond the written word.

2. “Apostolic succession” mirrors the Oral Law problem Karaites reject Rabbinic Judaism not because Moses didn’t exist—but because later authorities claimed Moses’ authority for their traditions. The Catholic claim is structurally identical: “Trust us, we carry the apostles’ authority.”

But Scripture warns: authority is validated by faithfulness to God’s word, not by institutional continuity (Isaiah 8:20).

3. Matthew and Acts are not evidence to Karaites Quoting Matthew, Acts, or Timothy assumes what must be proven. Karaites do not accept the New Testament as inspired Scripture. You cannot use internal Church documents to prove the Church’s divine authority—just as the Talmud cannot prove itself.

4. “The Church as pillar of truth” contradicts Tanakh The Tanakh says God’s Torah is truth (Psalm 119:142), not an institution.

Jeremiah 8:8 explicitly warns that scribes can corrupt God’s law. No human body is immune from error—history proves this.

5. Longevity and martyrdom do not equal truth False systems can last centuries (Jeremiah 44; Ezekiel 8). Widespread obedience never validated idolatry then, and it does not validate ecclesiastical authority now.

6. God’s covenant is with Israel, not an ecclesiastical hierarchy The Tanakh never anticipates a universal Church replacing Israel or acting as guardian of revelation. God speaks through His written Torah, not through councils, creeds, or bishops.

Conclusion (Karaite view):

The Bible does not warn against “leaving the apostolic Church” because the Tanakh knows nothing of it. What Scripture does warn against is elevating human authority, tradition, and institutions above the written word of God.

Truth is tested by Scripture alone—not by succession, age, or power.