First of all, there WAS a Bible during the early years of the church, prior to the NT— the Hebrew Bible. This is the main reference point for the theology of people like Paul, for example. Second, the point I made is in fact true, when looked at from the inerrantist perspective. They have painted themselves into a corner; they have staked their entire faith on the construct of an inerrant, infallible, authoritative Scripture — and the God who stands behind it. Read what Dr John MacArthur said on the subject: “Scripture is true because God himself is true, and cannot lie.”