If you have the patience calvinsx76 this video may help you understand the position you say you are against. For anyone else this video will go some way to help you understand the debate of manuscripts. (its a talk show format..but still very good).
[video=youtube;izLoGyJM_hQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izLoGyJM_hQ[/video]
Thank you for your response.
I don't have anything personal against James White, I support the view of the Magisterial Reformation, and a strong Calvinist theologically. Yet, Ireneaus & Tertullian, Fathers speaking against the Gnostics in the second century on the text that has been received through the apostolic churches by the apostles.
Ireneus & Tertuallian are in a must better position to speak on behalf the New Testament Text than James White is. We have the historical testimony from these witnesses, yet you introduce a source that is over 2000 after the event.
Irenaeus was not only appointed to the episcopate of the apostolic churches of Lyons, but also an eye witness to the apostolic churches of Asia Minor where he learned at the feet of Polycarp, bishop of the Apostolic church of Smyrna, who was appointed by the apostle John. This statement is corroborated by Tertullian and Eusebius.
Ireneaus also confirms this:
“Polycarp, who not only was taught by apostles and associated with many who had seen Christ, but was installed by apostles for Asia, as bishop in the church in Smyrna. I saw him myself in my early youth…He always taught what he learned from the apostles, which the Church continues to hand on which is the only truths. The churches in Asia all bear witness to this, as do those who have succeeded Polycarp down to the present time. He is certainly a much more trustworthy and dependable witness than Valentinus and Marcion and the other false thinkers”
So let me get this straight, you are offering into evidence, a witness 2000 years after the event, not associated with any of the historical apostolic churches, either Greek, Latin, Aramaic, Ethiopian, Egyptian over eyewitnesses and members of these historical churches who had the backing of the North African and Churches of Asia Minor.
The quote I open up with in my third video from Ireaneus third book hits on this very point
Since there are so many clear testimonies, we should not seek from others for the truth which can easily be received from the Church. There the apostles, like a rich man making a deposit, fully bestowed upon her all that belongs to the truth, so that whoever wishes may receive from her the water of life. She is the entrance to life; all the others are thieves and robbers…
What if there should be a dispute about some matter of moderate importance? Should we not turn to the oldest churches, where the apostles themselves were known, and find out from them the clear and certain answer to the problem now being raised? Even if the apostles had not left their Writings to us, ought we not to follow the rule of the tradition which they handed down to those to whom they committed the churches?”
Who are the more credible witnesses