Hi CS1, Thankyou for your response. I have just been reading about Clement of Alexandria. By all accounts he sounds a fantastic learned man. The more I read about the Alexandrian church Fathers the more I seem to get closer to the heart of the Christian message. Clement wasnt born until about 150AD in Greece. ( Clement was a universalist, by the way, believing God would save everyone eventually. This would put him at odds with most modern day evangelicals! ).Irenaeus was born 130 AD.
My point about scripture is not that it is not authoritative. It is the "inerrant and infallible " bit that I stuggle with. People seem to constantly misunderstand me on this point. They talk in terms of me "attacking" the word of God. What I seek is more understanding. Who wrote them? Why, and who, decided what was canonical in forming the bible we have now? If we only have copies ( and they can vary. Mark's gospel has a different ending in some copies) then how do we know the original manuscript was "inerrant"?
The matter concerning Paul's genuine letters and the ones attributed to him is controversial, I,ll give you that. It is a matter of ongoing debate.
But all this doesn't negate the Bible. It makes it richer, more interesting.... it means I have to dig a bit deeper for understanding.
I would agree that we do have to dig or study yes, however, Jesus is the Fo they were Eyewitnesses of other eyewitnesses. The Author is God who gave the inspiration to write. Whe we look at Jesus Biblically, historically, and with the archeological findings and geographical areas; we have a full understanding of the existence of Jesus of Nazareth.
With the Relationship, we have with Christ through the Holy Spirit and through faith we know HE has risen from the dead and is Lord.
If you are building your understanding of the NewTestament without even mentioning one time Christ what is the point? A Christian would not do that. Secondly, either the manuscripts are an authority because man has saith these ones are or the context and authorial intent of the manuscripts makes them authoritative and the reason to be canonized.
each of the church fathers had issued no doubt but such ones like Polycarp whom you left out of my list was taught by John, and others who were taught by Paul, like Titus and Timothy and others who also taught others. Which all had to battle many things.
In the circle of context, Christ is the Foundational truth to which we Christians must build on. Jesus said in John 14:6
"I am the way the truth and the truth." In the original language, many believe it read like this I am the only way the only life and the only truth. the only HODOS=WAY A
lētheia =truth
zōē =Life
Build on Christ from the word of God we can never go wrong.