“liberal secular scholars, who apparently preach exactly the same thing as you with respect to the unavailability of manuscripts”
CATHOLIC theologians are NOT LIBERAL SECULAR SCHOLARS. Try again partner.
The Catholic Church is the only reason you have a Bible to read. The only reason you are even aware of the teachings of Jesus Christ is because OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
LOL! Cat got your tongue? No response on whether John was telling the truth about being an eye witness? Hmmm...
But the response you did offer is also off point. I didn’t say you were befriending Catholic scholars with your rejection of evidence for early NT manuscripts. I said you were befriending liberal secular scholars by your position, and you are. It is merely icing on the cake that you of your own accord extend that to Catholic scholarship.
As for whether we have the Bible thanks to the modern Roman church, poppycock. The modern Roman church didn’t exist when the Apostles wrote. By definition. Furthermore, if God wanted to raise Bibles “out of these rocks,” to paraphrase the Baptist, He would have no trouble doing so. You better go back and check your pedigree one more time. I don’t think it’s doing for you what you think it is.
And just as a gentle reminder, I am still waiting to hear whether you think “John” lied about being both the “disciple whom Jesus loved” and the writer of the Gospel. Was that writer lying? Or telling the truth?