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We walk by faith, not by sight.

Faith in God, not man. If some man comes to me and says, Christ is here, or there, or in some secret chamber (a monstrance perhaps), does Christ allow me to believe them? Doesn't John say test the spirits? Doesn't Paul commend the Bereans for fact-checking ... Paul? Fact check an Apostle?? Yes!!

This is the epistemological divide that separates human religion from divine. If we believe in God, we will fact-check men. If we believe in men, we will fact-check God. I fact-check men. If a person wants to believe the moon is made of green cheese, it's a (sort-of) free country, so they can do that if it makes them happy. Or they can claim a spaceship will come and rescue this or that group from earth, and I'd better follow them or else. Sorry, but how do I fact check men by starting with men? I have to start with God. I have no choice. And what has God given us? His word. That's where the fact-checking must find it's firm basis. Everything else is quicksand.

And that means I have a duty as a person of faith in God to doubt men who cannot back up their historical claims. I cannot base my faith on uninspired lists of imaginary popes. Those who worship God must do so in Spirit and in truth. You cannot be a worshiper of God independent of truth. And if the truth of the raw data from the first two centuries is that there was no Petrine office in Rome, no universal bishop, no pontifex maximus, then that's what I have an obligation to believe. I cannot lie to myself and expect to know truth. I cannot rationally put my faith in some third party that contradicts both history and Scripture. We walk by faith and not by sight, but we do not walk by wild irrationality. Faith is reasonable. Your own best doctors say so.

A matter is confirmed by two or three witnesses, no? If Rome says, yes, but history and Scripture say no, what sentence must I pronounce?

There is only one Klal Yisroel.

Absolutely true. And if you look for the Ecclesia anywhere but in the heart of true faith, created by God Himself in all the elect, you will miss it. Not in temples made with hands. Not man looking on the outward appearance. But God looking on the heart. A circumcision not made with hands, but by the cleansing from sin through faith in the Son of God.

Peace,

SR

Faith in God, not man. If some man comes to me and says, Christ is here, or there, or in some secret chamber (a monstrance perhaps), does Christ allow me to believe them? Doesn't John say test the spirits? Doesn't Paul commend the Bereans for fact-checking ... Paul? Fact check an Apostle?? Yes!!

Faith in the LORD Jesus Christ that he left a visible, historic, real, holy catholic apostolic church that reaches to the ends of the earth since his resurrection. That is not faith in men but rather faith in God.
Yes, John does, which is one more reason to ask people about their affiliations as you weigh their comments.
No, Paul does not commend the Bereans for fact checking. Perhaps you are thinking about the Romans whose faith was spoken if throughout the whole world. Luke tells us the Bereans Jews were more noble than the Thessalonican Jews because they had willing minds to receive the word that Paul preached. Their searching the scriptures daily to see if those things were so added nothing to Paul's gospel, that Messiah needed to suffer and rise from the dead (Isaiah), and Yeshua is Messiah (Apostolic witness). It was a sign they were ready to receive the truth rather than contend with it. We could contrast their behavior with that of others who claim the name Bereans but use their studies to contend against the truth. Paul told the truth. Searching the scriptures daily and fact checking does not make one able to receive the word else we would have another million Jews on fire for Messiach tomorrow.

And what has God given us? His word. That's where the fact-checking must find it's firm basis. Everything else is quicksand.

Show me where the LORD Jesus Christ told us He was building a Bible, KJV or otherwise, for us to study and individually figure out what is truth and what is error. The closest to it I see is his prayer for those that would believe in Him through the word of His apostles, that they would be in unity. That could be oral or written. It does not require a Bible, not original complete error free manuscripts. It does not require perfect translations. I see a carnival of thousands of denominations, sects, groups, and cults with their personal interpretations and personal savior. He prayed that we who believe (and obey) Him would be in unity. That is not some personal option. It is our calling from Him.

He did promise to build a church that would prevail against the gates of hell. I don't see any original manuscripts, Hebrew or otherwise.