[BipolarBob]

How could the message be reliable if the messenger is unreliable -— unknown, even?
Let me give examples to prove my point. Balaam was a soothsayer and diviner and not a holy man. He is not a nice guy but the prophecies God put in his mouth were true prophecies. The messenger was a scoundrel but the words were true.
Balaams donkey gave his master a message about the abuse he was unfairly given. Do you know the donkeys name? I don't but I do know the message he spoke was true because it came from God and saved Balaams life.

[Mrs. Don-o]

But your example does not apply: you believe these accounts because they are in the Bible, and someone, sometime, has authenticated the authorship of these books.

If you found these in a random book of anonymous tales, you would not believe them, I suppose. Unless you are a very credulous person.

[Elsie]

ELSIE?

[BipolarBob]

The biggest difference between Prots and Catholics is that Catholics always want to elevate man above his standing and Prots acknowledge God as sovereign and supreme. In the Bible, it is not the messenger that is the focus, it is the message because that message is from God. In the birth of Jesus, Mary is not the focus, but our Redeemer is. You see, it is the Source of the message and not the tool used to deliver that message and that theme is consistent throughout the Bible. Romans 9:21 says we are the clay and God is the potter. We are the tools for Gods great purpose. Let the glory be to God. Amen.