@AP56782651@Degenwillape You are saying Polycarp saw Ignatius to be discipled by Apostle John? What evidence is there that Polycarp was discipled by the Apostle John, would you provide the source?
I confess up until recently, there was a hangover like this in my psyche being once a charismatic Calvinist some 20+ years ago. I struggled w Prov 14:12. Lately, I have been comforted by the promise of Jesus being our God Immanuel, that is His name, the God who is with us. Fear can only be resolved by faith in His promise - Deut 31:6. Thus, I do not have to rack my brain, I might get it wrong, but as St Paul said, the Son of God loved me and gave himself for me Gal 2:20. That is fact, that is history that can never be undone.
Do you know what we mean by a witness. It means the person was there, he saw the event, he smelled it, he tasted it, he touched it, heard it, he was there. Ireneus was born after Ignatius has died if scholar's data is to be believed. Personal knowledge is a Biblical requirement to be a witness.
@iam_shwa@pirnstilllogan@Degenwillape You question was did "Luther set himself up". He did not, at least at the start, so the answer is no, he did not set himself up. He asked for a dialogue/debate for reconciliation of practices vs Biblical witness.