Try to write more clearly and I'll try to read more carefully. Okay? To summarize what I read:
You had just mentioned that except for 2 Greek manuscripts all others (you said 18 uncials and 600 minuscules) supported Mark 16:9–20. At the same time you posted many fathers (a number of the citations I would call into question) in support of the same verses. Someone asked about the majority of scholars' opinion in regard to the ending of Mark, and you said the majority's opinion regarding Mark 16:9–20 was wrong. Rippon asked why all those scholar's opinion (presumably on Mark 16:9–20) was wrong. In reply, you mention a list of uncial manuscripts! Excuse me if I assumed that you were actually replying to the question, namely, the basis of your opinion that the majority of scholars' opinion on the ending of Mark was wrong!
The hilarious thing, now that we know that you weren't actually talking about the basis of your antagonism against the majority of scholars' opinion about the ending of Mark, is that your reply seems to intimate that the majority of readings of your select list of manuscripts should be trusted! Not that such is wrong per se, but that such is the epitome of your self-conflicting argumentation. That is, to you the majority means nothing with regard to scholars' opinion on the ending of Mark; but the majority means something with regard to the readings of manuscripts coming up with the presumably (in your opinion) original reading. That is until ... the majority doesn't have (in your opinion) the original reading, such as in Matt 3:11 where the majority refrains from adding "and fire"; in Matt 4:10 where the majority refrains from omitting the offensive-to-the-orthodox "behind me"; etc. etc. In those cases the good ol' ℵ and B ("those damnably corrupt Alexandrian manuscripts") are your best friends. I find this highly comical and paradoxical at the same time.
BTW, your info on Mark 16:9–20 is highly dated. Fully 1643 minuscule manuscripts include the long ending, including 26 uncial manuscripts:
A/02 C/04 D/05 E/07 G/011 H/013 K/017 L/019 M/021 S/028 U/030 V/031 W/032 X/033 Y/034 Γ/036 Δ/037 Θ/038 Π/041 Σ/042 Ψ/044 Ω/045 047 083 0211 0257
Sincerely,
Jonathan C. Borland
From Steven Avery:
Actually the situation with Jonathan Borland is far worse, it is a pot and kettle thing. Jonathan is the chief net apologist for the one-dimensional theory of Maurice Robinson that all that counts is the majority of Greek mss. Other evidences, the historic Latin line, the ECW, the Syriac and internal considerations and more are only used in tie-breaking mode in this weak theory.
(Granted, since they reject the Hortian nonsense, they have a better text than the modern versions. In addition some of their theories of Greek ms. textual transmission are good, and specific defenses like the traditional ending of Mark, the Pericope Adultera and other variants. Want to give some credit where due.)
And Maurice Robinson clearly has written that he believes that their text has autographic integrity, and thus they can be said to argue backwards in exactly the same way he accuses you! (For confirmation, you can ask Jonathan for any scripture that he does not defend that has 80% Greek ms support.I believe that is the current threshold, but at times it has been 70%, they are very reluctant to speak forthrightly on this aspect of their theory so I would have to check my previous discussions.)
Their problem, they are obviously defending a far inferior text than the AV-TR text .. the AV being simply the purest edition of the TR. (Simple examples, they omit the clear scripture of Acts 8:37 and 1 John 2:23b and go through hoops to argue against the word of God, on 1 John 2:23b. Maurice Robinson even had a well-documented flip related to the change of threshold % that goes to tie-breakers. Now that 1 John 2:23b is under the threshold it is attacked as non-scripture, very weakly, before it was defended.)
One of the things I've noticed, is that when a person's view devolves to making their principle position one of attacking the AV and TR, they tend to a type of rather unbearable arrogance. Have you noticed?
I've met Maurice Robinson, and in many ways he is a gentleman and scholar, he just ended up trying to make an awkward path of attacking the pure Reformation Bible, while offering his close but no cigar alternative of what is a Greek-majority primacy text .. they call it Greek Byzantine, since the Byzantine is generally the overwhelming majority, possible exceptions in Revelation, it is generally the same thing.
And I'm not saying that he was always treated right by AV-TR folks, but now he has hardened his position to a bitterness against the pure Bible, offering an emulation version that omits salient evidences, and is a nothing compared to the excellence of Erasmus, Stephanus, Beza and the learned men of the AV.
As to why they went this way, of trying to bitterly attack the Reformation Bible, the TR and AV, while offering a pale pretender ... seeking accolades and approval from the Hortian academy, we can only conjecture. And this stumbling dance will receive its rewards.
Oh, the supposed attempted analogy between accepting/rejecting the majority of scholars and accepting/rejecting the majority of manuscripts is so ludicrous that, if you want more, I will write about that after I stop laughing.
As to the specific variants discussed, I could check them, but historically he would be falsely presuming for you his theory that everything in the Bible text of the Reformation Bible --> AV revolves around the 'majority- -- of the Greek mss. Which is total nonsense. Thus his attempted mockery is GIGO.
The Matthew 3:11 example :
Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
is definitely ludicrous, it was just a little piddle drop in the majority of the Greek mss, losing "and with fire".
As with Acts 8:37 (remember Irenaeus and Cyprian and Pontius the Deacon). Although I believe Stephanus 1550 had this Matthew verse wrong, and it was corrected by the time of Beza and the AV.
And the AV text is supported by many uncials, possibly a majority of the uncials, a solid minority of the Greek cursive mss, most Old Latin, the Vulgate, the Syriac and also and incredible array from the ECW:
Origen, Tertullian, the Treatise on Rebaptism, Hippolytus, Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom, Cyril of Jerusalem, Leo the Great, Bede through Aquinas and John of Damascus (note - Greek and Latin).
Unconfirmed yet listed by someone fairly reliable on these issues: Justin, Irenaeus(lat.), Athanasius, Ps-Athanasius, Ephraim Syr., Eusebius, Didymus, Macarius Aegypt., Philastrius, Basil, Cyril Alex., Photius, ,Nicetas, Euthymius, Zeno, Cyprian, Gennadius, Hilary, Jerome,and more
A couple of these may have evidences on both sides. The list of contra ECW is short.
100% scripture, the word of God, with the minority of Greek cursives in support and the majority of Greek mss having an error. A piddle nothing error.
(Note that the Greek orthodox often corrected their texts after the time of the Reformation, including some verses and variants that had been omitted in the Greek mss. I have not checked this one. In other words, the current Greek Byzantine text attempts to be an ecclesiastical text without an ecclesia ! )