What the Koran says about the Bible.
2
There is no doubt that this book contains guidance for those who fear Allah;3
Who believe in the unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what we have provided for them;4
And who believe in the revelation sent to you, and sent before your time, and in their hearts have the assurance of the hereafter.5
They are guided by their Lord, and they will prosper. S240
O Bani-Israel! Call to mind the favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfil your covenant with me as I fulfil my covenant with you, and fear none but me.41
And believe in what I reveal, confirming the revelation which is with you,[2] and be not the first to reject faith in it, nor sell my signs for a small price; and fear me, and me alone.42
And cover not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth when you know what it is.S2
75
Can you entertain the hope that they will believe in you, seeing that a party of them heard the word of Allah, and perverted it knowingly[7] after they understood it?76
Behold! When they meet the men of faith, they say: "We believe." But when they meet each other in private, they say: Shall you tell them what Allah has revealed to you, that they may engage you in argument about it before your Lord? Do you not understand?
77
Know they not that Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal?78
And there are among them illiterates, who do not know Al-Kitab, but just their desires, and they do nothing but conjecture.79
Then woe to those who write Al-Kitab with their own hands, and then say: "This is from Allah," to traffic with it for a miserable price![8] Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.S2
136
Say: "We believe in Allah, and the revelation given to us, and to Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub, and the tribes, and that given to Musa and 'Isa, and that given to the prophets[17] from their Lord: we make no difference between one and another of them: and we submit to Allah.S2
Allah! There is no God but he, the living, the self-subsisting, eternal.
3
It is he who revealed to you Al-Kitab. In truth it confirms[1] what went before it; for before this he sent down the Taurat and the Injil as guidance for mankind, and as the criterion for judging right and wrong.S3
41
O messenger! Let not those grieve you, who race each other into unbelief, among those who say "We believe" with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; or it be among the Jews -- men who will listen to any lie -- will listen even to others who have never so much as come to you. They change the words from their right times and places: they say, "If you are given this, take it, but if not, beware!" If anyone's trial is intended by Allah, you have no authority in the least for him against Allah. For such, it is not Allah's will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the hereafter a heavy punishment. 42 They are fond of listening to falsehood, of devouring anything forbidden. If they do come to you, either judge between them, or decline to interfere. If you decline, they cannot hurt you in the least. If you judge, judge in equity between them. For Allah loves those who judge in equity.43
But why do they come to you for decision, when they have the Taurat[12] with them? In it is the command of Allah; yet even after that, they would turn away. For they are not people of faith.44
It was we who revealed the Taurat: in it is guidance and light. By its standard the Jews have been judged, by the prophets[13] who submitted to Allah's will, by the rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's book, and they were witnesses to it: therefore fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a miserable price. If anyone fails to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are unbelievers.45
In it we ordained for them: life for life, eye for eye, nose for nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and wounds equal for equal.[14] But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are wrongdoers.
46
And in their footsteps we sent 'Isa Ibn Maryam, confirming the Taurat that came before him. We sent him the Injil, in which is guidance and light, and confirmation of the Taurat that came before him. It is guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.[15]47
Let the people of the Injil judge by what Allah has revealed in it. If anyone fails to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are rebels. [16]S3
12
In previous times, Allah took a covenant from Bani-Israel, and we appointed twelve captains among them. And Allah said: "I am with you: if you establish regular prayers, practise regular charity, believe in my messengers, honour and assist them, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, truly I will wipe out from you your evils, and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you, after this, resists faith, he truly wandered from the path of rectitude.13
But because of their breach of their covenant, we cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard: they change the words from their right places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them,[1] nor will you cease to find them barring a few ever bent on new deceits: but forgive them, and overlook their misdeeds: for Allah loves those who are kind.
14
From those, too, who call themselves Nasara,[2] we took a covenant,[3] but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them:[4] so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the day of judgment. And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done.S5
65
If the people of Al-Kitab believe and do right, we indeed will blot out their iniquities and admit them to gardens of bliss.66
If they stand fast by the Taurat, the Injil, and all the revelation sent to them from their Lord, they will enjoy happiness from every side. There is from among them a party on the right course: but many of them follow a course that is evil.S5
94
If you are in doubt about what we have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading Al-Kitab before you.S10
Both the Jews and the Christians are criticised, the Jews for concealing [misquoting] their books and the Christians for forgetting what was in their book. But nowhere is it said that they changed their texts or had lost their texts.
What the Bible says about Itself.
15You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. 2 Timothy 3
20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves 21or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God. 1 Peter 1
17"Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them. 18I assure you, until heaven and earth disappear, even the smallest detail of God's law will remain until its purpose is achieved. Matthew 5
35Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever. Matthew 24
18And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone removes any of the words of this prophetic book, God will remove that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. Revelation 22
Reasons Why We Can Trust The Bible Account.
The Gospel accounts do not stand alone. They receive heavy support from both the writers of the New Testament letters and from the Old Testament prophets, who wrote about the life of Jesus while his coming was still in the future.
Only letters or gospels from apostles [who were eyewitnesses of the ministry and resurrection of Jesus] were accepted or from those closely associated with them.
What we have seen and heard we announce to you also.1 John 1.3
We have not depended on made up stories in making known to you the mighty coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. With our own eyes we saw his greatness. 2 peter 1.16
So then, our brothers, stand firm and hold onto those truths which we taught you, both in our preaching and in our letter... With my own hand I write this: GREETINGS FROM PAUL. This is the way I sin every letter; this is how I write. 2 Thessalonians 2.15 and 3.17
Jesus promised that all the apostles’ teaching would be directed by the Holy Spirit.
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you. John 14.26
Paul’s letters appeared first. They can be accurately dated by comparing the details in them with the accounts of Paul’s travels in Acts and by references to Paul’s letters in the writings of the apostles’ immediate successors. Some had been written by 60AD [Paul’s first imprisonment at Rome] and the rest by 65AD [Paul’s second imprisonment and death]. Written while many still lived who could remember what Jesus said and did, they give an outline of the Gospel which agrees with the accounts given in the Gospels. Also in agreement is the Gospel outline found in Acts and in the other New Testament letters written by Peter, James, John, Jude and the writer to the Hebrews.
I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures [the writings of the Old Testament Prophets]; that he was buried and that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the Scriptures; that he appeared to Peter and then to all twelve apostles. Then he appeared to more than five hundred of his followers at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have died. Then he appeared to James, and afterwards to all the apostles. Last of all he appeared also to me [Paul]. 1 Corinthians 15.3-8
The Gospels themselves appeared from about 60AD onwards. Mark, who is mentioned in Acts and in the letters, wrote down Peter’s preaching. We also have two of Peter’s letters. Matthew wrote a list of Jesus’ sayings which he later expanded with further material and with material from mark. Luke who was Paul’s companion, did careful research collecting material into which he inserted Matthew’s sayings and Mark’s account. He also wrote Acts and is mentioned in the letters. John wrote last to provide additional information. We also have his three letters and the revelation given to him. We get a considerable knowledge of Jesus from the selections given, which Jesus said the Holy Spirit would make sure to happen. The Gospels were immediately accepted as accurate accounts of the apostles’ teaching at a time when many people could still remember Jesus.
Many people have done their best to write a report of the things that have taken place among us. They wrote what we have been told by those who saw these things from the beginning and who proclaimed the message. And so, your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from their beginning, I thought it would be good to write an orderly account for you. I do this so that you will know the full truth about everything which you have been taught. Luke 1.1-4
The writings were copied and circulated. The New Testament writers read each others’ writings and the letters were read in several places. By 100AD two collections of the books had appeared, the Gospel and the Apostle [Gospels and Acts-letters].
The Scripture says, A worker should be given his pay. 1 Timothy 5.18 quoting Luke 10.7
As you wait for that Day [the return of Jesus], do your best to be pure and faultless in God’s sight and to be at peace with him. Look on our Lord’s patience [his delay in coming] as the opportunity he is giving you to be saved, just as our dear brother Paul wrote to you, using the wisdom that God gave him. This is what he says in all his letters when he writes on the subject. 2 Peter 3.14-16 referring to Paul’s letters.
After you have read this letter, make sure that it is read also in the church at Laodicea. Colossians 4.16
Write down what you see, and send the book to the churches in these seven cities; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Revelation 1.11
The Early Church Fathers [immediate successors to the apostles] writing from 100AD onwards quote extensively from the New Testament with comments about contacts with the apostles and about the authors of the Gospels. We have copies of many of their writings. There are also scanty references in Roman and Jewish writings of this time from which a brief outline of Jesus can be gathered.
Then we have early manuscripts [handwritten copies] of the New testament. They can be dated by the form of the handwriting and by the material written upon. We have fragments from as early as 150AD e.g. the John Rylands fragment of John’s Gospel. We have the Chester Beattie and Bodmer manuscripts written between 200 and 300AD containing most of the New Testament. There are the Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus from 350AD containing most of the whole Bible, and several others from the following century. We also have portions from 400AD onwards of the Syriac and Latin translations that were made from the Greek around 150AD. By comparing these and many others we are able to ascertain the original New Testament text extremely exactly.
Archaeology gives further confirmation. The Gospels and Acts show a very exact knowledge of details about people and places of the first century AD which strongly proves that they were based on eyewitness accounts.
The New Testament is written in the form of Greek spoken in the first century. Also in many places the Greek of the Gospels, including Jesus’ words and the apostles’ speeches in Acts, is a word for word translation from Aramaic, the language of Jesus and his disciples.
The Old Testament books were written by prophets-people who gave a message from God.
Men were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God. 2 Peter 1.21
The true prophet spoke about obeying God and accurately foretold the future. Thus identified, the books of the prophets were added to the previous books, building up the Old Testament until the last prophet Malachi in 400BC.
I was studying the sacred books and thinking about...what the Lord had told the prophet Jeremiah. Daniel 9.2
We can date the writing of Bible books by their references to current events, persons and places and by references to the books by later writers, e.g. in later Bible books. From this we can see the amazingly accurate fulfilment of the Bible’s many detailed prophecies of the future. Those about the coming of Jesus were all fulfilled in his lifetime. Many of those about Israel and the surrounding nations have been fulfilled exactly, often many centuries after they were written. Others still await fulfilment as do those about the return of Jesus. No book except the Bible foretells the future with consistent accuracy.
I alone am God and there is no one else like me. From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. Isaiah 46.9-10
All the prophets spoke about Jesus, saying that everyone who believes in him will have his sins forgiven through the power of his name. Acts 10.43
Archaeology has shown the extreme accuracy of historical and geographical references all the way through the Old Testament. Very many references to current events, persons, towns, nations, customs and words then in use have been confirmed by archaeological finds, which strongly proves that the events described in the Old Testament have been accurately recorded.
The Old Testament’s claim to be the Word of God is endorsed by Jesus himself:
Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. Matthew 5.17
From the time of Ezra in the Bible [450BC] the Old Testament has been very carefully copied by the Jews. We have Jewish manuscripts of the Old Testament from 900-1000AD which agree extremely closely with the Dead Sea Scrolls [Jewish manuscripts from the first century BC] and with Samaritan manuscripts from about 1000AD whose text has been handed down separately by the Samaritans from 400BC. There is also the Greek translation made around 250BC handed down by Jews and then by Christians, of which we possess manuscripts from 350AD, which also agrees with the Jewish text. The great similarity found on comparing these manuscripts proves that our present text is a high quality copy of the original.
The above evidence is adequate to show that the Bible gives us an accurate picture of Jesus.
A Comparison of the transmission of texts of the Holy Bible and of the Koran Sharif.
Two independent pathways of transmission:
Holy Bible transmitted by Jews and by Christians [The Old Testament in the hands of the Jews is the same as that in the hands of the Christians. The Old Testament prophets foretell all the New Testament events which is evidence supporting the New Testament which of course has been transmitted only by the Christians]
Koran Sharif transmitted by Sunni and Shia Muslims
Availability of Manuscripts:
Holy Bible New Testament from AD 200 Chester Beattie papyri Old Testament Dead Sea Scrolls from BC 100
Koran Sharif from 900 AD Yemen manuscript
Commentaries:
Holy Bible. There is an abundance of commentaries from which the text can be recovered many times over from quotations.
Koran Sharif. There is an abundance of commentaries from which the text can be recovered many times over from quotations.
I believe that modern editions of the Holy Bible and Koran Sharif are reliable texts for all discussion about beliefs.