Muslim Christian Dialogue-Part 3

Introduction

In today's blog, we will shed light on further errors, distortions, and discrepancies in the Bible to pose a question mark on its Holiness and authenticity.

Muslim Christian Discussion on the Originality of the Bible

Christians believe that the Bible is 101% fully preserved. They consider it the original and authentic Word of God Almighty. However, let's read what Luke says about this:

"Even as they delivered them unto us which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus". (Luke 1:2-3; the Bible)

Now if Luke said that he himself was not an eyewitness and the knowledge he gathered was from eyewitnesses and not his words inspired by God, how can we maintain that the Bible is God's Word? The Christians will argue that maybe this particular part is not God's word, and the rest of the Bible is fully preserved in terms of authenticity.

History will tell us that the Bible suffered changes through the ages. The Revised Standard Version 1952 and 1971, the New American Standard Bible, and the New World Translation of the Holy Scripture have expunged certain verses compared with the King James Version. Reader's Digest has reduced the Old Testament by 50% and the New Testament condensed by about 25%. Some years ago, Christian theologians wanted to 'desex' the Bible. Therefore the Bible is not free from error. Now, in the following table, we will examine some conflicting verses in the Old and New Testaments.

First Verse	Second Verse	Area of Concern
And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand footmen. (2 Samuel 8:4; The Bible)	​And David took from him a thousand chariots and 7000 horsemen and twenty thousand footmen. (1 Chronicles 18:4; The Bible)	Were the horsemen seven hundred or seven thousand in number?
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, then, Toy sent Joram his son unto King David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and had smitten him; For Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold and vessels of brass. (2nd Samuel 8:9-10)	Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer, King of Zobah; He sent Hadoram his son to King David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer. and smitten him (for Hadarezer had wars with Tou) and with him all manners of vessels of gold and silver and brass. (1 Chronicles 18:9-10; The Bible)	Toi or Tou, Joram or Hadoram, Hadadezer or Hadarezer?
​And the Syrian fled before Israel; and David slew the man of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen and smote Shobach, the captain of their host, who died there. (2 Samuel 10:18: The Bible)	​But the Syrian fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men who fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen and killed Shophach, the captain of the host. (1 Chronicles 19:18; The Bible)	​Seven hundred chariots or seven thousand men? Forty thousand horsemen or footmen? Shobach or Shophach?
Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign. (2 Kings 8:26; The Bible)	Forty and two years old, was Ahaziah when he began to reign. (2 Chronicles 22:2; The Bible)	Twenty-two or forty-two years old?
Jehoiachim was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. (2 Kings 24:8; The Bible)	Jehoiachim was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. (1 Chronicles 36:9; The Bible)	Eighteen years or eight years? Three months or three months and ten days?
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he left up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. (2 Samuel 23:8; The Bible)	And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains; he lifted up his spear against three hundred, slain by him at one time. (1 Chronicles 11:11; The Bible)	Tachmonite or Hachmonite? Eight hundred or three hundred?
And again, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against him to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. (2 Samue 24:1; The Bible)	And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel. (1 Chronicles 21:1; The Bible)	Is the Lord of David then Satan? God forbids!
Therefore, Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death. (2 Samuel 6:23; The Bible)	But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bares unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzilai the Meholathite. (2 Samuel 21:8; The Bible)	Did Michal have children or not? The name Michal in 2 Samuel 21:8 is still present in the King James version and the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures used by the Jehovah's Witnesses but is changed to Merab in the New American Standard Bible 1973.
Ye have neither heard his (God's) voice at any time, nor seen his shape. (John 5:37; The Bible)	He that hath seen me hath seen the father. (John 14:9; The Bible)	Has God been seen or not?
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. (John 5:31; The Bible)	Jesus answered and said unto them, though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true. (John 8:14; The Bible)	Is the record true or false?

The above-mentioned verses should be enough to categorically deny the holiness of the Bible. Furthermore, we see in Genesis 6:3; The Bible: "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. But how old was Noah when he died? He definitely was more than 120 years old. The evidence for this can be generated from Genesis Chapter 9, verse 29 of the Bible: "And all the days of Noah were 950 years when he died".

Some Christian theologians maintain not that the maximum age of man will be 120 years, but that the flood came in 120 years. Even this doesn't fit because at the time of the flood. Noah (PBUH) should have been 620 years old (500+120), but the Bible states 600 years. For example, it says in Genesis Chapter 5 verse 32: "And Noah was 500 years old." However, it is stated in Genesis Chapter 7, verse 6 of the Bible. "And Noah was 600 years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

Christianity believes that God created man in his image. This is according to Genesis 1:26; The Bible: "And God said, let us make man in our image after our likeness." But this contradicts Isaiah 40:18 and 25: "To whom then will ye liken God? Or what likeness will you compare unto him? To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." It also says in Psalm Chapter 89:6: "For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord?" Furthermore, it is stated in Jeremiah 10:67: "For as much as there is none like unto thee. O Lord, there is none like unto thee."

These are only some of the contradictions in the Bible. One will find more if one is to discuss the doctrines of modern Christianity like the Trinity, Divinity of Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship of Jesus, Original sin, and atonement which has been documented in the previous blogs. Not to mention the degrading of many prophets in the Bible as worshippers of false gods and accusing them of incest, rape, and adultery.

It says: "And David sent messengers and took her and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanliness; and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived and sent and told David and said. I am with child." (2 Samuel 11:4-5; The Bible)

As a Muslim, my question is: How could David then be accepted in the genealogy of Jesus (PBUH) when it started with a person who committed adultery? Allah forbid it! Is this not in contradiction with what is mentioned in Deuteronomy chapter 23 verse 2; (The Bible)? "A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. Even to his 10th generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord."

Another incest, by Judah and Tamar, his daughter-in-law: Judah on his way to Timnath to shear his sheep saw Tamar. He thought her to be a harlot because she had her face covered. Genesis 3818; The Bible: "And he (Judah) gave it to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him."

Still another multiple rape, by Absalom on David's concubine, was told in 2 Samuel 16:33; The Bible: "So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house. And Absalom went in unto his Father's concubines in the sight of all Israel". I can't believe that anybody in the world could do this, not even the barbarian.

Even though Jews and Muslims are arch enemies, no Muslim would dare to write a book and stamp any Israelite prophet like Judah or David, or Jesus (PBUT) with accusations of rape, adultery, incest, or prostitution. We believe as Muslims in all divine scriptures but in their original form. God Almighty sent to each nation a prophet as a warner, and some of them with the scripture as a guidance for that particular nation only. The Scripture (Suhuf) to Abraham, the Torah (Part of the Old Testament) to Moses, the Psalms to David, and the (Injil) Gospel to Jesus. None of these Scriptures remain in their original form today. As part of Allah's original plan, He finally sent Muhammad (PBUH) as the Seal of all Prophets, with the Holy Quran as an everlasting guide for all mankind anywhere any time.

Jesus (PBUH) himself said that he was only sent to the people of Israel. (Matthew 15:24; The Bible) "I was not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel." He also says in Matthew 1:21 "And he shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins".

He even said that he came not to make changes but to fulfill the Mosaic law, aka the Ten Commandments. Jesus says in Matthew 5: 17-18, "Think not that I've come to destroy the law or the prophets. I've not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

In Mark 16: 15, Jesus says: "Go ye unto all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." However, this contradicts what is mentioned above in Matthew 15:24 and Matthew 1:21. Secondly, Mark 16:9-20 has been expunged in many Bibles. The New American Standard Bible put this part in brackets and wrote the following commentary. Some of the oldest manuscripts omit verses 9 through 20.

The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures used by Jehovah's Witnesses admits that certain ancient manuscripts add a long conclusion or a short conclusion after Mark 16:8, but some omit it. The Revised Charted version printed the following footnote: 'Some of the most ancient authorities bring the book to a close at the end of verse 8'. This means also that the resurrection is not true, as this is described in Mark 16:9.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." Our response as Muslims, is that all nations must be explained as all the 12 tribes of Israel. Otherwise, it contradicts Matthew 15:24 and Matthew 1:21. In the New American Standard Bible, in the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, it is not translated as 'all nations' but as 'all the nations', which means the twelve tribes of Israel.

Conclusion

This blog should be enough to convince Christians about distortions and deviations from the original teachings of the Prophets that have been documented in the Bible. I urge the dear reader to read the Quran with an open mind, without any sort of preconceived notions to understand that it is the final book revealed by God Almighty to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which still remains in its original, unadulterated form. "Indeed it is We who have sent down this book, and indeed it is We who will guard it (against corruption)". (Holy Quran; 15;9)

That is all for now. Please stay tuned for the next blog. May God bless you all. Assalamalakikum!