We have come to a place in our discussion where we can render a reasonable verdict about which book, the Bible or the Qur’an, is divinely inspired. If you are just joining us, you may read other articles in this series here.
We have already shown that both claim to be God’s word. However, we have also demonstrated that the two books are irreconcilably different. Therefore, both cannot live up to that claim. An omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God would undoubtedly be consistent and non-contradictory in His revelations.
The evidence presented thus far demonstrates that the Bible is the Word of God.
The Bible’s revelation over 1500 years is consistent and self-validating, with corroborating evidence from non-Biblical sources.
It tells a cohesive story that begins in the first book, Genesis, with the creation, the Fall of humankind into sin, and immediately prophesying a coming savior. This message persists throughout the Bible, with Jesus fulfilling more than 300 Messianic prophesies.
The Old Testament contains numerous additional fulfilled prophecies from throughout Israelite history leading up to Christ’s birth.
All told, the Bible has more than a thousand fulfilled prophecies.
Due to the meticulous, ritualistic transmission by Hebrew scribes, the Old Testament is the most reliable written work from comparable times. It is not devoid of human copying errors, but they are minimal and inconsequential to the overall message of salvation. Allow me to quote from historian Steve Rudd.
When it comes to comprehending the various nuances of the manuscript history of the 66 books of the Bible, ignorance is bliss! Really! Why? Because Jesus assured us that “Scripture cannot be broken” (Jesus, John 10:35) and YHWH promised, “My word will accomplish what I desire and succeed in the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isa 55:11). The text of the Bible we have today is what we have and arguing over the superiority of one manuscript family over another will not change the text of the pew Bibles in churches or synagogues read and trusted as God’s inspired word. You may find some of my original research conclusions both shocking and disturbing but in the final analysis none of it really matters because the text of the Bible we have today is the complete inspired word of God able to bring about salvation and eternal life through the blood of the risen messiah-savour-king, Jesus of Nazareth. In other words, the Holy Spirit engineered scripture in such a way that innocent human copying errors or deliberate, nefarious corruptions of the sacred text would not “break scripture”. In the end, 99% of the variants (ie. misspellings etc.) in the manuscripts of the Bible are irrelevant to the message and do not change the broad themes of redemption that are interwoven throughout scripture. Of the significant variants, they represent such a small percentage of Bible text, that you could literally remove the entire verse that contains each of the variant from the Bible and no vital information is lost or doctrine becomes unprovable. God has protected his inspired word from corruption because it is the legal standard that will judge us on the last day:2
Steve Rudd
Additionally, there is more manuscript evidence for the New Testament Biblical text, exceeding 24,000 available manuscripts, than for any other writing of antiquity.
The revelation of the Bible, especially the Old Testament writings, occurred long before Muhammad and the compilation of the Qur’an. Yet, Qur’anic teaching and Islamic tradition ask us to disregard this centuries-old teaching. However, the manuscript evidence and history give us no valid reason to doubt Bible content outside this dogma.
The Qur’an diverts from the Old Testament narrative of the promised son and Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac. At this time, God intervened as a foreshadowing of the redemption and salvation that is the central theme running throughout God’s revealed word.
In Islam, Ishmael, not Isaac, is the central figure God instructs Abraham to sacrifice. Abraham fails to sacrifice Ishmael in this account, but not for lack of trying. On the contrary, his effort and attempt satisfied God, knowing Abraham would unconditionally obey His word.
But the Bible is clear. By the time of Abraham’s instruction, God had already instructed Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. God’s promised blessing to Abraham was to be through Isaac, the promised son born to Sarah, not Hagar.
God did bless Ishmael, per Abraham’s request and on his behalf, but Abraham was not a part of his ongoing life, as the Qur’an teaches. God tells Abraham that Ishmael would father a great people, but he would be against every man and them against him. The Arab nations are arguably involved in more conflicts worldwide than any other nation. Thus, the history of the Arabic nations and the rise of Islam perfectly align with this prophetic prediction.
As I demonstrated earlier in this series, The Qur’an teaches that Jesus is not God but a messenger only. In the Bible, Jesus’ divinity is a core doctrine of the Christian faith.
The Qur’an contains many encouraging words, inspiring blessings, and life-changing instructions, but that does not mean it’s God’s word.
Given the discrepancies between the Bible and Qur’an regarding Jesus, God, Abraham, and Ishmael, to name a few, the Qur’an is not from God if the Bible is God’s word. Still, God controls all things. Undoubtedly, the Qur’an plays a part in His plan, but it is not God’s word and does not provide the means of salvation.
As such, the Qur’an fails to replace the Bible as God’s word.
Additionally, the rapid growth of the Christian faith amidst persecution, including the martyrdom of most of the Apostles and many early followers and church leaders, speaks loudly of the Bible’s message.
Based on this and other evidence and my personal experiences in life, I cannot deny the inerrancy of the Biblical text.
If you believe the Bible is the Word of God, you cannot ascribe divine inspiration to Qur’anic teaching nor incorporate those teachings into a Biblical worldview and religious practice.
Teachings in Scripture, such as the Trinity and divinity of Christ, may be challenging to understand and accept, even absurd by human reasoning, but that does not mean they are wrong. These teachings are integrally woven into the pages of Scripture and are essential to a proper understanding of Biblical teaching.
Jesus cannot be other than Almighty God in human flesh to fulfill God’s law and bring us salvation. On this topic, the Bible is unmistakable. Jesus claimed to be God and backed that claim by His life, death, and resurrection.
A lack of understanding is not a sound basis for rejecting the Bible’s teachings.
We should instead accept on faith that God and His activity are rooted in truths that our finite minds cannot comprehend. Such humility is difficult, but there is no shame in admitting we are not as great as God.
One day we will know Him as He is, and then we will comprehend His greatness. But for now, there is no need to redefine who God is and what He has done because we do not understand His revelation. The need to do so is a lie that has led many down wrong paths that lead to destruction. All religions outside Biblical Christianity are rooted in lies Satan uses to confuse humanity and drive people away from God.
All that said, each person’s religious affiliation and practice is between them and God. It is not my place to judge. But one day, maybe soon, God will judge the human race, and we will be held accountable for the lives we’ve lived and the choices we’ve made.
God, through His Word, instructs believers in Christ Jesus to gently and respectfully present the truths of Biblical Christianity and Scriptural teaching.
God has provided everything we need to know to live in His created world, to know Him and obtain forgiveness, release from our sin-nature, and receive salvation.
The consequences of rejecting God are severe.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
-Romans 6:23
Praise God for His indescribable gift.
Turn to Him and accept Jesus as the full payment for your sin-debt to God.
Only the blood of Jesus, shed for us on the cross, can save us by faith in God’s word.
We cannot add anything to what Jesus has already done.
Pray and accept God’s gift of Jesus and receive salvation, eternal life, and adoption into God’s holy family today.
- https://www.icr.org/bible-manuscripts
- https://www.bible.ca/manuscripts/septuagint.htm
- https://earlychurchhistory.org/communication/the-bible-is-accurate-manuscript-evidence/
- https://carm.org/about-the-bible/manuscript-evidence-for-superior-new-testament-reliability/
- https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/hocking_david/hna/hocking_hna17.cfm
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Eternity in View 